Interview: Anne Margrethe
Luca Curci talks with Anne Margrethe during BODYSPACES, the first appointment of CANVAS INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2024 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello in Venice.

Anne Margrethe is a Norwegian artist with more than 30 years’ of experience working with visual communication for two of Norway’s largest companies, Hydro and Statoil/Equinor. Moreover, she worked as a graphic designer and editor of the Brand Centre in Statoil ASA (Equinor). Full-time visual artist from 2015. Since youth, in her spare time, she has furthered her understanding and skills through art courses with established professional artists. The result to date of Anne Margrethe’s efforts is more than 150 pieces of original paintings. She has already sold 140 originals and many art prints.

Luca Curci – What is the trigger that leads you to paint?
Anne Margrethe – Having fun and discovering the magic in the moment. When I am inspired by something that impresses or touches my heart, and of course a lot of self-discipline triggers me to paint. Mostly, I start with the chaos of colors and let the painting unfold together with my intuition. The processes and focus in my personal life and society, to find the best path and solutions to peace, love and truth. Success, conversations and communication. Nature and travel can absolutely be a kickoff to start a new painting.

LC – Which artists have somehow influenced your work?
AM – My art teachers and masters, that I admire, among Peter Esdaile, Øystein Edvardsen and others. Inspiring workshops with master Freydoon Rassouli have influenced my work. They touch my emotions with their originality, light, brushstrokes, color combinations, use of symbols and composition. Also, the unique masters Marc Chagall’s expressionism, Picasso’s magic and Salvador Dali’s surrealism. Gustav Klimt’s decorations, Michael Cheval’s fantasy, Edvard Munch’s emotions and Kandinsky – the father of abstractions, who was first inspired by Hilma af Klint. Some years ago, I started a tradition after the Norwegian art master Kai Fjell, who inspired me to continue his tradition of making a lady in marzipan every Christmas/New Year’s Eve.

LC – What are the three hashtags essential to define your poetics that you could not give up?
AM – #Love #Truth #Processesoflife

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
AM – My inspiration comes mainly from within, my intuition. From music and observations of people, animals, nature and communication. When I see beauty, listen and observe I get inspired. I get inspired by my boyfriend’s wisdom and love. Nature, seasons, body language, silence and city life. From the processes of life, levels, dreams, signs, fantasies, and travels. Grandchildren’s curiosity and creativity, our children. Meeting with other people or places. When I learn something new. Discussions and meditations. In daily communication, magic moments, when I go outside my comfort zone. I get inspired when I meet or study other artists that I admire. Motherhood, conflicts, solutions, inner growth.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
AM – My art changes along the way with my inner growth and development. Some of my paintings were a bit darker before 2012 («The Thinker» and «Who’s the Boss»). Then more and more inspirational, expressionistic art, with symbols, psychology, signs and feelings, to feed the heart and soul. The awakening in the processes of life in beautiful color combinations. Colors are frequencies. My paintings follow its own course along with my intuition, my inner development, my life experiences and how I feel from inside (expressionism). From 2015 some of my paintings synchronized in a magic way, with the moment we live in the contemporary, like «What´s your brand». When I was 47, my big love came into my life. I felt a change from inside, like an honest «butterfly» process. More livid colors, braver, synchronized, timing.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
AM – BODYSPACES and Future landscapes with a deep connection to processes, beliefs and choices from within, from the soul/roots. Each one of us has a unique global soul, which is connected to one image of God from the inside, and everything on the outside is automatically regulated according to your unknown self/shadow understanding. Reincarnation is important in my art. One soul and many lives on earth. If you dare, you can become more and more complete and come closer to your true soul throughout life, a kind of butterfly process.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
AM – Definitely. You highlight important themes and get unique artists from all over the world, together. Bringing inspiration, friendship and solutions. It’s a great opportunity to meet art collectors, art-friendly people, other artists and gallerists from all around the world. It can open a lot of new opportunities, and help new important connections to participate in professional exhibitions like yours. It’s also an opportunity to meet the magic places, joy and love of the city, and art history and get inspired to make new paintings.

LC – Did you enjoy coopering with us?
AM – You have fulfilled my expectations as a professional gallerist, and I am so glad that I had the pleasure of meeting you Director Luca and your wonderful professional staff at the exhibition during this year’s 60th Venice Biennale of Art. I´m so honored to be invited further to participate with my artworks in your international exhibition Future Landscape in Rome in December. Thank you very much.