Interview: Gottfried Romer (Painto)
Luca Curci talks with Gottfried Romer (Painto) during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2020 at Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi.

Upon first glance, Roemer Gottfried’s works appear as nearly abstract, impressionistic paintings. Each composition is, however, a photograph on an aluminum surface. Roemer’s process is at once unique and reminiscent of the early impressionist art movement; by experimenting with motion techniques through the exposure process of photography, the artist seamlessly captures a poignant sense of immediacy in both light and color within his works. The movement of his lens throughout the artist’s exposure process renders blurred yet elegant swaths of color that outline impressions of shapes rather than their actual forms. Roemer coins his practice as ‘Painto’, a synthesis of elements of both painting and photography. Architectural images, seascapes and nude portraits are all captured in the artist’s signature style. The artist renounces straight depictions, instead choosing to interpret such diverse locations as New York, Cape Cod, Berlin, Hamburg, Isle of Sylt, Rome and Venice as well as human bodies through his highly subjective process of painting with light. Key in Roemer’s Painto’s is the perception of the viewer, who is actively encouraged to use their own imagination to further deconstruct or reassemble the images at hand. The pictures are shaped and seen based on perception, and thus entirely contingent upon the sense of sight and process of being seen. A strong tension between reality and imagination materializes, imbuing the viewer with agency and control to make their own image and create their own freedoms. In this highly individual process, the boundaries between seeing and being become blurred.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Gottfried Romer (Painto) – I’ve been a photographer for several decades, depicting reality in different ways. Inspired by the late works of the great painter William Turner I discovered special techniques of photographing to show the essentials of my motifs while wiping the details away in order to create space for the viewer to fill in his individual emotions, phantasies, wishes, desires…

LC – What is art for you?
GR – For me art is a special way to show my own individual way of viewing and to let people take part in that.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration? 
GR – In nature, cities and together with inspired people.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
GR – To get close to my imaginations while trying to capture them

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in the society? And the contemporary art?
GR – An artist can play different roles… mine is helping people to rise above their realitybound perception of the world.

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?
GR – “Momental joy” was especially created for the festival, the other two existed before and fit into the theme perfectly.

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?
GR – Through the consistent, deliberate renunciation of any form of direct imagery, my works open up special views of human bodies… body language becomes more evident through my abstract photography. It becomes visible in the viewer’s phantasy.

LC – What do you think about the organisation of our event?
GR – It was well organized, I met many interesting people and artists, very nice locations, but I missed some introduction speeches.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
GR – I would suggest a collaboration and I’m looking forward to explore the services during the next weeks.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
GR – Yes, I think so and I’m excited to feel the resonance oft he exhibition!