Interview: Erick Costa Kohl
Luca Curci talks with Erick Costa Kohl during FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES, the second appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021, at Palazzo Albrizzi Capello.

The Brazilian-German artist Erick Costa Kohl was born in Osasco, São Paulo Brazil in 1984 and has been living and working in Berlin since 2015. Graduated in Fashion, he worked in the market as a Fashion Coordinator until 2015. In 2018 he participated in his first group exhibition for Berlin Art Week, ZWISCHEN DEN GIPFELN at PREMARTS Berlin Germany.In 2019 he made his first solo exhibition – OFFEN EXHIBITION – Berlin Germany at Die Kleine Wunderkammer. In Berlin, he started a children’s fashion brand and is dedicated to his embroidery work on photos that he finds on flea markets. By rescuing long lost memories and particular experiences he gives new meaning to these photos. Recently, he started a series of embroidery on maps, where he focuses on love, culture shock, roots and heritage.

Luca Curci – What are you currently working on?
ECK – My current focus is entirely on my artwork, I believe I have an important message to get across, and so I am writing a project for a book in which guest authors will write about my embroidered map series.

LC – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most? 
ECK – I have a degree in fashion and worked for many years as a fashion and style coordinator. And I believe that having experience in trend research, made me have the focus to seek references and inspiration for my work.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way? 
ECK – I don’t believe my style has changed when it comes to technique, but I have opened myself up to personal experiences so that my work has become more political. As a black person more than ever, I believe we need to talk about our lives and experiences. 

LC – What is your creative process like?
ECK – In my research and search for photos the creation of a new embroidery is 100% intuitive, by looking at the photo I immediately have it ready in my head, and I only buy photos that really inspire me. 

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks? 
ECK – Sometimes I have an idea but I don’t have a picture that fits perfectly, I think the search for the perfect image is what makes me the most time.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works? 
ECK – The works presented are part of a pre-existing series, which is still in development at the moment are 14 embroidered maps.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the festival’s theme?
ECK – I was born in Brazil and I have been living in Berlin for 6 years, living far away from where my identity was so present made me look at the various fragments that exist in me, and this is reflected in my presented work, when I saw the theme the connection was immediate.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform? 
ECK – ITSLIQUID is a platform that I believe provides great visibility for the selected artists. 

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
ECK – Yes, completely! This was my first exhibition outside Berlin and I am already reaping the fruits of my participation. 

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us? 
ECK – The experience was very good and I intend to participate in future opportunities.