Interview: Roger Josefsson
Luca Curci talks with Roger Josefsson, one of the winners of ARTIST OF THE MONTH – DECEMBER 2020.

For 30 years I have worked with a combination of collage and painting and I’m still as fascinated by the surprising possibilities of combination that can arise in this method of creating. I always start the work with preparing a workspace by scraping out paint in several layers until I feel unrestricting possibilities have arisen. After this the artistic process can start in an interacting combination of painting and collage which most often takes place at the floor of the studio where I have easy access to collage materials spread out over the floor wherein I use trial and error by adding and removing chosen material. By doing the work on the floor I also have a good overview and can let the process take its time. I also have to say that I am enormously interested in the very process, as a sort of end in itself where the result often comes as a total surprise. Normally I work on several projects at the same time which enables me to complete several works in a serial process where some sort of coherent narrative can arise. I never know in advance what I will make, I instead test the different possibilities which arise during the process. However, I can in retrospect sense an existential fundament and sometimes also an ironic element in my works. My inspiration is to create as suggestive an expression as possible where the picture, without synthetic means or strained shortcomings, can stand on its own.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Roger Josefsson – It ́s a part of my life. I am still fascinated by the creative process and it’s open possibilities.

LC – What are you currently working on?
RJ – After more than 40- years of work with a combination of painting and collage, in recent years I have also started sculpting in wood. Same motive and expression as before but now in 3 dimensions.

LC – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
RJ – Former painter. Studied at art schools in Stockholm in the 1970s and has since been active as an artist in combination with various jobs. I have many different influences but mostly I start from my own experiences.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
RJ – Yes in some way but mainly it feels more like coincidences are allowed to determine the process and this interest me a lot.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
RJ – A little different. I am not financially dependent on my creation and therefore not so familiar whit art and the gallery world. Still think that the creative process in the studio is the most primary thing in life.

LC – Do visitors’ suggestions enrich yourself and your art?
RJ – Of course! I ́m quite active on social media where I get in touch with other artist and get feedback.