Interview
Gerald Groß
Gerald Groß was born in Hanover, Germany.
Gerald believes that art should be alive — for the artist and the viewer. Each of his works is the result of an evolving process that he only wants to control to a certain extent.
Gerald speaks through his works. He prefers not to talk much about his art, as he feels his pieces speak for themselves.
Gerald is a trained master mason who worked as a contractor for many years. A lover of challenges, he used his construction work to live out his creativity in building things.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’m a self-taught artist who goes by Biggi Vinci in the art world. Biggi has always been my Skype name, while Vinci is my wife’s last name.
Soon after I was born, my mother gave my siblings and I up to a children’s home in Celle, which is approximately 45 kilometers away from Hanover. While growing up, I was mostly considered difficult or rebellious. My friends and family would describe me as a character with heart, but sometimes stubborn. I do not like being in the limelight.
I discovered my passion for art in a very simple way. One day, I needed pictures for my new apartment. I didn’t find anything that matched my interests, so I started painting. I surprised my wife with my first self-painted picture because I didn’t have any art experience. The fun I had creating something good uncovered a new passion for art. I started out with no knowledge of art or artistic techniques.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“This is a complex question, because I often incorporate hidden messages in my pictures. Sometimes they’re obvious, and sometimes a few explanations are needed. The painting above is called ‘Apple’. It shows the past and the future. It has a train that appears in a time loop and goes into the sun, set in a twisted world where some things are upside down. There’s an octopus presenting the iPhone of the future. The iPhone of the future is almost just an apple from which a hologram appears and works intuitively. Even a baby who is still hanging on the umbilical cord already has one and can operate it. So it's a story that we can create ourselves. My paintings are pictures with a story, but sometimes they are only abstract figures, such as fantasies.”
What inspires you?
“Painting was such a new field to me that I still feel awed when I see the pictures from my head on canvas. I constantly have new images in my head, and it can be difficult to decide on a project. I’ve started pictures that don’t work out in the end. The dilemma of creativity is that time is limited.”
“Artists are often compared to other already well-known artists. Even if styles and techniques are comparable, each artist has something special of their own.”
How would you describe your work?
“My paintings are neo-expressist figurative, partly abstract works. Many of my works are like a color rush. At least, that's the art that interests me the most. I focus on quality in terms of materials, be it canvas or colors. The quality of the colors brings a more potent magic to the painting. Then I use structure to infuse liveliness into the work. Constant experimentation is a major thing that fascinates me about art. Being versatile and constantly evolving my creative process keeps my passion alive.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m influenced by certain works of famous artists, but also some who are currently not so well-known. However, they are only singular works. From Van Gogh, Monet, Basquiat or currently Banksy, who make us think about the world. I’m also influenced by lesser-known artists such as Inga Mihailovic. She’s an excellent portrait artist who simply hooks you up when you see her live. Or Alexander Dik, who stimulates fantasies with his pictures. These are some of the people I discovered and connected with on Instagram, and I love to exchange ideas with them.”
What is your creative process like?
“Once I decide on an idea, I think about which formats and colors I want to use. This can determine how much intensity the individual colors will get later. The design of an image can determine if it will be good or bad. During the painting process, there are always more creative ideas. For artists, the process always remains exciting until you have completed the piece.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Some artists amaze people with their works, some encourage others through colors and shapes, while others tell stories or provoke. We as humans get inspired by what we see. How the individual decodes and interprets what he sees is actually interesting.
I am totally versatile in my perception. I always look for something special, even in my works. I only stop working on a piece when I’ve created something special.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had a number of exhibitions as shown below:
2022:
- Hanover City. Solo exhibition.2021:
- Artbox World Projekt Swiss.
- #2 Group Exibition, Hanover, Germany.2020:
- Artbox Projekt Zürich Swiss.
- Spektacolor Group exhibition Hanover Germany.2019:
- Projektspeicher Dortmund Germany.However, I prefer group exhibitions because you get a great variety of works. There are often hidden gems during these vernissages. I’m always excited to discover a particularly talented artist. The core of everything is to exchange meanings and views about my works and that of other artists. It’s interesting, and I’m often surprised how others see my works.”
Website: www.biggivinci.art
Instagram: @biggivinci
