_{Image Courtesy of Andreas Ender}

Interview: Andreas Ender

Luca Curci talks with the artist Andreas Ender during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2019 at Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi.

Andreas Ender experimented with graphic shapes and colours in 1986, but soon he discovered his love for the anatomy of the human body and took up nude painting in 1990. His characteristic style is a mixture of his talent and various courses to refine his technical, personal and physical skills. He acquired his knowledge by himself and is very proud of it. Above all, it was his characteristic style that leads to his first group and individual exhibitions in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. In 1992 he discovered photography as an art form for himself. He participated successfully in numerous national and international exhibitions. “Learning by doing” was a costly and time consuming process but the international success and attention have proven him right. Since then Andreas Ender has acquired various national and international Awards and medals for outstanding photographic achievements.

_{Image Courtesy of Andreas Ender}

Luca Curci – What are you currently working on?
Andreas Ender – I am currently working on many individual projects. Most of them have a concept with which I want to draw attention to things that have become commonplace and are seen or perceived by the least. With paperbag “reBORN” I have created a concept that is unique in the world. I dedicated this concept 10 years until I told myself, where has my variety remained. Therefore, I have been designing new ideas for the visitors of my homepage for a couple of months, or even to give people a taste for something to rediscover things that you can ignore.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
AE – I tried to live on it for 25 years. I work in self-employment and therefore have the opportunity to do what I like. My diversity in concept art shows me that I’m on the right track. Ideas that stand out from the crowd and are not repetitive confirm my approach and are made accessible to the public in exhibitions like these.

_{Image Courtesy of Andreas Ender}

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
AE – I have remained authentic from the beginning. Tried to implement my ideas as I imagine, but they were never unique enough for me. The recognition value as with Spencer Tunick I simply lacked in my work. Until 2008, when I designed paperbag [reBORN]. I’ve always been dedicated to the topic of “Fine Art Nude”- after that, for 2-3 years, concept photography has been my favorite way of working on a variety of topics.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
AE – Concept art, street art, cubism – I like minimalist, structured works with clear meaning. Also playful themes and try to make invisible things visible. Give viewers the freedom to understand my ideas or to interpret them myself. Is that art or can it go away? I ask myself this question very often. Art is something I like, but if I do not like it, it’s still art? Who decides that?

_{Image Courtesy of Andreas Ender}

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
AE – Since my topic “the definition of beauty” is in its infancy and I am more and more ignored, it was a great opportunity to show this in Venice. The main message is that everyone can be as beautiful as she or he is. The body language is tailored to my topic. Every body speaks for itself – whether by a model or the housewife who feels comfortable with her body as it is. What do the media make of it. How do we all define beauty in this way? Stand in front of the mirror, undress and accept what you see there – that’s beauty. You are beautiful!

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of pre-existing works?
AE – I did not know about the festival until 2 days before the deadline and there was no time to prepare something new for it. Since the definition of beauty is my latest project, I spontaneously applied with it. I do not have the variety of beauty I want to show yet – but it is a start! I hope I can draw attention to many visitors and promote the acceptance of their own body. These images should also increase the self-confidence of each individual. It is as it is and it is good!

_{Image Courtesy of Andreas Ender}

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
AE – It’s liquid is well organized. The communication is very easy and you get a quick answer if you have any questions. The team is helpful and for me it was easy to attend. Also the information posted on the social networks will show how committed the organizer is to support the selected artists. The selected locations are very appealing to me. I will be in Venice at the end of the exhibition and pick up my photos. Then the rest can convince me.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
AE – The chances are generally very low with this worldwide offer. For me it was a possibility to accept another chance and to be able to exhibit as a further reference outside of my place of residence. It is costly but I have the opportunity to afford that at the moment. If you do not try, you cannot say if it would have been different if I had not participated. I will see what kind of feedback I get and then I can say if it was a chance for me or not to increase my level of knowledge.

^{Image Courtesy of Andreas Ender}