Have a look at Gabriela's INSTALL VIEW & AVAILABLE WORKS from her residence.
One of my favorite things is talking to painters about what we do. I dont mean the big fancy words, i mean down to earth, clear, simple 'shop talk'. here's another round :
CONVERSATION
Yifat Gat - Gabriele Herzog / photos by Julia Gat
YG : When did you first knew you wanted to be a painter ?
GH : Maybe when i was 14. i spent two weeks at a brilliant art summer camp which was run by art tutors from the Basel school of art. i totally loved it. i then entered art school when i was 16.
YG : When were your recent painter ‘happy moments’ ?
GH : Now here - at this amazing artist residency - working in an inspiring space and meeting you, your family and your friends. installing my work and taking part in the exhibition at SMAHK in Assen, Holland last autumn. taking part in your ‘black and white’ project at Look&Listen. being involved in several exhibitions in the last couple of years. meeting in person, many new artists all over through Facebook. i always feel happy when i paint (I do of course have ‘big-doubt-days’) and recently figuring out more what my painter language is, is a nice ‘happy painter moment’.
YG : What impact did your family life had on your work (parents, partners, kids) ?
GH : I guess like for everyone who has kids, it did have a big impact on restructuring how i arranged a good work/family balance. but all that has brought me to where i am today.
YG : Looking back, when were your biggest challenges to get where you are today, and how did you overcome them?
GH : I think my biggest challenge has always been to find the time to paint. due to finance space and time. there were long stretches of time when i didn’t paint. as i got older i understood more how to ‘just do it’. i feel fortunate that i have been/still am now, able to do it at all.
YG : What are your current projects in or outside the studio ?
GH : Just painting in my studio in London and also in Berlin. trying to push my work. i get bored very easily with my work and so i always try to find new and uncomfortable ground. i am currently working on another artist’s book of mine to be self-published soon. and thinking about organizing/curating an exhibition in Berlin.
YG : Would you like to share about your practice? color-support-forms ?
GH : For now i mostly stretch my own smallish canvases with untreated cotton canvas. sometimes i use primed bought canvas as well, mainly when i want to work on a larger format. i paint with acrylic gesso gouache oil-stick and spray-paint. and during this residency i have been working only on paper (thank you :)) pushing me to work larger and faster.
YG : Can you elaborate on how social media influence your work ?
GH : Social media has transformed my life as an artist. i love the artist community on Facebook and Instagram. i feel very inspired and in awe by so many artists there. all the exhibitions and artist’s projects i have been involved in over the last two years are linked to fb in one way or another. social media is an incredible tool and platform.
YG : Anything else ?
GH : This residency has been so good for me and my work. to be in an unknown space opens up so many new possibilities i would never think of otherwise! i walk around the pretty village, sit in the beautiful and mysterious studio, look at the sky, the caves behind the house...... wow!!!
thank you Yifat for asking me about my work and thoughts.
* Gabriele stayed at St-Chamas for two weeks in Feb 2016. ( Merci Agathe ! ) The fruits of her residency where exhibited at the library gallery at Cornillon-Confoux.