1 When did you start to make art?
At birth… But when did art start making me?
2 How did you evolve into a professional artist?
Just by being a part of the alternative scene in Berlin in the ’90ies, when I started working with Open Space Artspace and Open Space Performunion. At that time, I was doing a lot of organisation, playing music in bands and to theatre performances and was heavily into puppeteering and video production… Crazy times!
3 What drove you to make art as a professional vocation?
Well it’s really art driving me, think that is why they call it a vocation…
4 Explain your inspiration?
Quite strictly anything that surrounds me is a source of inspiration.
5 In what way does your inspiration transform into ideas?
I guess it has something to do with combining the unusual, finding common elements in objects or in events. This then regularly results in creation.
6 From Ideas to production of art – how? And why?
At present I create using screen printing on canvas and garments, plus a lot of graphic and web design, and then there is the music I play – in this amazing Band with Calum F. Kerr, Tim Flitcroft, and A.N. Other Musician. We’re called Lonesome Cowboys from Hell, by the way, and I play an instrument there that I have build myself – a bucket bass. I’d like to find some time and space to do some more abstract work in painting and sculpture, though.
7 Could your ideas be portrayed in any other medium? If so which?
Well I say my ideas have to do with the transgression of boundaries by common meanings, and they are thus highly apt to be used or tranposed into any other medium. Such as film, in particular.
8 Which artists would you most like to blatantly rip off?
Well guess there are quite a few that owe me something LOL!
9 Why is your art made?
Urge to create.
10 What does being an artists mean to you?
I find the whole discussion about “the art world” at best ridiculous, at worst disgusting. There is no such thing as “the art world” populated only by “artists” – I am living in that one real world we all share and I am a human being fist of all, and all of human beings are artists. That’s that.
11 Are you happy with your reasons for making art? i.e Are there any trade offs that make life hard?
Highly creative individuals – so called artists – are in an ambiguous position. On the one hand, they are extremely intelligent and highly qualified; on the other hand, they are among the poorest groups in our economy (not to speak of a few blips). Why? because we tend to produce highly individual goods, hence pricy, that our friends can’t afford.
12 When does your art become successful?
I quite like it when people notice a piece of art and like it, such as the t-shirt “guantanamo bay – where human rights take a holiday” that I came up with some time ago. Still very much up to date!!! – so I can say my art is successful when it triggers a conversation, or it adds to a discussion, so it changes awareness. That has nothing to do with numbers of copies in the first place, which is the commercial success then.
13 What is art?
Art is when you do it anyway. LOL
14 How do you start the process of making work?
Getting up in the morning… cup of coffee…
15 Who prices your work? And how is the price decided upon?
Damn! I’d like to know! They’ve made a mistake!
16 What is your next; move, project,show etc?
The next will probably be recordings for the Lonesome Cowboys from Hell, a record release and a tour at some point. In the mean time, I keep hacking that notorious newsletter…
17 What are the pros and cons of the art market?Pro: it is a quasi monopolistic market. Contra: It is highly divided into different sectors, mainly into a high-priced (or, individually priced) segment – that’s where the rich kids are -, a mid-priced segment where you find everything that lives up to a certain technical standard, and a really interesting dirt cheap or free sector that’s like the breeding ground for all the other stuff that’s happening, the place where the real conversation happens. So a difficult market to manoever in.
18 Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?
I’d like to be remembered as a person for who I am, how I behave, for my intention and my tender love. Don’t really care for fame, would rather build up someone famous who can shield me from the blame… NO ID!
19 Any routine in making your artwork? If so what?
In creation, no: in manufacturing, yes, there is a huge factor of routine in lots of the things I do. It’s not that easy after all. Stretching out over the limits of what I can do routinely has never proven right for me, that’s for training. In that sense I am a very conscious creator.
20 What has been the biggest break in your career?
I don’t do breaks, but I have lived in squats… Ha ha! Nay, probably the biggest career change was my move from Berlin to London I’d say. A break? Could do with a break, really.
21 Who has been the biggest influence on you?
Lots of people! In Hamburg: My grandma and my parents. In Berlin: Philip Brehse, Michael Steger, Ralph Klein, Florian Loycke, Txus. In London: all the people I still work with, too numerous
to list.
22 How many artworks have you given away and to whom?
Quite a few, but not as many as I wish I could.
Jan can be seen at NOID Gallery, June 4th
noidgallery.net
