Interview: Sarah Banis
Luca Curci talks with Sarah Banis during the 17th Edition of VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Sarah Banis is a young, modern abstract artist from Bavaria. Art has played a big role for her all her life. Even as a small child, she painted a lot with her father and at a young age discovered her passion for landscape painting on large canvases. 

Luca Curci – Which subject are you working on?
Sarah Banis – At the moment I am working on a series of small formats. It poses a certain challenge for me because I usually always paint large formats. But I am very much looking forward to seeing the result. The series is called “The World Through My Eyes “.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
SB – I have actually been painting all my life. But in my youth, I have not painted for a long time. I came back to it only recently, when I was looking for a change from my everyday life. I immediately fell in love again and was again on fire. Since then I can not stop. It is my passion. Since I worked with a professional artist as a child, I have all the basic techniques, as well as the color theory already learned. I have not studied art. I also do not think that it is necessary. Art is emotions that are processed on paper or canvas. The rest comes all by itself.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
SB – Actually everywhere. In my environment, in nature but mainly I let myself be guided by my feelings and intuitions. I do not want to commit myself in my painting to certain forms and symmetries. I just want to be free when painting.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
SB – Getting started. For me, the step from a blank canvas to the first splash of color is the hardest. I always have the worry that I might mess it up. But once that’s done, the rest comes naturally.

LC – How is your creative process?
SB – I start with the canvas. I think about what size I envision for the next picture and get the strips. Then I cover the canvas myself. I just love the feeling at the end when a painting has been created from your hand from the beginning. Next, my canvases are primed. In my sketchpad I think about roughly how I want to arrange my colors (but usually it always comes out differently than sketched at the beginning). I think about what colors I want to use, get me my water and off I go.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
SB – For me, the theme of the exhibition reflects exactly what art is about for me. It’s about the embodiment of identity in the form of complex structures and color schemes. Art acts as a mouthpiece to express emotions. By looking at a painting, the viewer gets an idea of the artist and what he wants to express. I find this incredibly fascinating and am happy to have been a part of it.

LC – In which way the artworks presented in our exhibition is connected with the exhibition theme?
SB – I find the theme of the exhibition very appropriate to my intention in art. For me, art is a way of expressing my inner self. If you want to take it exactly my soul is physically projected on the canvas. In my art I am completely free and can live out my identity completely free of external influences. I think that my painting fits very well with the theme of the exhibition.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
SB – I think it’s great to have a platform where you can get access and support to the international art world. Especially as a newcomer, the art world can be very big and overwhelming. I am very happy about the chance to show my work and to be supported so greatly.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
SB – I was really very excited about how well everything was organized. There were no problems with anything and communication was also very easy. I felt in good hands from start to finish.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our service?
SB – Absolutely. I think it’s a great opportunity to participate in great exhibitions without a gallery and to gain experience. The art world is really tough, so I think it’s great that there is a platform that doesn’t discriminate but gives everyone a chance to show themselves.