Gisèle Schindler talks to Release01 about her work

Gisèle Schindler talks to Release01 about her work

Artist Studio: Gisèle Schindler

Mm: Why do you paint in oil?

G.S:
I have always painted in oil, it is my medium. To me, oil feels more
natural than acrylics, less synthetic, less like plastic. Oil paint is
a very old medium, it is traditional and nostalgic both for the painter
and the viewer. In my eyes oil paint is the most intense, shining and
vibrant colour.
Painting in oil needs time and holds a certain
sensuality. This is important to me because nowadays everything else is
moving so fast.

Mm: What is your artistic background?

G.S:At
the age of seventeen I started studying Fine Arts at the "Ecole
Cantonale d'Art du Valais" (ECAV) and participated in an exchange
program of the Slade University in London. Five years later I graduated
from ECAV. Very early in my career I decided to specialize in painting.
In the 90's everything was about conceptual art, whereas figurative
painting seemed very unfashionable at the time.
After having worked
as an artist for several years I decided to study visual communication
at the College of Fine Art and Design in Zurich (HGKZ). Somehow I
thought it would be easier to channel my creativity and become a visual
designer. This implied a conventional as opposed to artistic lifestyle.
Holding back my artistic flow however did not work for long. Soon I
started painting again.

Mm:What is the difference between art and design?

G.S:Both
art and design use the same tools and tricks but they come from
fundamentally different backgrounds and have different objectives. Art
at its best is a philosophy to me which communicates its ideas
visually. My work starts in the depths of my head. It is a constant
attempt to channel and link impressions, everyday situations and
memories. My paintings are fiction and often tell stories in a
theatrical way. The process of creation resembles the mechanism of
dreaming. First and foremost I am concerned with creating emotions
artificially. My paintings are supposed to evoke similar emotions in
the viewer.

Mm:Do you exhibit and sell your work?

G.S:Yes I do. Only if you do exhibitions people start paying attention to your thoughts and ideas.

"Sophie"

Mm:Why do you paint figuratively?

G.S:I intend to get as close as possible to the viewer. The dialogue between my work and the viewer is of great importance to me.

"Gregory"

Mm: What about the concept?

G.S:Sometimes
when I look at contemporary art I wonder where the concept end and
where the art starts. Art equals concept equals art? - That is a
difficult question, if you ask me. I like to be personal. I think art
is allowed to be funny and can expose embarrassment or human weakness.

Mm:What is boring art?

G.S:Art that leads a monologue and strives for nothing but effect.