Interview

May 9

Saar Kunst

Saar Kunst started painting recently. She is having her first exhibition in November in the Algarve in an art fair. Meanwhile, she sells her art at her apartments where daily guests do check in and out from all over the world. It is very inspiring and the guests love to stay in a rental which feels like a home with real art and design furniture.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“My background is actually hospitality in Holland. I had a bed and breakfast including a wedding venue and once I moved to Portugal again, I owned a little luxury boutique hotel with only 6 rooms. I started collecting art from age 25 and still do. I’m obsessed with beautiful art and in general beautiful things - it can be anything. I’m now 51 and started creating art quite recently mostly to express myself and my feelings. It’s kind of meditation for me. I went to the Rudolph Steiner school and I guess I did learn a lot creatively wise, especially from the material we used in art class and made from scratch. It was all quite simple and basic but beautiful. The fact that I’m making art myself at this moment gives me as much joy as buying and collecting art. Collecting is also an expensive hobby so this way I can earn a bit back. I have some rental apartments in town Lagos Portugal for short holiday stays and I do sell it there.”

What inspires you?

“It can be everything. Just a walk in the street and colours I see or shapes, building and off course, people inspire me. As I mentioned, I love beautiful things around me that does inspire and books and designs, it’s all in my head and from there I create art. But mostly colors, shapes and lines. I can wake up in the middle of the night with the most beautiful art creation in my head (a bit like a chef with his recipes), I can see it all happening. I often think at those moments I wish I could make a picture from that scene in my head (like you do on your iPhone). So yes ,creating that moment again is big time meditation and if it works it makes you really happy.”

How would you describe your work?

“Quite naive with some surprising lines. Nothing complicated mostly the colour combinations. My work is happy with some dark lines underneath mostly.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I love Eugene Brands, the colours and simplicity at that level is unique. I have 3 paintings from him myself and I am so happy I never sold them when I needed the money. Marta Jungwirth’s works are also beautiful. I also get inspired by Kikuo Saito.”

“My work is happy with some dark lines underneath mostly.”

What is your creative process like?

“I usually sit down and just start. I never have an idea on how to start or what to draw. Once you start it all goes by itself, from choosing colors and lines. I don’t think I just do. Mostly, I’m happy with it. It’s a bit like with playing golf. My head needs to be really empty and rested and the rest just goes by itself.”