Speaking of Art with Joerg Dressler
By M.Sebastian Araujo
Art isn’t easy …so the song goes. But for some it often seems to be a labor of love!For awhile I have been keeping an eye on Joerg Dressler’s work, watching it grow from Strength to Strength to Strength. Recently I had a chance to catch up with him to chat about what inspires this talented chap and makes his work resound with creativity…
What in the World around you affects your Creativity?
It begins with a mindset of wanting/needing to solve problems. It continues with ensuring the availability of time and space, and then showing up regularly; ideally in a studio space that allows both focus and play. If that’s not possible, a carved out personal area in a shared space will do. When I travel I carry that space with me in the form of a little sketch/note book as well as my iPhone. It’s a lot about practicing my skills regularly but also challenging myself in order to continue growing. Of course, the outcome is shaped by the thoughts and emotions at hand; they impact how I process the information of the perceived. However, it’s all a continuum of thoughts, experiences, ideas, plans, knowledge and strengths, resulting in subjective and selective perception of the world around me that ultimately leads to the translation into some kind of a visual.
What changes do you see in the ART scene today…?
On a global level one example would be the impact of social media. It has given artists the opportunity to build an online persona that helps build an audience and generate new ones. Not all art translates well online but in some cases and when done successfully it can lead to broad exposure, many followers and important new connections. On the flip side the ‘consumption’ of art online furthers the notion of the loss of ‘aura’ of the original artwork that Walter Benjamin discussed in his essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”. I share his believe that the ‘aura’ of a work is absent in reproduction—be it print or online. It’s missing the unique existence in time and space. A few years back I experienced a lesser known piece by Vincent van Gogh in the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York which I had not seen reproduced in books or postcards. It was a unique and memorable experience. In the case of an Artist like van Gogh, whose works we most often are exposed to in reproduction, it is rare that we get a chance to see the original work first.
What in Your Life inspires your work?
The mysteries of nature per se. Beyond that it can be anything; I’m a very visual person, looking, observing constantly—be it in real life or the world of digital media. Most important for me however is my presence in the studio. I’m very disciplined and spend a significant amount of time in the studio working. It’s a lot about the process of painting itself that I find inspiring. Creating room for experimentation is important to me. It leads to the discovery of new mark making, new texture, color choice, etc.. Witnessing what happens on the canvas, that’s inspiring to me. The endless possibilities to challenge myself, honing my visual vocabulary without relying on a shtick, that’s inspiring to me. And of course I’m inspired by other artists’ works, especially the ones I admire. Sometimes works I initially don’t relate to at all can trigger something new and exciting as well.
What makes people collect Art?
I believe that depends very much on the motivation of the buyer. There are all kinds of reasons why people buy art. For some it’s about wanting to live with a specific piece because it touches them deeply on some level. It encompasses something important and they buy that personal and unique story. For others it’s more about what works in their home. Some see buying art as an investment, others see it as a status symbol, and still others see it simply as a source of visual pleasure. Some people like to be able to say, “I own a ‘so and so’.” Or they are collectors of a certain art movement. I also believe there is somewhat of a shift in the art market from ‘who created the art’ to ‘who/which gallery sells the art’.
Was there a « shining lightbulb » moment in your career when you realized that you were an artist? If so what was it?
I’ve been drawing, painting and building things since I was a little kid. I was never an avid reader, so I spent my time making things. In my early teens I got to see a lot of art first hand during regular trips to Paris. That’s when I got hooked so my parents started buying me art books, canvas and oil paint. Since then I have painted regularly. By the time I finished high school it was a natural evolution to apply to art school as the next step. Once I started my studies I shifted my focus from painting to typography and illustration. Why? Most likely because of the people I related to (or not). I stopped painting for about 10 years before I took it seriously again. However, I was always creating something and remained connected to the making of art in one way or another.
How hard is it for an Artist to survive in the world we live in today?
On a practical level, it’s hard to make a living as a full time artist. Unless you have a huge career it is not a profession to get rich by. But then again, it’s not a profession, it’s more of a way of life. Through my education as a designer I was able to free-lance for a lot of ad agencies in Germany. When I moved to the states in 1996 I started working full-time where I focused on brand system thinking. I was fortunate enough to work on brand projects for a variety of cultural, academic and corporate organizations. I’m still passionate about creating and developing visual brands, but after almost two decades it simply became too consuming to do both—design and art. So I left my job a little over a year ago. I am now enjoying more time in the studio as well as landing the occasional design job to support my new found freedom.
On an personal level, my biggest challenge is the recurring doubt and questioning of myself as an artist. When you put yourself out there and apply for residencies, shows, gallery representation, etc., you are inevitably confronted with one or the other rejection. So typical questions arise like: is my work good enough? unique enough? is it meaningful? is it worth the effort? The work in the studio can be very isolating and on occasion it can be hard to fight those demons. Being connected to other artists who are on the same emotional roller coaster is extremely helpful.
What is it about Ptown that keeps you and other creative people living there or coming back ?
Just by the nature of its location at the tip of the cape, Provincetown is a special place. Being surrounded by water results in light effects that are breathtaking. The place is very immediate and real in its rawness. The vast, open land conveys a feeling of freedom. That might be why so many people feel encouraged to create their art here – always have and probably always will. So many important painters, sculptors, writers and actors have spent time working here. You can’t help but feel that energy and feel connected to the past, but also to the present. Being here allows for both a quiet and contemplative existence in solitude, but also the participation in activity, fun and lifelines when one feels the need join in. The winter months, on the other hand are not for everyone. I personally have to escape from the cold and early darkness during those months. I just spent four months in Miami Beach, which was wonderful—warm, sunny and light. I‘m addicted to light. However; I missed my studio, I had to paint in my living space and therefore switch to acrylics. It’s an interesting challenge working in your living space and being surrounded by your work 24/7…now I’m happy to be back here in Provincetown. Having that space where I can paint in oil and be messy and especially being able to simply close the door at the end of the day.
For many Provincetown remains a special place to Live,Love and Create.For Artists it seems to also be one of inspiration. Perhaps that is the magic of the place or the spirit of the people.Maybe its the combination of the two that make it an oasis amid a changing world…Open to anyone who has the notion to dream and the desire make the dream reality!
To Find out more about Joerg’s work have a look here:
WOMR’s Art Talk with Chris Busa: A conversation with Joerg Dressler
http://womr.org/podcast/painter-joerg-dressler/
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