1. As an artist, what is it about street art that inspires you? When did you first deal more intensively with this art form?
I am particularly enthusiastic about the spontaneity and freedom of this art form and its social and community factor. Many paste-ups, stencils or graffiti make direct reference to current events or they arise from an immediate urge to communicate with the world. And in very different, often surprising ways.
By using a "tag", i.e. anonymizing yourself, you also have absolute freedom and do not have to worry about negative effects.
Another important bonus point of street art is its social factor. I love that this art form is for everyone. Anyone can admire it for free, get upset about it, or condemn it. You don't have to go to a museum or gallery, you are simply surprised on your way without premonition. And I think that's just wonderful.
My closer relationship with street art actually came about through my place of residence. I live in Berlin / Prenzlauer Berg and took my dog for long city walks every day. There it is practically impossible not to discover new and surprising art in public spaces every day. At some point I started taking photos and documenting a lot, because I noticed that many paste-ups disappeared after a short time. I thought that was a shame, because I found some of them particularly artistic, funny or quick-witted.
2. Is street art always loud or can it also be quiet?
Of course, it can do both and all tones in between. That's part of the fascination. Street art is just as diverse as the people on our planet.
This ranges from large events such as the “Mural Festivals”, which take place on a regular basis around the world, where the artists are provided with meter-high walls, to tiny statement stickers that are spontaneously stuck to traffic lights.
I also think it's great that some artists are now able to move through the world as street artists and make a living from it.
3. How does street art go with silk? Isn't that a contradiction?
Yes, that's the greatest possible contradiction :-)) and that's why it is particularly fascinating for me. The often “dirty” street art and the high-contrast, noble silk. What a contradicting combination.
By choosing this noble material, I try to celebrate the motifs or to underline their importance.
To put them on a pedestal, so to speak, in order to draw attention to the genre as a whole. Street art still has a slightly negative aftertaste for some people and I would like to straighten that out.
In addition, silk has this incredible brilliance of colors that I have not found in any other material.
4. What criteria did you use to select your artists? How important were the countries of origin to you?
It was a process of development and learning. Many street artists live the mobility of our time fully and often change their place of residence accordingly.
As a result, I gradually prioritized the location of the motifs.
The “New York” motif was stuck there, but the city was only home to Holly Anne Buck (stage name: Collagism) for a certain period of life. As a native Australian who currently lives in London, she perfectly represents multi-faceted street art for me, somehow also as a way of life.
The motif “Paris”, on the other hand, is “French” through and through, i.e. where the motif and artist are in the same country.
Above all, it is important to me which inspiration the artworks create in me. In what way they reflect the feeling of the city in which they were created, or how I feel about these cities myself. Almost by the way and quite organically, there was a beautiful and stimulating diversity in the selection. In doing so, however, I did not look at the artists' fame.
5. Every scarf tells a story. Is there one that particularly impressed you?
That's a really tough question. Because of course I think all the stories are great.
But right now I am mainly concerned with my hometown Berlin. We got the wonderful offer to present our creations in the new Humboldt Forum in Berlin. Its opening to the public had to be postponed several times due to the lockdown. But as soon as it starts there, the focus will initially be on Berlin. The plan is to gradually introduce the other 6 artists and Cities over the whole of 2021.
The story of “Berlin” is really very appropriate. The motif comes from the Berlin street artist CAZ.L from her series “When strangers become friends”, in which she humorously advertises tolerance between all living beings.
It's easy to find at #salamidoggy on Instagram. It's about a little dachshund (a stereotype of the German domestic animal), who always meets new and extraordinary animal friends and experiences all kinds of adventures with them in Berlin. CAZ.L takes these paste-ups with them on their travels and that's why #salamidoggy has already got around quite a bit.