Interview: Dennis Josef Meseg
Luca Curci talks with Dennis Josef Meseg during the 4th Edition of ROME INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR, at Medina Art Gallery.

Dennis Josef Meseg discovered his love for art at a young age. The urge for artistic freedom made him leave home early. At the age of just 23, he caused a sensation as the youngest painter in a group exhibition in the French Galerie du Haut Pavé in Paris – at that time under the pseudonym “John Christoph Dionysos Sommersberg”. Left on his own, he accepted every job that was offered to him in order to earn a living, as he could not live on art alone. Ultimately, with a heavy heart, he decided to put art aside and learn the regular profession of media designer. At the age of 40, he has now succeeded in making his dream as an artist come true. Through his retrospective, with which he applied to the Alanus University in Alfter near Bonn in 2019, he was certified by two independent professors as having an extraordinary artistic talent, which secured him admission to art studies at the Alanus University. He spontaneously decided to study sculpture, attracted by the abundance of material that was offered to him when visiting the sculpture studios of his fellow students. From the beginning, the mainspring of his art was the attempt to literally make thoughts and emotions comprehensible, to find oneself, to recognize, to define.

Luca Curci – What is Art for you?
Dennis Josef Meseg – From the beginning, my concept of art was the attempt to make thoughts and emotions comprehensible. Creating art is a way to find me, recognize and define myself.

LC – What are you currently working on?
DJM – Currently, I am working on the “Orange Day” campaign. This UNwomen campaign focuses on violence against women. It is visualized by me through 222 Mannequins wrapped in orange “flutter tape”. This Installation will be shown in public places in many german cities.

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in society? And contemporary art?
DJM – My art intents to reflect on the current situation in our world. It shows irregularities in our society.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
DJM – I find my inspiration wherever I go, mostly in my local environment. I don’t feel limited in my fantasies and I am inspired by little things. I feel the need to express myself immediately.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
DJM – My installations usually need a lot of time and space, commitment and cooperation with many people.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you?
DJM – Taking part in this exhibition was an easy way to get international exposure.

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this event? How is it connected to the theme of the entire exhibition?
DJM – My artwork is connected to my installation “It is like it is”. This installation was shown in Germany during the corona pandemic. The bronze sculpture is the product of the installation, which travelled through more than 100 places in Germany. After living through the pandemic for 2 years, I felt the desire to create something beautiful to express hope and optimism. Unfortunately, there was no theme for the exhibition. I couldn’t define any connection to it.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
DJM – Yes, the concept allows artists from all over the world to display their artwork without being connected to a gallery.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
DJM – Yes, I did. Working with the ITSLIQUID group was easy and fast.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
DJM – It is a professional platform. ITSLIQUID is well organized and knows their business very well after so many years. The communication with the organizing staff was always very polite and fast.