Matthias Esch, exhibition view  cool runnings, Kühlhaus Berlin, 2015, by Andre Wunstorf
Matthias Esch, exhibition view cool runnings, Kühlhaus Berlin, 2015, by Andre Wunstorf

“…All creation is hollow, and a picture’s a shadow just a symptom of love with a lack of a cause”*

Name

Matthias Esch

Profession

Artist

Website

matthiasesch.me

Braunschaedel- SW Analog
Matthias Esch, 2017, by Michael Braunschaedel

Who are you? What do you do?

An ordinary person and I am painting.

Where are you from?

I was born in a small town called Andernach/Germany, more or less known for being the birthplace of Charles Bukowski. But my family moved shortly after and I grew up in a tiny village in a rural area called “Eifel”.

Your style in 3 words?

abstract power, signifying

Your weakness? Your strength?

I am angry, and not patient

What makes you different?

My art, aside of that I am as different as everyone else.

Matthias Esch, „looking for thee“ (strangle the male), oil on canvas, 250x195cm, 2017, by Andre Wunstorf
Matthias Esch, „looking for thee“ (strangle the male), oil on canvas, 250x195cm, 2017, by Andre Wunstorf

When did you decide to become an artist?

As a kid I wanted to become a bomber pilot, but my proud mother says that I actually wanted to be a poet. Certainly I loved to read, write and to be left alone. Even doing it myself now, I don’t like this “I always loved to draw or wanted to become an artist ” talk. Of course when you look back, your memory tends to recall that you were always drawing or something like that. But there was no what you would consider a “high culture” in my surrounding, no artist role model and certainly no contemporary art. It was a very loving and open minded household, but I did not know that you could actually “be” an artist. From 15 till 18 I worked in a, lets call it “wine factory”, in my region. It was there when I decided to move to Berlin with the plan of working in a tattoo studio, a job I actually never ended up pursuing.

It was my great friend and fantastic artist Thilo Jenssen who asked me why I was not studying art? For the first time I saw the love of Francis Bacon, started with painting and got hooked immediately. So I applied for an art school and got accepted. It is fantastic that you are able to study art without any school degree since I only went to secondary school. In the end I just got lucky, and still feel incredible thankful for it, because this is what I want and what I have to do.

Matthias Esch, exhibition View , bitte bitte bitte_, Sez Berlin, 2017, by Andre Wunstorf Kopie
Matthias Esch, exhibition View , bitte bitte bitte, Sez Berlin, 2017, by Andre Wunstorf Kopie

What do you find most fascinating about your work?

I believe in art. Without it, like good food, the world would be a more boring and dull place. It also can help us to formulate new thoughts and gain new views. My creative process, I don’t know… paint is a lovely material, very flexible and direct, in the process of making as in viewing. And it can inhabit deep layers of meaning, conceptual wise and still be silent and patient, waiting for a viewer. I like that it is “just” there.

A few words about your favourite creation?

There are so many creations I admire, it is really difficult to pick one…Lately I am always happy to see some medieval paintings, you know the ones with an easy narrative, almost comic like, red blue gold and lovely violence. Sword in the back while praying and so on…pure madness. Then the flemish masters with their incredible vibrant colours and bended and stretched figures, Rogier van der Weyden or like in the Uffizien in Florenz, in the Botticelli room (forget him) Hugo van der Goes!

Matthias Esch, _looking for thee word (Symbol)_, oil, acrylic and lacquer on linen, 190x150cm, by Andre Wunstorf
Matthias Esch, looking for thee word (Symbol), oil, acrylic and lacquer on linen, 190x150cm, by Andre Wunstorf

Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…

The Swans, Wittgenstein and my friends.

A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?

Recently I started a postgraduate program at the Glasgow School of Art, a Master of Letters, and I will be busy with that till the end of the year. Besides I am planning some off-space exhibitions, painting of course, and want to come back more often to create sound and soundtracks that could bring another layer to my paintings.

Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“

my what? 

2018: Where are we going?

If we as human beings can act more responsible with the planet we are living on, it is gonna be a fantastic year! Besides the usual ups and downs of course.

Matthias Esch, _looking for thee word (children of god)_, oil and lacquer on linen, 190x150cm, by Andre Wunstorf
Matthias Esch, looking for thee word (children of god), oil and lacquer on linen, 190x150cm, by Andre Wunstorf

When the going gets tough…

I don’t know, don’t ask me for a advice (I don’t care).

Your city’s favourite spots?

In Berlin, you can get good italian wine straight from the tank at “Balera” at Karl-Marx Platz, and good Pizza at “De Noantri” Görlitzer Straße, and old masters in the non crowded museum “alte Gemäldegalerie”.

In Glasgow I like the School of Art Pub “the vic” where people are friendly (as everywhere in Glasgow), they serve good food and beer of course, and the few but good galleries like “Koppe&Astner” and “Mary Mary”. Great classical concerts are in the basement of “13th Note”, classical guitar punkrock I mean.

Do you have a vision?

No Vision.

What would you do if you could change the World?

Ban unnecessary plastic, get rid of Nations, and more art and wine for everyone.

Tell us about your future plans…

Find a few galleries to work with, make art and live. Learn italian.

Last but not least: what is your favourite Song?

These days its:

*swans  – finally peace

 Follow Matthias on Instagram & Vimeo

The Vic Café & Bar ♦ Koppe Astner ♦ Mary Mary Gallery ♦ 13th Note Bar