P.K: We are a fan - we have previously posted your work-Ghost Carpet. Do you think society has lost hope for a meaningful future at all? What do you consider pure contemporary horror thing of our times as being?
NJW: Yes, I am afraid, society has lost hope for a meaningful future--at least for itself, that is society as a whole. But what does society know anyway? Individual hope is much harder to beat of course. I still believe in a glory communist future.
P.K:Do you believe there is a codependency between ethics and aesthetics?
NJW: No. At least not up to the point, where a certain aesthetic gets charged with politics. Then, I guess, we perceive it as political and in so far ethical or unethical. I like to play with that tension in my work. Somehow it seems to be my calling to aim for ambivalence and sometimes confusion. A lot of times I would try to use affirmation as a critical strategy. Getting your own hands dirty in order to show them to the others.
P.K: How do you feel about individual action Vs expectations, do you feel art needs to affect to be effective, like for example, questioning the reality and social constructs of today?
NJW:I don't think art needs to be political in that sense, that it needs to address problems of our society. But it can. And I think art always needs to affect to be effective, be it in a political or generally realistic way, or in any other. The main thing about art is communication. It can go about it in various ways, it doesn't need to be loud or shrill. Actually art can not not communicate, but then again there are a lot of artists that don't really have that much to say or communicate in a very coded way. Sometimes maybe to hide the fact that they are speechless or to speak only to a very few to create a distinct space--usually for the art community.
P.K: Is there a right balance between frustration and enthusiasm in an artist’s practice? Which of the two is the more important to you?
NJW: Definitely enthusiasm. I am generally so fed up with everything, it is enough conflict for a lifetime of making art and for this art to be critical and dark. I need enthusiasm to carry it out.
P.K One focal point of your practice is staging your own persona -criticizing yourself- self portraits and whatnot. Can you tell us about the idea behind this concept? Is it a type of role playing or a personal self preservation practice?
NJW:
Ach Gott, wer bin ich denn schon groß,
ich bin ein Schwein auf einem Floß,
ein Sinnbild der Vergänglichkeit,
auf einem Floß im Strom der Zeit,
war da je Floß, je Strom, je Schwein?
ein Punkt im Raum, ein Nichts im Sein,
P.K Favourite bad habit
NJW: Speaking german :(
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Image : Sascha Herrmann |
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| Image : Sascha Herrmann |
Image : Jakob Otter
Image : Eike Walkenhorst
Image : Ivan Murzin