Interview: Alex Spielmann
Luca Curci talks with Alex Spielmann, winner of the Honorable Mention of the ITSLIQUID INTERNATIONAL CONTEST – 18th EDITION

Alex Spielmann is a contemporary artist based in Lostorf. Her work is shaped by personal experience, transformation, and resilience. Raised in Däniken and Dulliken, Spielmann’s life has been marked by many roles: a wife, mother of three grown children, professional, and passionate creator, all of which inform her artistic vision. After training as a railway operations dispatcher with the Swiss Federal Railways, Spielmann developed a strong sense of discipline and organization that continues to influence their practice. Alongside this career, they pursued a second passion in fitness, qualifying as a cycling and fitness instructor, where physical movement became a source of strength both mentally and creatively. Spielmann’s works explore the contrasts of life: light and darkness, struggle and hope, stillness and motion. A recurring motif is the horizon, symbolizing possibility, transition, and renewal. Through poetic landscapes and abstract, flowing forms, Spielmann invites viewers to discover that even in challenging moments, a glimmer of light always awaits.

Luca Curci – What is the trigger that leads you to paint?
Alex Spielmann – My impulse to paint often begins with an inner restlessness, a desire to translate what I feel into something visible and tangible. Initially, I was searching for a painting that would speak to me personally, something that captured the emotions and visions I carried inside. When I couldn’t find it, I dreamt of my first artwork already completed. That dream was so vivid and overpowering that I felt compelled to bring it into reality. Since then, light has become my constant trigger: how it changes, how it guides us, how it reveals or hides things. I see painting as a way to explore the interplay between clarity and mystery, between certainty and the unknown. It is also deeply connected to moments of personal reflection about life’s highs and lows, which I often express through the motif of the horizon in my works.

LC – How much has the city/country in which you grew up affected your work as an artist?
AS – I’m born and raised in Switzerland, and this country has shaped me profoundly as an artist. The Swiss landscape, with its mountains, lakes, and vast skies, has deeply influenced my sense of space, light, and atmosphere. The changing seasons and the purity of light here inspire me again and again, especially in my focus on horizons and the idea of light as a symbol for guidance and hope. Moreover, the Swiss cultural environment, with its respect for precision, quality, and craftsmanship, has given me a strong foundation for my artistic practice. Living here nurtures my discipline and focus, allowing me to work with dedication and clarity in developing my artistic vision.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
AS – Being an artist today is both exciting and demanding. We live in an age of incredible access and connectivity, which opens new opportunities to share work globally and connect with diverse audiences. At the same time, it can be overwhelming to navigate the fast pace of the art world and the expectations of constant visibility. I believe, however, that art remains an essential space for reflection, questioning, and offering beauty or meaning in uncertain times.

LC – Is there an unrealised or unrealisable project, even a crazy one, that you would like to work on?
AS – One of my dreams is to create a very large-scale painting that might one day be displayed in a famous museum or significant public space. It would be wonderful to see my work become part of a place where it can inspire many people and be seen as part of a larger artistic legacy. Even though I’m not sure yet exactly what the piece would look like, the idea of creating something monumental that leaves a lasting impression fascinates me.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
AS – When I finish a piece, there’s a sense of both closure and release. Sometimes, I feel profound satisfaction, as if I’ve captured a fleeting moment or an emotion perfectly. Other times, I experience a kind of quiet melancholy because the journey of creating that particular piece has ended. But overall, there’s gratitude for having transformed something intangible into a visual language that can now speak to others.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
AS – Yes, absolutely. ITSLIQUID GROUP offers artists visibility across an international platform, and that’s invaluable in today’s art world. Their mix of exhibitions, online features, and interviews helps artists reach audiences they might never encounter otherwise. It also fosters a sense of community, connecting artists across disciplines and cultures.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
AS – At the moment, I don’t have any specific suggestions for improvements. I appreciate the opportunities and visibility you offer to artists and look forward to seeing how ITSLIQUID continues to support the art community.