Interview with Marina Lörwald
The artist Marina Lörwald was born in Duisburg.
After graduating in Visual Communication/ Graphic Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf, she worked as an art director for a major advertising agency, where she looked after national and international brands in both the print and TV sectors and received a number of prestigious awards. (Toulouse-Lautrec Medal in Gold, Finalist Award - London International Advertising Award, Finalist Award - International Advertising Festival Of New York, Effies - Awards for Efficient Advertising).
She deepened her knowledge of painting at the IBKK Bochum, where she graduated from Prof. Sonnewend's master class.
Marina Lörwald works as an independent artist and lecturer. She gives classes at the adult education centre in Mönchengladbach, in Kaarst and in Korschenbroich. Since 2017, she has been in charge of the art groups to prisoners at the correctional facilities in Mönchengladbach and Willich-Anrath.
The artist has shown her work in national and international exhibitions. One of the current awards is The Collector`s Vision International Art Award.
She is a member of c/o Mönchengladbach and in the BBK (The Professional Association of Visual Artists)
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
I have so many interests that it’s easy for me to become sidetracked. But in the studio, I am totally focused. When I paint, I can concentrate fully on the subject at hand – it takes on an importance to the exclusion of all else. The artworks emerging in this way come from my exploration of life, relationships, nature, the world – and the universe itself.
How do you go about beginning a new piece? Do you have an idea already in mind, or do you start working with materials or sketches to find the departure point?
It often happens that something in everyday life will catch my eye and inspire me. For example, a quirk of nature, an intriguing encounter between unrelated objects, the way people behave or strike an attitude – or simply bizarre structures. Even some small detail can spark my interest and that can provide the impulse for a whole series of pictures.
When do you think your most prolific time of day or week is?
Oh, I ́m definitively not an early bird! That’s mean I usually like to start working late morning. But then once I get started, I become immersed. I lose all track of time.
What is a barrier you as an artist overcame? Is there anything that enabled you to develop your work as an artist in your life?
For many years my financial situation was a huge barrier – it could trigger existential fears in me. I saw no possibility of keeping my head above water with art and instead studied graphic design – at least that way I could still express my creativity.
It wasn't until I was in my late 40s that I decided to return to my early passion - painting. Thanks to the support of my husband, I was able to take the plunge and go back to art school, where I took a second degree in fine arts.
Did you have an idea of what you wanted to create right from the beginning?
I was always fascinated by the medium of paint and all its possibilities. As long as I can remember, painting provided me with my role models. Of course, it has taken time and much experimentation to find my own direction.
What is the meaning or creative inspiration for your work? We’re curious what the narrative or story is to what you are producing?
We humans are creative by nature. For me, painting is something that frees me from everyday constraints. It allows me to take a deep look at the questions of life and to understands our desires and aspirations – besides philosophy, religion, ethics, ethnology, sociology. To search, explore, create playfully - like a child. Ultimately, it’s about experiencing the world in a non-rational way and trying to understand it.
Besides your artworks, are there any other things in life that your voice as an artist may consider vital or valuable? What makes you joyful and creative, in other words?
There are a great many things of course. The people around me, my family, and friends. Inspiring conversations. Spending time surrounded by nature – going on cycle tours and hikes. Good concerts, theatre visits and exhibitions. And travel – in other words, encountering people with different lifestyles and from different cultures. All these things enrich and inspire me.
Are there any exhibitions or places where people can see these beautiful creations in person soon? Anything on the horizon?
Next September pictures from my current series will be on display at the parc/ours in Mönchengladbach. But there will certainly be exhibitions before that. They will be announced on my homepage.
