Interview: Simon Walther
Luca Curci talks with Simon Walther , one of the winners of ARTIST OF THE MONTH – JANUARY 2021.

As a child, I tried drawing and painting. I can still remember that my parents hung up all the drawings in the apartment and turned them into a large poster wall. When I was at school I took design courses and in 2001 I painted the Arc de Triumph on canvas for the first time. After rediscovering art and painting for myself in 2018, I paint with pouring media, structure pastes and use various aids. I am fascinated by the different consistencies of the colors. Abstract art frees me and is fun. The perfect way to «switch off». I let myself be seduced by the materials and colors and am happy about the chemical reactions. Abstract art is not easy. Walking the tightrope between too much and too little, between boredom and highlight or between too much or too little color mixture is a challenge and does not correspond to the cliché that everyone can tip color on the picture. Again and again I distance myself from the picture in order to reevaluate proportions, golden cuts or harmony. Sometimes all it takes is a touch of color to change the way the image looks. Since I am versatile, so are my pictures. Sometimes I paint somber, sometimes colorful and then again with neon colors – as varied as life is.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Simon Walther – Art is like breathing in and out. It is important to regenerate me. I like being mindful with it. Art drives society forward and can open up new perspectives. Art should and is inspire.

LC – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
SW – I work in social affairs and have many encounters with people. These certainly help to go through life mindfully. it may sound boring, but I take my inspiration from nature and from my cultural journeys through the world. Yes, the world inspires me to do so. I’ve also been incredibly keen on colors since I was a child. For me, colors are a wonder of the world. A matter that pulls me under its spell.

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in the society? And contemporary art?
SW – Artists create new incentives and material for discussion. They may inspire society or bring new concepts and ways of thinking. For me, modern art stands for porgessiveness, banality, humor and emotionality. Express yourself.

LC – How would you describe your style?
SW – I work on different materials. At the moment I’m working in fluid art. I try to find the balance in a picture with few resources. I always ask myself whether the printout is complete or whether there are still more facets needed in the picture. Finishing work at the right time is probably the challenge for all artists. I also take up the Japanese motto of “Wabi-Sabi”. It is in my nature to pursue the impervious to real nature. I paint in a modern, emotional way and want to bring feelings into rooms with my objects. So that each person takes time for themselves and opens up emotionally on the inside.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
SW – Yes of course. I think I now paint in a reduced way and use materials more consciously. I suspect the compositions and layers in a picture are deeper.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
SW – When I see the work finished, I’m sometimes surprised how it came out of one piece. Sometimes I don’t like the pictures either and it drives me crazy until finally a finished piece is in front of you. Then sometimes I’m happy to have finally achieved my goal. So it can be suffering, but it can also bring a lot of joy.