Christian August
At The Ode To we are always curious to learn more about creativity and artistry, so we asked Christian August to tell us a little bit about his life, his art and his sources of inspiration.
What do you call your series of artworks?
– I've chosen to call this series of artworks 'Feelings'. The idea for this series came from the inspiration of various places that have an effect on me, where I feel a resonance - places that do something to me. These are, for example, certain streets in Berlin, a house entrance or a building site, forest clearings, or my parents' garden.
What technique have you used?
– For this series I've used acrylic paints. I paint very unconventionally with water, brushes, rags, brooms, scrapers, nothing you can buy for painting in an artist's store. The paper is coated so that it can withstand a lot of water without breaking.
What inspired you to create the artworks you have made for The Ode To?
– Inspiration can be found in every discovery and consideration. Actually, anything that makes me think and makes sense for my work can be inspiring. For this series, it was mainly places and situations that inspired me. Everything is complex. We often long to find simple answers, but nothing is simple. It is one of the greatest challenges of our time to come to terms with the complexity of the world.
Can you tell us about your background and how you came to be an artist?
– I was born in Halle-Saale in the former GDR. As a child, I always liked to paint to express myself. I was 12 years old when the Wall came down. In 1994, I started with graffiti, and in 1998 I began to study design in Halle. My interest in painting and drawing slowly developed over time. I grew up in a village in the East. After reunification in the wild 90s, everything was very confused and I didn't have anyone who could help me with what I could do. I then decided to study design at Burg Giebichenstein and initially did a lot of graphic design and photography. Everything gradually developed into art in Berlin. I've been part of the KLUB7 art group since 1998. I started painting my own works in 2014 and exhibited them for the first time in 2015. In 2017, I had my first solo exhibition in Berlin. Now I work with galleries, do exhibitions - alone and with my collective. I live and work in Berlin.
How would you describe your art and aesthetics in three words?
– Complex, diffuse, and vague.
What we love about CHRISTIAN AUGUST:
Christian August's artistry is a dance of complexity on paper. With acrylic paints and unconventional tools, Christian's art defies norms, capturing the intricate and profound in the simplicity of everyday places.
