Approximately 1,000 men and women work as visual artists throughout the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in northeastern Germany. Many of these creative professionals have chosen to establish their careers away from major metropolitan areas, instead settling in smaller towns and rural villages across the region.

Among these artists is painter Michael Heckert, who has transformed his journey from being a rebellious figure in West Germany to finding artistic inspiration in the tranquil countryside of former East Germany. His story represents a broader trend of artists seeking alternative spaces for creative expression beyond traditional urban art centers.

Heckert has established his studio in the small village of Rappenhagen, strategically located between the historic university city of Greifswald and the coastal town of Wolgast. This rural setting provides him with the peace and space necessary for his artistic practice, while still maintaining reasonable access to cultural centers and art communities in the surrounding region.

The choice to work in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's rural areas reflects a growing movement among visual artists who are drawn to the region's affordable living costs, spacious working environments, and unique landscape that serves as artistic inspiration. This demographic shift has contributed to a vibrant, if dispersed, artistic community throughout the state's smaller municipalities.