The interviews are conducted by VB Contemporary's director, Vian Borchert. Besides being a multidisciplinary noted international artist. Borchert has been a writer and art critic for over a decade contributing with art articles in a national online newspaper within the U.S.A. Borchert gets called upon to cover and write reviews for major retrospectives and exhibitions in world-class American museums. Borchert is also the Art Lead / curator of the art segment for "Oxford Public Philosophy Journal" for the Turn 5 issue - "Oxford Public Philosophy" is a philosophy journal based at Oxford University, UK. The journal is a space for critically questioning what philosophy is and how we're doing it, in form and content.
Interview with Sigrid Thaler
Sigrid Thaler
About the artist:
Sigrid Thaler is an artist born in Vipiteno, Italy. Thaler has worked for many years as an illustrator. Thaler has presented her works in various international exhibitions in Italy, Germany and others. Thaler is currently residing in Milan.
Working with varying mediums, Sigrid's artistry has been shaped from growing up in a small Italian mountain city and her early exposure to the Nordic and German cultures. Sigrid developed her artistic style living in Austria, Paris, Singapore and São Paulo.
With a background in illustration, Thaler chose to concentrate on painting, which has brought her art to many exhibitions in cities such as New York, London, Germany, Austria, and Italy.
Tell us about your "Beginnings", how did you start your artist journey? How did your childhood influence your creative career path? And, how is your beginnings / childhood "Reflective" within your work?
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. Having grown up in a small town in the mountains, I was influenced by the nature that surrounded me and by the Nordic culture with its many traditions. I grew up with the stories of Grimm, Christian Andersen; and consequently my artistic process was certainly influenced by them, as well as by the beautiful Nordic cities that seem to emerge out of fairytale storybooks. Moreover, an essential role was played by my grandfather who would be defined as an all-around creative person.
My grandfather was very special along being a very creative person. In his workspace, he created everything, from trains, paintings, sculptures, cars, to wooden houses for goblins and elves. My grandfather always told me stories about elves that I grew up believing they exist - I think this explains the dreamlike aspects in my drawings...
UOMINI
Walk us through your day from morning till evening along with your creative process? What does a day for "Sigrid Thaler" look like? Where do you find inspiration in the area by which you reside? And, What does "Summer" mean to you? Let us know what is your favorite Summer activity?
In the morning, I can't wait to go into my studio to draw. Drawing allows me to enter a world of my own and leave out everything else in the real world. It is the place where I am free and there is no judgement. I draw based on how I feel. I have my dark side which is expressed in my works on black iron which are dark, and my bright side which is expressed in my works executed on gold leaf.
I take inspiration from everywhere, from exhibitions that I went to see the day before, from display windows that I saw while walking around Milan, from buildings that inspire and evoke images within me through their decorations, and from interior design magazines. I see figures everywhere, in the kitchen tiles, on the wooden ceiling, in the objects within the house, which prompts me to run and get a pen and paper to draw them before they disappear.
I love hiking and being in nature as it is the greatest inspiration for me. I see shapes of faces in the mountains as well as trees which look like beautiful women. I love summer since it means returning to the mountains and being inspired by nature. I take photos and I write down ideas before they slip away.
My childhood is very influential for me along with the places I've lived in (Innsbruck, Paris, Singapore, Sao Paulo...) and the people of various nationalities that I have met throughout. Open-mindedness to different cultures has endued to personal enrichment that is reflected in the works.
As an artist, what have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career? And, what have been your best achievements for you personally and professionally? Who are your favorite artists and why do you find their art captivating?
My biggest achievement is having made my dream come true, having been able to turn my passion into a job. I have exhibited in various countries (London, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy...) and I am proud to have had the opportunity to have exhibited in New York. Having been published on the board game “Modern Art” with the company CMON was one of my greatest satisfactions. I sell mainly in America and for me this is a huge satisfaction.
I don't have a favorite artist, the list is very long. Among my favorites are Modigliani and Paul Klee, the former for his way of drawing women and the latter for his ability to stylize and get to the essence of the drawing. I love Cy Twombly, the stain artist, who fascinates one with his stains and opens one's imagination. And, this is why in the end my favorite artists are children, who without having the notions of drawing; yet, with few lines are able to communicate pure stylization. I would like to achieve this, that with very little I am able to communicate a lot, since I believe that adding on a drawing is easy, while removing is the difficult part.