Interview with Pia Kintrup — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Pia Kintrup, a German artist, graduated at Folkwang University of Arts in Germany with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, specifically in photography. She then went to study M.A. Photography studies and practice in the same university in 2017, graduating with a Master of Arts. She has been awarded the 2019 13th International Arte Laguna Prize, winner of special prize, "Photolux Festival" in Venice, Italy, and the 2019 Excellence Award, International Artist Award at Art Next Expo in Hong Kong. She has held countless exhibitions around Europe, and also a few in Asia, Canada, and the USA.

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art making?

It was already at the beginning of my studies that I noticed besides my love for photography, I have some interest in other forms of art. I'm bound somewhere between the two- and the threedimensional. I like to go into space and to leave the flatness of photography. I mean, as photography shortens the perspective and transforms everything into one layer, which is a specific quality, which I'm interested in too. I like still life in photography, but I also like the "still life aspect" in sculptures. For me, it has ever been a movement between the two- and the threedimensional. I'm more comfortable with photography, but I'm making a move back and forth into space and then back to photography, which is my base.

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How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

In my work, I'm highly interested in still life, materiality, and surface character. Transformational processes, value, emptiness and abundance, and photographic steps of transition are essential for my artwork. I use the medium of photography to transform the three- into the two dimensional and, therefore, to fix a particular perspective. Besides the groundwork in photography, I'm working with installations and sculptures as well.

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Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from everywhere. I love to travel, and fortunately, I got the chance to travel a lot. I'm interested in the cultural differences and connections as well. My inspiration comes from everyday life. I like to observe it, and I love theater and literature.

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What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?

There are no specific emotions I want to create or to evolve. I like to keep space open for ideas, thoughts, and experiences the viewer has on his own. He can see, feel, and think: and I guess that this is a lot.

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When do you know that an artwork is finished ?

It's finished when there is nothing to add and nothing missing.

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What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?

It's always tricky to talk about the most of something. There are a lot of opening nights, which were enriching. I met a lot of inspiring people, and it's always exciting and unexpected to see how the audience reacts to your artwork.

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How long does it take to produce one work?

In my case, there isn't any formula or specific time to make it. The whole process often takes months or even years.

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What exciting projects are you working on right now?

At the moment, I'm working on my open series: the nonexistent areas are of particular interest and a work in progress where I'm experimenting with exposure and photograms. A few days ago, I started to work on a sculpture as well. I often use to work with photography, the three dimensional, and installations at the same time. It all always affects each other.