#Art Blog article n.37: Interview with Christian Ettmayr
10. October, 2024 - Reading time 15 Min. - Christian Ettmayr, Peter von Hauerland
#italy #design #culture #paintings #architecture #streetculture
I produced my first monochromatic picture, I think I just wrote "bar" on it like the Italian bar where you go and I loved it. I loved the picture for myself. Then I did another one and friends of me really loved it so I gave it to them as a present and it's still hanging in their house and that's how it started: I realized that other people did like my work.
INTRODUCTION TO ITALIAN INSPIRED ART
Transcript of the Interview with Chritian Ettmayr for Hybrid Gallery Von Hauerland
INTRODUCTION
PH: So, Christian, how often are you in Italy actually?
CE: Normally two times a year sometimes more often unfortunately this year less but if I'm not in Italy a year it's nearly like a lost year.
PH: Do you cook italian at home as well?
CE: Yes, but actually, I am not a good cook, but my wife is. And yes, pasta is the most important dish for me. I love Italian food and at home most of our food is also italian. And just love pasta, I could eat each day pasta.
PH: So are you into brewing Italian coffe with a barista style behind it or is it for you all about what's happenning on the canvas?
CE: I like both espresso and cappuccino but I am not doing it for myself at home. I prefer to get it in a bar or somewhere else done at home because I need also that surrounding.
PH: So what type of Italian caffe do you like? This super nice urban barista caffe or more local kind of place where you can feel free?
CE: I'm not an expert. I just like to go in a bar and order a cappuccino also in the after noon. When you are in Italy for me, I really like to go in a bar have a coffee and listen to the people or when you are on the street sitting in a coffee and you're here all the noise on the street the rumble and so on that is what I like.
CHRISTIAN´S INSPIRATION AND CONCEPT OF HIS ART
PH: Christian, your Art is obviously associated with Italy right?
CE: Yes, because I love Italy. I believe Italy is for me mother of Design it's origin of Design. I love the Italian language, to listen to it, the melody of it, and that is inspiring me for what I do with my Art.
PH: Christian, do you have a favourite region in Italy?
CE: Whereever I go, I really like it in Italy but my favourite region or my favorite city is definitely Rome. When I touch Roman ground I feel at home as it's me as I was ever there...I don't know what this is.
•Mostly smaller acrylic paintings on canvas.
•Paintings inspired by Italian culture.
PH: Christian you use a lot of italian texting in your art mostly related to street signs and gastronomy right?
CE: Yes, because when you walk on italian streets thru Italian cities you find everywhere those signs and they are very short and they say everything: "Ingresso Libero" - free entrance, "Entrata Libera" - free entrance, so I like this because it's short and especially those two I like because they are welcoming you.
PH: Christian how did you find your way to actually start painting?
CE: I think it was an art exhibition which was the first trigger. I was with my brother in the art exhibition of his friend and I was fascinated of what the artist did. It rememberrrd me that I also like making art at school and then I just started: I bought canvas, I bought colours and I created my first monochromatic picture.
PH: What is inspiring you the most and how would you describe your art?
CE: My paintings are expressing my love to Italy. It's the design which I find there, but also in Italy you find a lot of old stuff so my paintings have a lot of patina, because I like also when something looks old but on a solid basis. I like my paintings very clear and with structured design. It all gives depth to the painting.
•Influenced by design and architecture.
•Monochromatic painting style.
PH: Are there some other inspirational sources or important childhood memories?
CE: Another factor influencing my art is that when I was young I was always dreaming of this big empty house having just one orange sofa in it with a monochromatic painting in the back so I really like monochromatic paintings or paintings consisting just of two colours maximum and this love to monochromatic I tried to repeat with my paintings, with my art.
PH: Christian you mentioned you had an architect in your family. Did that influence the way you're painting?
CE: Yes, absolutely, my father was architect and he taught me me allways to make very clear rooms and lines...not to make it too small and complicated...very clear lines and that is what influenced me. I believe you find it also on the way how I structure my artwork with the letters on it, not too complicated.
PH: Do you speak Italian?
CE: "Solo un poco". I think I can go shopping, I can do small talk with people. I try to experiment also, to learn, but I wouldn´t say I can speak Italian. But I love to hear the Italian Language when it´s spoken by natives.
PH: One more question concerning the language, how do you choose those Italian words that you choose to integrate in your paintings?
CE: I always try to repeat what I have really seen or where I made a photograph of it. What you see is "Sali e tabacchi" - everyone knows those signs, "Entrata Libera" - free entry, I really like it, "Ingresso Libero" - also free entry. So you see it, you make a photograph of it and then I try to repeat it in my my own way on the canvas.
•Sensible use of Italian typeface.
•Working with patina.
PH: Can you elaborate on this monochromatic topic?
CE: I produced my first monochromatic picture I think I just wrote "bar" on it like the Italian bar where you go and I loved it. I love the picture for myself, then I did another one and friends of me really loved it so I gave it to them as a present and it's still hanging in their house and that's how it started: I realised that other people did like my work.
PH: So Christian, you said something about your art influencing the ambience in a room?
CE: I believe, yes I believe when you put such paintings as I do or similar monochromatic paintings into a room it gives energy to the room and it makes you feel well inside of this room.
PH: You mentioned something about your art inspired by Italy influencing the ambience in the room or in an apartment?
CE: I like modern rooms, I like Design but what I do not like is if it's getting noisy and out of control. When you have a painting in the room which calms you down or when you have arts, which calm you down it gives you inner peace This is what my Artistic contribution to the ambience in the room is about. So sometimes you see arts with great art but it makes you restless. I'm more from the contrary side. I need to calm down and with my art I calm myself down and other people too I believe. Especially, when this art is in a nice room.
•Expressing balance and calmness in art.
•Bringing the Italian flair indoors.
PH: How about the colours? Do you have favourite color palettes?
CE: Maybe it's not really colours but my favourite colours if you will are black white and grey, like concrete grey. Black is my most favourite one. So you could ask me if I am a depressive person? No! I really like black color and I get energy from it.For me those colors or non-colors give me energy, call me down and don't make me restless.
CONCLUSION
PH: All those words that you are using on your paintings they often relate to italian gastronomy or caffes. I assume you like spending time in italian restaurants and caffees, right?
CE: Absolutely, I mean who does not like italian food and italian coffe. That's my love. So sitting there watching people and having good food or good beverages, that is what I like.
PH: Is there a particular mood or feeling going on when you paint?
CE: When I paint, it may sound stupid but somehow the world around it's a bit chaotic. It's not always in order. My paintings I believe are very structured and when I do the process I get to myself for me and I can relax and I get energy from it.
PH: Okay Christian so one final question to round this interview up. What does creativity mean to you?
CE: For me creativity is more less like thinking out of the box...experiment...try to create something without that exactly knowing where it goes to and what will be the result. You will find your way during the exercise.
Christian Ettmayr, Peter von Hauerland, 2024
