interviews

As an artistic research project “Crossing” is dedicated to find new and sustainable life strategies by crossing borders.
On the foundation that it is not the artists duty to give answers but to ask questions, this includes documentary- interviews with international artists in very different places, like Iceland, South Africa, Finland, Egypt and Libanon, in the near future in Greece,  Kuba and Mexico.
The social  changes, in my opinion, require a reflection on dealing with the issue of fear. Thus, in my interviews I try to explore how other artists react to the experience of uncertainty creating their own strategies, not only in a rational but intuitive way, in their art practice. The starting point of my work is the experience, that many problems caused by „globalization“ can be dued to an experience of separation. Not feeling the connection to others or the world causes fear, the main reason (and not only the effect) of most catastrophes that are happening in the world right now. The basic question of my artistic research will proceed from this Archimedean point, therefore: How can we develop the intense experience where we are not separate from our so-called ‘environment’? How can we achieve to reflect the specific kind of analogy between the human being and his/her living space at the level of a fundamental connection – as expressed, for example, in the view of the relationship between the microcosm and the macrocosm. How can we strengthen this connection through art?
In reference to Josef Beuys ́s “Social Sculpture” in my project the artistic process is the main source looking for transformation of the society in a sustainable way. The interpersonal exchange on the foundation of creating is the specific transformative potential of “Crossing” and the basis of the innovative character of the project. As an international language, art is a possibility of crossing the thresholds between cultures and individuals in an exchange with surprising innovative answers.
The new research process in ’25 and ’26 will be guided by the main question: ‘How does peace work?’

The results of the exchanges with international artists will be presented in an exhibition at the CROSSING. kunstraum in Essen, this website and catalog.

It is the aim of the project to show that cultural life/ – survive can be redefined and made possible through exchange rather than demarcation.