Interview: Ernestine Faux
Luca Curci talks with Ernestine Faux during FRAGMENTED IDENTITIES, 2nd appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021 at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello in Venice.

Ernestine Faux ́s art practice ranges from drawing, painting, relief work, three-dimensional sculptures or objects, to the room or outdoor installations and sound productions. Her works and artifacts are minimalistic, abstract paintings realized with acrylic or oil and brush on canvas by using the means of color as the main expression. She experiences color consciously as a language of the emotions, not only perceived through the eyes but also penetrating body and spirit! In her artworks Ernestine succeeds in bringing the inner essence, the actual being to the surface, making it visible. Just as the artist’s live spreads between Asia and Europe, there are also rooms and situations in her paintings, a space between space, not separating with “either – or”, rather allowing both worlds, bridging the “here as well as there!”. Through color expressions reflects her personal as well as the current world mood.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Ernestine Faux – Art is my visual communication through colors, geometric forms, symbols and shapes. Art takes the visitor, viewer into an unknown world that he would normally never be able to enter. It aims to heighten perceptual awareness, compelling individuals to become more connected to the space around them. Art is a contribution to our Society, the human values and how we perceive this fundamental relationship. At the core of all Art: It’s freedom, freedom its art.

LC – What are you currently working on?
EF – I am currently working on a sequel of the “color symbols” series. The work selected here at Border Art Fair Venice illuminates the relationship between the prism colors in ancient symbolic shapes and the “queen of colors” on a deep black base. The ongoing series focuses on the reverse color radius, the base withe color, and
the rainbow spectrum MEETS the symbols.

LC – What is your creative process like? 
EF – Drawing from my own personal history, traveling and living more than 20 years in the Middle East and Asia, my work taps into ancient memories of various cultures and symbolism, transforming it into now time, my contemporary interpretations. Maybe one could also call them codes of colors, forms and shapes. I am also concerned about these inner state of being, a space I enter when I paint. A coming and going from one plane into another state of being. The intention to bring back into the material, realistic world a visual representation of the vast, creative space of nothingness – and offer the visitor, the viewer, the chance or the possibility to enter into a dialogue with a world which he might not enter in his everyday life.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
EF – My early interest in natural phenomena and perception led me to create works, paintings, reliefs or big sculpture object, that simultaneously sparked and challenged the senses. Color has always been central to my work. I am interested in all the nuanced interpretations, it’s energy, it’s power, where the colors can be noticed as a vibration and felt, almost heard as a sound by the visitors. We know from science that the difference between various colors is attributed to different wavelengths. We also know from personal experience that different colors create different moods.

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?
EF – During the 2020-2021 COVID lock – down intervals I spend a lot of time withdrawn in my studio, and in that inner creative world, to me a luxury. Emerged out this time spend there are the creative shapes of symbols that have existed for many thousands of years, as a new visual representation, a messenger of hope. Before pandemic my work was more chromatic- monochrome. I was very fascinated that out of a very dark period in our human experience such strong ancient shapes of harmony would come forth, the classical ratios of the symbols have a mathematical beauty. The theme of the festival “ Fragmented Identities” found me, dealing and exploring the fragmentations in our human forms – at the same time searching and striving for that deep inner sense of feeling connected.

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?
EF – No, the work has been already completed beginning of this year. It is part of my ongoing “inner work” and a natural flow of my sequel work concept coming out during the pandemic time of isolation.
However, when I have been selected to Borders Art Fair, and Fragmented Identities, I felt the power of synchronicity, connected to a fast space, a morphemic field of consciousness. We human beings are exploring similar themes.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
EF – Being an artist is a lifestyle, a vocation, and at the same time a mission. It brings a life full of material insecurity, that is not easy in our material oriented world. At the same time it’s a privilege to be able to do what I love to do – and what evokes a feeling of peace inside me. My mission as an artist, committed since 30 years, to stay true to myself and to discover and help others explore the possibilities available in our fundamental perceptions. In a digital world with so much visual noise, it is of great importance for people to have artwork that brings clarity, balance and
understanding to the senses.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
EF – Yes, definitely, I believe, it can be a great opportunity for artists. That is the reason, why I applied.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
EF – ITSLIQUID GROUP is a very impressive platform and I am in the process to learn more about the organization. I am glad I found the way into the Platform. Congratulations to such a wonderful art-forum.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
EF – Yes, I enjoyed the cooperation with you a a lot. Thank you for the opportunity.