Artist Patrick Wagner was born in Germany in 1980 and works mainly with sculpture. His secret artistic passion is printmaking. He has attended The Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts Kiel in Germany, The National Academy of Fine Arts in Bergen, Norway and The National University of Fine Arts in Bucharest, Romania
Whilst at The National Academy of Fine Arts in Bergen, he worked on a project called Explo 01 assisted by Trond Mikalsen, Heiko Wommelsdorf and others. The Explo 01 was a self-appointed research project for his exchange to the Bergen National Academy of Fine Arts. Wagner was researching the possibilities of interfaces between art in public and virtual space. As a result of this he developed a kinetic sculpture (which draws on NASA Mars rovers technology) which provides a mobile research platform or presence in both spaces.
What artists have influenced you; and how?
Well, Gordon Matta-Clark was definitely a revelation. His "Splitting", "Day's End" and "Office Baroque" works kept reappearing in my head for months on end. I saw them at a show in Berlin, completely unaware of his position until then. The beauty of his 'anarchitectual' interventions, the dedication of Matta-Clark to his work impressed me deeply.
For the same reason, Horst Janssen (German print maker) is very dear to me. I lived next to his museum for four years, going there once a month. His love for printmaking transpired through every single plate he etched. In their way, his works are very educational, or maybe it is my adoration for them - whenever I am in the print workshop, exploring new techniques, Janssen is watching over my shoulder while I wonder how he did this or that.
Are there any particular places or spaces that you find inspiring?
Nope, not really. I can work anywhere. I like my studio here in Germany, because it is nice and spacious. Having a place to call home, art wise, is very important. I draw most of my inspirations from literature, ideas manifest themselves on long walks, situations and ideas get played through. The seaside helps, but it would also work in Tokyo, Bergen, Bucharest or elsewhere. Nights are best for breakthroughs. Travelling is important, but then again, that's maybe my restlessness speaking.
What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things are tough?
To be honest, I do not really know. Things are tough almost all the time, but that's the challenge. The character of my work is very experimental. I do a lot of things simply to answer questions I've stumbled upon. When my curiosity is satisfied the interesting part begins - finding out how to make this process of wondering and discovering accessible for other people.
Patience, or maybe even stubbornness, helps when obstacles are being hit. But then again, that moment-when sculptural decisions begin to really matter, that's when art is being done.
How would your life change if you were no longer allowed to creat art?
Are there any particular places or spaces that you find inspiring?
Nope, not really. I can work anywhere. I like my studio here in Germany, because it is nice and spacious. Having a place to call home, art wise, is very important. I draw most of my inspirations from literature, ideas manifest themselves on long walks, situations and ideas get played through. The seaside helps, but it would also work in Tokyo, Bergen, Bucharest or elsewhere. Nights are best for breakthroughs. Travelling is important, but then again, that's maybe my restlessness speaking.
What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things are tough?
To be honest, I do not really know. Things are tough almost all the time, but that's the challenge. The character of my work is very experimental. I do a lot of things simply to answer questions I've stumbled upon. When my curiosity is satisfied the interesting part begins - finding out how to make this process of wondering and discovering accessible for other people.
Patience, or maybe even stubbornness, helps when obstacles are being hit. But then again, that moment-when sculptural decisions begin to really matter, that's when art is being done.
How would your life change if you were no longer allowed to creat art?
Tempting to write "I could not live without art", but most probably, all my energy would pour into something else... I would write, maybe, devote myself to a martial art, lecture at a university or find another vent for my need to reach out to other people. But actually, if I were no longer allowed to create art; I would most probably still make art, for it is vital.
Ultimate goal as an artist?
Ultimate goal as an artist?
To one day make the minus in front of my account balance disappear. Until then I want to keep doing what I want/have to do. When the minus is gone, I'll keep on doing whatever I want, just without that little line. The world is still full of questions that need to be answered, at least as much as me and my art are concerned. Maybe get a call to teach at a University somewhere, maybe settle down a bit, win the heart of someone, stuff like that. Impossible to separate the artist Patrick from the human Patrick.
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