FEEL GOOD \u2013 Dana \u017daja: Ich hatte in Vorbereitung f\u00fcr dieses Gespr\u00e4ch Texte zu deinen Bildern gelesen und diesen Satz aus dem Katalog zu deiner ersten Ausstellung bei uns gefunden: \u00bbStrassburger integriert vorgefundenes Wirklichkeitsmaterial als Teil eines spezifischen Gegenwartsmoments. Alles wird aufgezeichnet, Disparates miteinander verbunden und weitergeschrieben: Existenzangst, Spa\u00dfkultur, und Lusterf\u00fcllung.\u00ab Als ich dar\u00fcber nachdachte, war f\u00fcr mich die erste Frage, was denn eigentlich f\u00fcr dich Wirklichkeit bedeutet?
\nHenning Strassburger: I quite like \"existential angst, fun culture and lust fulfilment\". More reality is hardly possible. But I wouldn't exactly see myself as an expert in interpreting reality.
\nDZ: In your notes on painting, you write about abstraction: \"The perfect abstract picture is achieved when it has become wallpaper\". Do you see that as a negative? Then why did you paint abstractly for so long? And why not now?
\nHS: I achieved wallpaper status last year, and I'm quite happy to say that. Mission accomplished. However, I really didn't have much desire to continue doing it as a trademark art and a sure cash cow. I have colleagues who can do it better and run it as a big business. But I wanted to get back into the adventure. I put everything I had into the last abstract painting for the time being and then closed the door on myself. I really don't feel like painting the same picture every day.
\nDZ: Your obsession with pools and splashes now takes on a melancholy touch in its figurative instance, which in turn is broken up by your typical colour palette.
\nHS: I like to work on the topic, there's a lot to it. Now I'm adding the figure as a problem. I have the feeling that she's looking critically at my painting at the same time as I'm painting her. Maybe with a shake of the head, I don't know. I can confront the figures with a painting that they have to take a position on. Perhaps they buckle a little before it or are overwhelmed by it. In any case, it gives me room for manoeuvre in which I can open up this barrel. I had exhausted this for myself with the abstract pictures.
\nDZ: \"As long as mankind can see, there will be painting.\" On the one hand, it seems as if you want the viewer to see themselves in your paintings or to immerse themselves in them. On the other hand, you often mix your colours with white so that the pictures remain flat. Is it important to you that a painting is perceived in its mediality? Or should they rather trigger self-reflection in the viewer?
\nHS: Das klingt super esoterisch. Aber klar, das Ziel f\u00fcr Malerei sollte ja sein, dass es sich auch mal jemand anguckt. Und Flachheit ist die Dom\u00e4ne der Malerei, weil sie, konservativ gesehen, eben auf einer Fl\u00e4che stattfindet. In etwas eintauchen kannst du auch in einer Videoinstallation oder in partizipativer Entertainmentkunst. Aber wenn man vor Malerei steht, klopft die immer auch an die Hirnsynapse, die dir sagt: BILD! Das k\u00f6nnte als ein Mangel an Komplexit\u00e4t gesehen werden, aber diese Unzul\u00e4nglichkeit macht es ja in Wahrheit erst aus. (Ausz\u00fcge aus dem Interview)<\/p>\n
Exhibition:
\nContemporary Fine Arts CFA Berlin: 28\/4 \u2013 17\/6\/2023<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Exhibition catalogue, edited by Bruno Brunnet and Nicole Hackert
\nInterview (German\/English) by Dana \u017daja with Henning Strassburger
\n40 p. with 34 col. illustrations
\nFormat 28 x 20 cm, brochure<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":5184,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[87,76],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-3769","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-87","product_cat-s","first","instock","taxable","shipping-taxable","purchasable","product-type-simple"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t