Interview @ AB19, exclusive painting

Since AB19.it got closed down by their agency, my interview incl. some images won't be released. The painting made for their first edition of the magazine's relaunch can be seen below. So I'll publish the unedited and completely confusing interview here.

Von paintings & other images (WIP)

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How did you start to do this work? Why?
Hard to say basically. I graduated high school with art as a main subject back in 2002. Even before I always tried to paint, draw and take photographs, slightly realizing the true potential of working with computers in a creative way. I never did or do this for a living, it’s actually just my best way to clear up my mind. I studied art history at the university but always needed a valve to calm down again. Scientific research can be pretty dry every now and then. And changing the point of view from the one who listens to the one who talks (in this case: the one who tries to understand to the one who tries to create) adds a lot to the general understanding of art in general. I used to work completely digital since 2002, changing that recently (since 2 or 3 years maybe), trying to improve my painting stuff and having a haptic result in the end.

Which is the central concept of your inspiration?
I still think that (good) art is made up by imagination and intellect. My work is anything but spontaneous; I do a lot of research and studies before working on the actual image. It takes some time to finish a painting, also because I am kind of a slow worker without any deadlines. Of course everything is kind of a work in progress which constantly changes. I’d even doubt that the result is close to what I actually thought I’d do. I want to dedicate myself to “creative” topics, stuff you usually don’t expect or are used to. Call it surreal if you’d like to. But that’s mainly concerning the idea or the topic of the image itself – not being tied to reality like I am kinda helps in this case. When it comes to composition, choice of medium etc. I am pretty much conservative, trying to be geared to the old masters (what a blasphemic idea though). I like the principles of baroque composition for example, mainly because it’s really emotive and full of power and tension. So studying, adopting and transforming this into the 21st century is what I am trying to achieve. I constantly fail though (which is ok since life is about failing mostly anyway).

Why did you choose this style to do art?
What you’re seeing here mostly is mixed media, based on collaged photographs/photomanipulations which are painting with acryl mostly afterwards. I feel less limited and less intimidated when working completely digital at the beginning; I still it’s more easy for my kind of thinking, especially when it comes to changes etc. But I’ve always missed “real” textures, the rough and pastose look of a real painting. Using collages somehow fixes that issue, slightly giving the painting a tridimensional nature and so undercutting the real essence of a painting.

Words are necessary? Why?
Hmm. Necessary for the work of art? No. Necessary for the understanding of the work of art? Yes, to a certain degree. As an art historian I am used to deconstruct the (what people sometimes call the aura or the real magical essence) work of art right until where it gets totally uninteresting or at least loses the innocent power of manipulating its viewers. That’s why I am not the biggest fan of talking about my own images in detail. I believe in pictures being in general the most powerful way of communicating (I am sure most people will disagree now). They’re demanding, you hardly can “silently consume” images. The final step is always the completion by the viewer, that’s why it’s so interesting and thrilling. And that’s also why it’s so intense. Are words necessary in general? Unfortunately, yes – and hell I am so talented in perfectly saying what I am really thinking or trying to express.

Do you think that history is important for your creative process?
Definitely, yes. Occupying myself with history is what I am doing most of the time. The Presence is based on history, so why shouldn’t it affect the things I am currently dealing with, regardless whether it might be art or something completely different. History influences the choices you’re constantly doing. I hardly forget anything and whatever happened in the past guides my way of seeing things. And regarding my images in general, yes, (art) history is one of my main influences. When you talk, you hardly invent any new words either. It’s all about using what you know (and what you learned) to express yourself.

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