Interview: Greta Schnall
Luca Curci talks with Greta Schnall during CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2021 at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

My main focus is photography with extreme digital editing processing. This means that I am creating pictures and graphics from architectural, natural and abstract subjects with often surreal components. My favorite themes are front facades of modern buildings or parts of them, which I’m digitally editing and finally changing it into an abstract digital creation. Above all, I want to show how the simple, often depressing architecture on photos can be changed with image editing in an imaginative and exciting way. So one should come from the functional to the pure fantasy motive, through which one can be inspired variously.

Luca Curci – According to you, what makes a good photo? Which details do you focus on?
Greta Schnall – The motif must be clearly and purely recognizable. Both in terms of the sharpness of detail and in terms of the motif itself. I mainly focus on modern buildings. My building facades should be depicted without any annoying objects such as cars.

LC – How much is the editing process important? How’s yours?
GS – Nowadays image editing generally takes up more space because the imagination of the people is becoming more and more important.

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it like your medium of expression?
GS – Yes, I want to show how the simple, oftentimes also depressing architecture, can be transformed in an imaginative and exciting way, by using photo image editing. The transformation from simple and functional to fantasy motive is just inspiring. Due to the purely graphic components, the viewer’s eye can be relaxed or stimulated here.

LC – How do you choose your subjects? Is it a reasoned or an instinctive process?
GS – Both. I am always specifically looking for modern building facades. Then I discover a certain building and I feel that it could be processed perfectly.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
GS – Despite tired eyes, I feel good when I see what I have created from the simple motive; and the work affects me in my aesthetic sense.

LC – Can you explain something about the artwork you have in our exhibition?
GS – My artwork “White Village” is a photo of a front facade of a chapel, which I’ve digitally edited several times. It is supposed to show that even a simple, small sacred motif can turn into a modern architectural creation with imagination.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? How did it inspire you?
GS – Above all, I like that the festival has a current topic but at the same time offers many possibilities for expression. I just like the wide range of exhibition locations too. The theme of the new city character inspired me.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
GS – The ITSLIQUID platform constantly offers the latest news from various areas, events and artists. It gives you the feeling that you are always up to date and right in the middle.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
GS – Yes. Above all despite the size of the company, I always have the feeling that I am valued as a person and an artist and treated as an individual. I am also regularly informed about the latest exhibition and competition opportunities. That’s why, as an artist, I’ve been in contact with the ITSLIQUID Group for years.