Interview: Christophe Szkudlarek
Luca Curci talks with Christophe Szkudlarek during CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2021 – 8TH EDITION at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

Christophe Szkudlarek is a textile designer for fashion and house, and an illustrator. He lives and works either in Normandy or Paris (France). He is currently working for various leading trend agencies, lingerie companies, fashion and furnishing industries. He’s started his career creating decoration items in resin inspired by the vegetal world. His graphic designs are some dreamlike scenes. He directs his work towards his favorite themes: travel in all its forms, loneliness, feeling of love and sensuality, the inner journey. The following techniques are featured to produce this artworks in small series: laser engraving, digital print and screen printing on fine art paper and wood.

Luca Curci – What’s your background?
Christophe Szkudlarek – I graduated from a school of applied arts in Paris (école Duperré). I studied the arts and textile printing. I worked as a textile designer for fashion and furniture brands. I am therefore very sensitive to decorative arts, ornamental motifs and to the confrontation of colors and materials. I now focus on creating more personal works that I realize in limited series. These are digital works printed on paper or on wood using screen printing, laser engraving or digital printing.

LC – What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
CS – The experience that marked me the most is a romantic relationship that has nourished my recent inspiration. I’m very much influenced generally by social relationships. It gives me envy and imagination. I have difficulty to create when I have a feeling of solitude. Music also sustains my creativity and makes my imagination vibrate in a very direct way.

LC – What are you currently working on?
CS – I am currently working on the design of erotic visuals. They speak of the relationship between two, love or sexual, of desire, of attraction between two beings, otherness. I engrave my artwork on paper or wood (laser engraving). I like the idea of fixing a scene in burning a support, like the pyro engraving, like a tattoo on the skin.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
CS – Yes. The theme of sensuality, pleasure and that of belonging to someone or to a territory.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
CS – The hardest part is when you have no idea, the blank page. It’s a frustrating time, like the lack of an addiction.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
CS – When I have finished a work I feel a great joy, a kind of euphoria. A feeling of enjoyable accomplishment. And then the question quickly comes: what will I create next?

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
CS – Yes. I like the idea of confronting very different modern artistic universes to illustrate a unique theme. And this in a place as prestigious as Venice. I love this openness. I feel concerned about the two themes of the exhibition. ‘Future Landscape’: some of my works correspond well to the idea of borders, of connections between body, mind and space (a country, a landscape..). ‘Mixing Identity’: I also feel concerned by this theme of the analysis of the hidden parts of our identities, especially through the romantic relationship.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artworks presented been created for the exhibition or as a part of preexisting works?
CS – The works presented were created before you became interested in my work. These are recent works made between 2019 and 2021.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
CS – It is a platform that disseminates all forms of art and allows us to remain open to the world. It is also an agent that provides essential visibility to artists from around the world. It is important for us in order to be able continue working.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
CS – Yes I recommend it. Your services have been very professional and well conducted.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
CS – Yes. This is important for artists who generally have a solitary and introspective approach to have the opportunity to join this kind of group event. Personally, it encourages and motivates me to continue. I hope it will be an event that will allow me to find customers and other openings.