Interview
Fant Wenger
In Fant Wenger’s paintings, nature and technology usually collide in a rugged and momentous way. Not only is the chosen spectrum of colors powerful, Fant also places railway wagons, telephone poles, parabolic antennas or even a satellite in the landscape. These are surrounded by trees with extensive branches and undergrowth. Powerful and often bare, they cross the pictorial space. The paintings show a distinct dynamism, which is intensified by the size of the canvases.
Light plays an important role in Fant’s paintings. He selectively dips individual elements into glistening light, which in various works spreads out over the entire picture surface, illuminating it supernaturally and running through the room like jack-'o'-lanterns. Which sparks jump here and what is sent or received in this world full of riddles? No causal or linear connection can be read. The artist gives hints through the titles, which can nourish suspicions, but without giving a real interpretation.
Fant’s works of art give a hint that this artist masters his craft very well. He does not leave any of his compositions to chance, but intensively deals with their meaning and implementation, until he finally manages to reproduce all his thoughts in a harmonious interplay on the canvas.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My need to express myself creatively began in childhood. I often drew and painted with my father. At school, I got a commission for a mural, and from that time I started to think about art and its role in society. As a young adult, I was aware that art would definitely play a big role in my life. I studied art in Bevor Zurich and did studio studies with artist Joseph Egger in Switzerland. I applauded the talent and perseverance as well as the sincerity of my master!”
“I like to leave other people to describe what my art is, because art is also perceived very individually, and can therefore be diverse.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by nature and its opposite — culture. We humans move and experience between these poles, which I think is very contemporary. The interfaces between nature and culture are the places that magically attract me and inspire me as an artist. The uniqueness of my time, the society and my dreams complement this, and lead me into a third reality as an artist. I want to be a contemporary witness and inspire people!”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I have been working on ‘Frequency’ for six years, a group of work that includes painting, audio/video, installation and performance. I would like to reach the artworks in a contemporary way and via different channels. Frequency offers me the opportunity to combine messages, colors, audio and video, and to find my own frequency as an artist. It is not only science that has been able to benefit from this technology, but I as an artist also find this topic very exciting today. Being connected to people and nature has lost nothing of this topicality! Dealing with the same as well.”
How would you describe your work?
“My works describe conditions in another reality that are linked to my own reality. However, time, truth and message get stuck somewhere in between. Only the essence of art can solve this disconnection. That’s why I became an artist. I don’t have any solutions or recipes ready. I am a witness to myself and our time, and I want us all to think about the role art plays in today’s world.”
Which artists influence you most?
“A lot of artists have influenced and inspired me. In my youth, they were mainly Surrealists like Salvador Dali, Max Ernst or Wilhelm Busch. For contemporary artists, I’m inspired by Neo Rauch, Adrian Genie or Iris Kalaizis. All of them from the Leipzig School, which would definitely have been my favorite academy!”
What is your creative process like?
“Current events, emotions and aesthetics are very important in my artistic process. I see myself as a researching and searching artist. Between abyss and beauty, my visual world arises, because I am convinced that we all move in them. I find my ideas more in peripheral regions of nature, culture and society than in shopping malls.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The role of an artist is to be a contemporary witness for current and future audiences. However, I also want to tell my own personal story and inspire people in different ways. This is a true responsibility. I don't think that we as artists can change the world. But hopefully, we will reach many hearts, and encourage people to express themselves and be open to other ideas.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had a number of exhibitions. You can see the full list here.
My next exhibition opens on 1st September, 2022 at the Modigliani Foundation in Venice. I will show the current works of the Frequency series.”
Website: www.fant.ch
Instagram: @fant–Wenger
