Interview: Zsuzsa Klemm
Luca Curci talks with Zsuzsa Klemm during ANIMA MUNDI FESTIVAL 2019 – VISIONS at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space and during LONDON CONTEMPORARY International Art Fair at THE LINE Contemporary Art Space

Zsuzsa Klemm was born in former Yugoslavia, Serbia. She grew up multi cultural by a hungarian mother and german father. 1977 she moved with her parents and younger brother to Germany. Klemm studied fine arts at University of Fine Arts, HBK Braunschweig after visiting and exploring Ecuador for one month. 1997 she received MFA in Visual Arts from the University of Fine Arts in Braunschweig and moved to Düsseldorf, then 2008 to Berlin. Since then she had several exhibitions all around the world like Germany, Hungary, Canada, Israel, GB and Italy.

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Zsuzsa Klemm – Art is transformation of my feelings and as well conscious as unconscious thinking into the non-verbal language of art. For me it’s my tool to explore and own the world. It is the connection to the universe. It is the concentrated essence of the sense. In capturing moments of the now, art is a wheel for me to deal with entropy and mortality.

LC – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
ZK – My influences come through the dialogue with contemporary art and art history itself. But the most important is the artistic dispute with actual social context. Currently I’m working on different relevant projects. One is in the context of identity and feminism. It’s a series of paintings called “I climbed the mountain. Female discoverer”. The other project is a multi-medial about the value of water. Recently I started a new series of paintings called “Liquid Limits” which is questioning obsolete and rigid structures of personal thinking and those of the society in an artistic way.

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in the society? And the contemporary art?
ZK – Artist are like the king’s jester. They are not just allowed, but also invited to say the truth.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration? 
ZK – My inspirations come from movies, books, philosophy, everyday life, important social content and from journeys.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
ZK – The most challenging part is not to get stuck or be frustrated if the process doesn’t go the way I like.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this festival? In which way did it inspire you?
ZK – I loved the concept of the trilogy of “Anima Mundi – Consciousness, Rituals and Visions”, because it’s very much connected to my topics I’m working on. I was glad to be part of the exhibition “Visions” because visions are what the world needs. It also inspired me to meet participating artists from different parts of the world at the opening.

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?
ZK – The artwork “Visions Of Light” you can see during the festival is a small painting showing a face and different layer of colours. It invites us to consider our inner light and the importance of having visions.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
ZK – What I like about the platform ITSLIQUID the possibility given to artists to connect in an international level.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
ZK – The event was well organized. Thank you!

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
ZK – As the ITSLIQUID GROUP gives the possibility to show your artwork in different countries it is an opportunity for artists to get better international connections and also to show your artwork in different spaces and contexts.