As a child what did you want to become (profession-wise)? I wanted to become an inventor.
In which town did you grow up?
I grew up in Muelheim, Germany, an industrial town in the Ruhr region.
Do you think your background influences your current art/design? If so, what specific element in your background is most pervasive in influencing your current art/design style?
As a child, my parents often visited friends in Düsseldorf who were part of the art scene, and some were students of Joseph Beuys while others were gallery owners. Later, I studied Art, Ethnology and Art History. Ethnology gave me an outside point of view on our society. The history of art has (influenced) my more recent works, where I combine the past and the present. This can be seen clearly in my digital paintings.
What inspires you in the job of being an artist?
The fact that being an artist means you can bring things into this world that have never existed before.
Do you have any other creative ambitions or dreams to which you aspire?
At an earlier stage of my life, I had a lot of creative ambitions and dreams, such as creating buildings and designing interiors and furniture. I gave up the dream of becoming an architect quite early, because it wouldn’t have left me enough time for my artistic work, although I do actually live with some pieces of furniture that I have created myself.
Which basic elements of creativity did your family teach you?
Some of my family members were, and are, good illustrators. Also, an uncle of mine was an inventor. None of my family members, though, did it in a professional sense like I do. It is, or was, more a hobby for them.
How did you get the idea of making this type of art?
There is a kind of dialog between the different media which I’m working with, and they inspire each other.
Do you have a favorite artist? I do not have a favorite artist in particular, because there are a lot of great artists in different fields and from different periods. I love the paintings by Vermeer from the 17th
Century but also the recent installations by Sophie Calle.
Are you ever afraid you will run out of inspiration and creativity in your job?
I am more afraid of time running out rather than my inspiration running out.
What is the most difficult thing in your job? Deciding which ideas I have to give up on in order to provide the necessary energy and time for the realization of others is difficult.
What is the most fun part in your job?
The most fun part of my job is seeing my work in an exhibition or at least finished in my studio.
Do you expect your way of creating art to change in the future?
For me, making art is a kind of expedition. With my art, I travel to the borders of what has already been expressed or thought. I try to open new territories and possibilities for the future orientation of society.
Do you embrace the changes in the art industry regarding social media and technological influences?
I’m impatiently waiting for technological advances which can increase and improve my workflow…and also that these advancements become more affordable.