Contemporary artist Lena Mueller addresses basic human questions of structure and connection in her art.
The majority of my work reflects my fascination with nature and scientific phenomena, especially my interest in the micro- and macrocosm. Moreover, my art is characterised by a kind of philosophical orbit around the questions of time, space, origin, human existence, the cosmos and composition.
Take us to the beginning of your story. How did your tryst with art begin?
I grew up in a family with an interest in art. My parents sometimes took me to art exhibitions, my brother crafted sculptures and jewellery. Over time, I have come to know art as something valuable that is worth talking about and artistic skills as something worth striving for. In my youth, August Macke’s watercolours appealed to me very much and I got a hunch that art could enrich me. Later I decided to study art, which I did from 2005 to 2010 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg.
What inspires you? Take us through your process and continuous frameworks of reference.
The majority of my work reflects my fascination with nature and scientific phenomena, especially my interest in the micro- and macrocosm. Moreover, my art is characterised by a kind of philosophical orbit around the questions of time, space, origin, human existence, the cosmos and composition. Through my art I trace the secret that lies in everything, in the very small and the very large, in the micro- and macrocosm. Nature fascinates me in all its facets. I’m like a sponge and I travel through the world with my eyes open.
I like to read science magazines and listen to radio podcasts, for example about the universe, dark matter, the world of plants and the world of microorganisms. This inspires me and sets my own philosophical questions and thoughts in motion.
For me, inspiration is ultimately a form of association capacity that paves the way to the inside.
On a haptic level I am inspired by different materials, tools and experimenting with different techniques. Minimalism and reduction generally inspire me, finding a kind of core essence is exciting.
That’s what I like about Japanese haikus, short poems about nature. They are simple, yet they say so much. “Like astronomy, a frog looks at the sky.” These are just a few words from Kobayashi Issa and yet they open up a wide view of the world.
What is the primary role of an artist? How do you describe yourself in the context of challenging people’s perspectives via your work and art?
Artists open eyes and broaden horizons. Every artist has his own tasks, which he pursues. Some convey messages, work towards political enlightenment, highlight abuses, others increase awareness or create new perspectives and points of view. The beauty of art is its diversity.
In my art I pursue basic human questions, how is everything structured, how is everything connected in the world. Much is connected in nature and we can learn so much from it. It is a kind of voyage of discovery on which I would like to take my viewers.
The encounter of the scientific visual world and the poetic perspective fascinates me. For me it is like a search for traces, my aim is to discover something new in the artistic process and in doing so gain a form of knowledge in the process.
It is always exciting for me to create abstract or abstracted visual worlds which give me the possibility to develop my own thoughts and ideas during the technical process and ultimately to present these to the viewers of my pictures.
Contemporary artist Lena Mueller
How do you deal with the conceptual difficulty and uncertainty of creating work?
At some point I realised that if my art is not the place where I can be free, then where is it that I can be free? There are so many limitations in life. My art is my place of freedom. I have internalised that.
What are you looking for when you look at other artists’ work? Which shows, performances and experiences have shaped your own creative process? Who are your maestros?
Four years ago I saw Agnes Martin’s exhibition at the Tate Modern in London and I was really excited about her courage in minimalism and her absorbing visual worlds. Agnes Martin said, “You have to find the things you like. The things that are pleasant to your inner being.” That’s an attitude I hold in high regard.
There are also many great contemporary artists and designers whose artistic visual worlds enrich me. It’s hard to say what attracts me in general. It can be vary wildly. A certain form of reduced aesthetics in other artists is also appealing to me. And an honest passion that you see in the work.
Contemporary artist Lena Mueller
You have spent time amongst artists in flow. What have you observed?
As an artist, you have to live with insecurities. I also see this in other artists. It’s a kind of productive struggle, a game where you control, but also accept insecurities. The flow is the secret of each individual. I would describe it as something that is a little beyond our material understanding, something that emerges, that is the magical and exciting thing about artistic work.
Contemporary artist Lena Mueller
What are you working on now? What’s coming next season?
I was recently invited by The Line, Miami, to take part in an interesting collaborative drawing project, called The Line Drawing Project, wherein artists react to the drawing of another artist. I like the idea of a worldwide creative connection! I am also planning to participate in some calls for tender and am open to interesting projects, inspiring collaborations and look forward to everything that comes my way.
Before you go – you might like to browse our Artist Interviews. Interviews of artists and outliers on how to be an artist. Contemporary artists on the source of their creative inspiration.c
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