“As an artist, I have the freedom to set my own limits.”
Name
Gabriele Herzog
Profession
Painter
Website
Where are you from?
Basel Switzerland and London UK, now Berlin Germany
Your style in 3 words?
Complex, minimal, intuitive
Your weakness? Your strength?
Working intuitive, working intuitively
What makes you different?
We’re all the same.
When did you decide to become an artist?
Perhaps when I was 14. I spent two weeks at a brilliant art summer camp. It was run by art tutors from the Basel school of Art and I totally loved it.I then applied and entered the Basel School of Art when I was 16.
Do you choose your art form, or does the form choose you?
At first foolishly resisting, I finally succumb to the art form choosing me.
What do you find most fascinating about the creative process?
Often, the works I consider failures at first – end up being the most interesting paintings as well as moving me forward in my work. This is a very slow process, taking weeks, months or even years until I understand and recognise the paintings that work in this way. The bad stuff is the good stuff after all.
„More important than my career is my family”
A few words about your favorite creation?
While writing this text, I am looking at an almost all over mid-ultramarine-blue painting from 2020. Hanging next to me in our flat. It’s 210x125cm in size and feels somehow different to my other current works. There is hardly any raw canvas left on view. The painting has 3 obvious layers. Firstly one layer of a few warm-blue pigment lines. Then there is the second layer of large, white gesso shapes all over. And finally on top is a substantial, brushstroke painted mid-blue layer, which leaves out a large flowery, white gesso star shape – showing through from the second layer. Whenever I look at this painting I think “how did I manage to do this”? I wish I could paint more paintings like it.
What surprised you most about your first art shows?
That I could exhibit my works at all.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
Always: Pierro della Francesco and Henri Matisse
Right now: Zhang Enli and Phyllida Barlow
Who would you like to work with someday and why?
Phyllida Barlow for a dream-collaboration. I am in awe of her work and would love to witness her while working.
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
In March, I will be spending time in the South of France at an artist’s residency with the painter Yvonne Robert. Invited by my Paris Gallery, Amélie Maison d’Art. And at the end of March, I will take part in a group exhibition in Halle at the wonderful contemporary art space, Galaxy neuer Künste, curated by the artist Lenia Hauser.
Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“
My family
2023: Where are we going?
Heading for peace I hope.
Do you think about time as an artist?
I wish I had more. Sometimes I think I would have to live to at least 200, to make the good work. I’m extra slow. In reality, I feel truly fortunate to spend time making art at all.
When the going gets tough…
I head to the art supply store. Looking at art materials calms me right down.
Put on your future vision glasses: What direction is our generation moving in, what will our world look like in 50 years?
Living less materialistic. Sharing will be a large part of every aspect of society.
What would you do if you could change the World?
A world without borders.
What does freedom mean when it comes to art?
Art is freedom – limitless freedom. And as an artist, I have the freedom to set my own limits.
If the universe is everything and it’s expanding, what is it expanding into?
Utopia
Tell us about your future plans…
Developing and producing my own oil sticks.
Your city’s favorite spots?
Rieselfelder outside Berlin in Brandenburg, Meierei Cafe, Hackbarth’s Bar, Peters Art supply store, Galerie Snow, Schaubühne Theatre, my studio
A book that everyone should read…
Fragebogen by Max Frisch
Last but not least: what is your favorite Song?
Right now: Tender Love by Mounika
One last statement please: „Wood or stone, gold or art?“
Water and light
Your #…?
#gabrieleherzog #swisspainterinberlin #t_sideviews
