Interview
Winfried Steiner
Winfried Steiner was born into old, rural, conservative and traditional Austria. He is a child of hard work, moral values and an endless love of nature. As a young man, he followed the path that had been laid by his family’s business. He became a highly skilled metal smith; a man to his trade. The thunder of metal on metal, that rhythm, it transfixed him. It spoke to him. With introspection he started to translate this beat and use it to express, himself and to encourage discussion with other human beings. His outlet are his drums and his art is forged, beaten, poured, torched, fused and polished.
Photo credits: ©Stefan Sattler Bildermacher
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“It is a difficult task to describe a person or even art in a few sentences. The former as well as the latter must probably be seen as a big whole. Over time, working with metal became my preferred method of sharing thoughts and feelings with my outside world. My apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer, training as an International Welding Specialist, and years of working in the management of our family business, contributed and continue to contribute to my artistic development. It was and is always a need for me to create things with my hands. Be it working on sculptures or jewelry - even the world of music is not safe from my thirst for action. I consider music to be my second creative mainstay. I am addicted to rhythm and indulge my passion behind the drums. I look back on many active years in the music scene and have reached personal milestones with bands like Collector Base Emitter.”
What inspires you?
“My objects mostly represent emotional states that I or we all go through. Working on the sculptures allows me, or rather demands from me, to experience exactly this emotional state again. To dive deeper into it, to think about it more intensely - until one finally arrives at the great philosophical questions. In short, it is life that inspires me, with all its wonderful but also dark facets.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The longing for a better world is my theme that drives me as an artist. As well as the inability of postmodern society to be happy. Dogmas that blind humanity. And even though no one can see it yet, I feel the changes in small ways that will change the world. My message? Remove the layers, be curious and honest, accept painful processes, release your feelings, be part of the process and help to build. Look in the mirror with great honesty and see exactly what your reflection is telling you. Master your craft and play with illusions.”
“The longing for a better world is my theme that drives me as an artist. As well as the inability of postmodern society to be happy.”
How would you describe your work?
“At first glance, my work probably seems rigid, solid and cold. Metallic, in fact. On closer inspection, however, you only see the diversity that this material offers. The countless processing methods open up a limitless possibility for me to express all these states of being that are difficult to name. And suddenly, hard rigid metal becomes something soft and flowing, which can give completely new forms. The play with the different surfaces also reflects the external circumstances of life.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Nature has shaped me the most as a person and an artist. The work in our family business, the worldwide collaboration with artists, architects, designers and my time at the Ortwein School have shaped me a lot.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process usually starts behind my drums. That's usually the first place I go when something won't let me go. At some point, I find materials with which I can best express what's going on in my head, and in most cases I reach for the welding machine first. I work without sketches or plans. You could say I just work on it. Very often, I destroy what I have created and rebuild it, sometimes I remove parts of objects again. It is a constant process that can and may extend over several years. Working on the sculptures is like playing my drums for me. It is a beat, a rhythm that drives me and that is also recognizable in my works.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“In my opinion, the role of the artist in today's society is frightening. Art should make people think, show different perspectives, practice tolerance and not make a prevailing narrative the subject. The last three years in particular, have made me realize what I never understood at school. How could that happen back then? Three years later we know how.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Each exhibition was a special experience. I had my first exhibition during my time at the Ortwein in Timisoara, Romania. Invited by Emil Kindlein to a small but fine gallery in the centre, Casa Artelor. The vernissage was opened by Dr. Christian Graure and Dr. Sfaiter. In the same year, I received a certificate of merit for my artistic achievements by participating in the Luxembourg ART Prize. Another great experience was my graduation exhibition at the Ortweinschule in Graz. In recent years, I have been able to present my work in numerous exhibitions at home and abroad. Finally, I would like to mention a very special exhibition, 'WHAT IS ART' at BOOMER GALERY in London, UK.”
Website: www.winfriedsteiner.com
Instagram: @winfriedsteinerart
Other links: www.facebook.com/WinfriedSteinerArt
