Interview
Guiscard Seebohm
Guiscard is the head of the “Cellular Electrophysiology and Molecular Biology” group. He is 53 years old, married, with two children. He has been in the science and arts profession since he can remember. His recent exhibitions include: Fellowship and exhibition at Swiss Art Expo, Zuerich, Swizerland (2022); Single exhibition Eye clinic, Muenster, Germany (2018-2024); amongst others. In 2012, he became a full-time Professor and head of Cellular Electrophysiology and Molecular Biology at University Muenster.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born the son of a professional artist who was the daughter of a professional artist. My father was also a sculptor. With this background, I started painting at a very early age. However, as I am also interested in science, I took the path of science parallel to art. I was offered the opportunity to study art, but I chose science as a career, partly to finance my life as an artist. I became a professor of physiology twice and eventually a professor of cellular electrophysiology and molecular biology. I have also painted all my life. I enjoy the complete freedom to paint what and how I want and to follow my thoughts in art and science.”
What inspires you?
“The moment and the way we process the information to create the many levels of experience of that moment as something special.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“From time to time, we experience special emotional moments. It is these moments that are truly meaningful in our lives. My own artistic work is about these moments, which I try to capture, analyze and transform from a simple image into a painting that reflects the layers of the experience of that moment. I try to bring these moments back to revive them.”
“From time to time, we experience special emotional moments. It is these moments that are truly meaningful in our lives.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work aims to understand what makes a meaningful moment special to us and attempts to provide the substrate that allows the viewer to reconstruct that special moment and thus re-experience it.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I am influenced by classical painters, fashionable painters and naturalists alike. I use a layered approach where I start with light colors and then add darker colors to construct my images. This technical approach is similar to the printing techniques used by pop artists such as Warhol and others. However, I also use information from contemporary neurobiology. In this regard, the recent work of my close friend Prof. JD Haynes on the process of perception and decision making is very helpful.”
What is your creative process like?
“I look for moments that are significant for a person or a crowd. I try to understand why and how this moment becomes special. I search for a simple image such as a photograph that is suitable for reconstructing this moment. The photograph is reduced to the necessary visual information that is sufficient to enable perception of the image. The layers of matter density are transformed into colors. These colors are thought to support the intended emotions. I try to reduce the visual information of the object in such a way that the process of perception takes a few milliseconds longer. The viewer thus reconstructs the image with a slight delay in information processing. Through this approach, I try to create an experience that combines the perception of the image and the emotion.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists and scientists alike reflect reality. They analyze the lives of people and peoples. Both artists and scientists have the means to mirror reality and bring the reflection of reality to a personal level. In the current climate of misinformation, mistrust and political manipulation, artists and scientists can use their skills to inspire people to analyze their environment and act more reflectively to promote their environment.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Last year, I was rewarded with a scholarship for the SwissArtExpo in Switzerland. At this very international exhibition of contemporary art, I was able to meet other artists and learn about their lives as artists from completely different cultural and social environments. It was very enlightening to see the forms of expression they use to realize their ideas. Such moments bring art to life as they shed light on the personal level of the artist behind the canvas and tell personal stories. These moments were very valuable for me.”
