Interview
Eva Silberknoll
Eva lives in a small village in Austria, from where she loves to inspire the world with her art. Her creative career began as member of a fashion label.
Eva studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, focusing on photography and cultural studies. The photo is the center of her artistic work. It either stands alone or is the canvas of her mixed media artwork, where she combines photography, colors, and textile techniques.
Eva’s work has been exhibited internationally, and her collaborations include working with Raftis Bespoke and Dormeuil 1842, men’s tailors located in New York.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’ve been taking photographs since I was 14 years old, when I took my parents’ old Agfa Color camera during our first holiday by the sea. Since then, I’ve been capturing fleeting impressions and transforming them into something special through my personal gaze. I find it fascinating.
Although my career as a designer in the fashion industry did not last, my love for fashion remained and continues to inspire me. After fashion came art, and after studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, I worked as a flight attendant to earn a living. That was over 20 years ago. Today, it is only a side hustle, helping me to establish an international art career.”
What inspires you most?
“To this day, I am inspired by the almost infinite expressive possibilities of the photography medium. My everlasting love for fashion is the reason why textile techniques are an integral part of my creative practice.
Another great influence on my artistic work is the many impressions, experiences, colors, shapes, and cultures I’ve come across due to travelling the world as a flight attendant.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I tell stories with the help of my artwork; stories of personal journeys into places of desire and dreams. Follow your own path and do your thing. That is what I want to express with my art. ‘Why be normal when I can be myself?’ is the message I’d like to convey.
Staged photography, as shown below, enables me to visualize the stories, while leaving enough space for the viewer’s own narrative.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is bold and colorful, often with a twist you would not expect. It consists of many layers, and there is always something new to discover.
I want to surprise the viewer with my pictures. It’s very possible for one to discover a rainbow made with the sewing machine on a Polaroid. What does that mean? I am happy to leave that up to you.”
“Eva’s works give strength and remind us that life itself is magical."
—A French writer in New York commenting on Eva’s art.
Which artists influence you most?
“I like Italian artist Maria Lai and her thread pictures. They are fragile and strong at the same time. I also like the Mediterranean serenity of the ’70s captured by Slim Aarons, which is a vibe that gives me inner peace. Browsing through his books is like an escape from reality.
I also really love the way Cooper and Gorfer see contemporary photography and bring many different elements together. They take current topics and interpret them in a beautiful way.”
What is your creative process like?
“I love to experiment and merge different techniques, as shown above. The base, my canvas, is always a photograph I took.
I place the photo on the canvas and open the image up to creative adventure. Now the fun starts. I draw and paint on the image with acrylics. Very often, I write a message like ‘Always keep on dancing’. Then I get to drawing with the sewing machine or simple needle and thread.
The textile techniques make it unique. No stitch is like the other. By combining digital photography and analogue techniques, I want to connect the old and the new, and thus create space for something fresh.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I see my role in society as that of opening up a space away from the daily hamster wheel. The space is a gate to another you; a place where you can contemplate and explore yourself without the pressure of expectation. I want the viewer to feel free to think differently and discover themselves.
In this life characterized by constant crises and never-ending change, art becomes more and more important. It’s like the soul of the world, helping us ride out these crazy times.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have participated in the following exhibitions:
2022 - Biennale Art Expo Venezia -Tana Art Space, Venice.
2021 - a crisis – C3, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoácan, Mexico.
- Flashback – Künstlerhaus Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt;
2020 - Circle 17 – Maison 10, New York City.
2019 - endemic vs. global – C3, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoácan, Mexico.
- The energy of places - MIMA Studio, Visogliano, Trieste.Selection of exhibitions and features:
- Powerful Woman - Associazione Culturale ‘Sei l’Arte’, Kunstmatrix.
- Time travel – gallery ZUGängliche Kunst, Pörtschach.
- SWISSARTEXPO – Artboxproject, Zürich.
- Alla ricerca del sublime – Galleria ARTtime, Udine’.
- Circle 17 – Maison 10, New York City.
- ART BASEL MIAMI – Artboxproject, Miami.
- Endemic vs. global – C3, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico.
- The energy of places - MIMA Studio, Trieste.
- CONTEMPORARY – off festival Vienna, Foto Quartier Wien, Vienna.
- Armory Art Weeks – Artboxproject, Stricoff Fine Art, New York.
- Music video by James Zucker, shown in the Late Late Show on CBS.
- Circle Quarterly Art Review Magazine.”
