Jörg Pietschmann
1. Where were you born and where are you from ?
At the East German country side Altvorpommern, near the polish border close to the sea.
2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?
The artful abundance of remains in abandoned manor houses.
which I discovered as a young boy.
3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?
You can say yes, but I might not have been aware of it in the beginning.
4. What led you to the design creation ?
I draw my inspiration from sincerity and the urge to manifest, to express what seems really important to me.
5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?
In myself there is an energy trying to reveal something.
This I write into my work, it helps me to recognize the world.
6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?
My day starts with green tea and exercises, this is my contemplation time to become aware and attentive. When I drive to my studio, the mind get´s blanc and I focus on my work. There I look at the tree trunks and try to feel, whether they allow me to connect with my ideas. Or otherwise, if the time is right, I will complete a sculpture.
7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?
As a small boy my pocket knife was always with me to carve everything possible. That was the time when I started looking at the natural material wood.
8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?
Preserving the natural grain of the wood and gnarly shapes, follow in the design entirely to the personal character of the materials, respect and escort their curves, their momentum and their own movements.
My sculptures are solely oiled. All connection are wood to wood. No lacquer, resin and metall is used.
9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?
No advice can be given, every artistic path has its own impetus.
10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?
I don’t see any movement where I could belong to.
11. What designers have influenced you ?
I am impressed by the simple, direct and aesthetic design language of ancient cultures, like ancient Egypt or the 7000 year old Vinca culture in Southeast Europe, the Mesopotamian culture or that of the Mayas and Aztecs. I find inspiration in the craftsmanship of ancient Japan, and in the works of the masters Alexander Noll, Wharton Esherick, Sam Maloof and George Nakashima.
12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?
13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?
The magical paintings of my friend Arne Pjestedt Solomonsen, which he made on his journeys through India. He has the gift of recognizing the deep and essential.
The wonderfull mystical watercolor paintings and storys by the French comic author, adventurer and musician Hugo Pratt.
14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?
Creations of curiosity and transformed energy.
15. Is there anything you would like to add ?
Creativity is intelligence having fun.
Proust Questionnaire with very short answers (one or a few words) :
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde, Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Lots of reason to laugh and a multi-faceted but simple life.
2. What is your greatest fear?
There is no fear when I´m in the middle of my self.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
To be above of it all.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lack of awareness.
5. Which living person do you most admire?
My wife.
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
The dionysian part in me.
7. What is your current state of mind?
Awareness and curiousness
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Obedience.
9. What is the quality you most like in a man?
That you can turn your back on him.
10. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Their self-esteem and confidence, which makes it possible to recognize the inner qualities of a man.
11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
No.
12. Which talent would you most like to have?
All talents that make life a joy and expand the living space
13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To love life even more.
14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
To love life.
15. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
What my karma intended as reincarnation
16. Where would you most like to live?
Where life blows me
17. What is your most treasured possession?
The ability to live a full life.
18. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not to strive for the higher self in life.
19. What is your favorite occupation?
To master life.
20. What is your most marked characteristic?
I like to keep my promises.
21. What do you most value in your friends?
Their inner and outer beauty.
22. Who are your favorite writers?
At the moment: Amitav Ghosh, William Blake, Klaus Schubring.
23. Who is your hero of fiction?
Maybe Corto Maltese by Hugo Pratt.
24. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I can’t think of any.
25. Who are your heroes in real life?
For me heroes are those who fight with word and sword, led by heart and intelligence,
like Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd.
26. What are your favorite words?
Today a favorite, tomorrow already replaced.
27. What is it that you most dislike?
Cheekiness without humor.
28. What is your greatest regret?
I have nothing to regret.
29. How would you like to die?
In peace.
30. What is your motto?
Find out what you like and see if it contains the necessary aspects that make life beautiful.