“I’m a sensitive analyzer of habits of vision and perception, including my own”.
AT: Where are you from and how/why you start engaging to art?
SM: I’m from Luxembourg and I started engaging to art because I needed to find a way to express my reflections and thoughts.
AT: When did it become serious?
SM: After my studies I decided to live my life as an independent artist.
AT: Are there any persons that have been significant in your progression as an artist?
SM: Yes, there are. One of them was my professor at the university; I owe him a lot considering my practice, and of course my family who do support me whenever I need them.
AT: What’s your first approach to the work? Where does your process start?
SM: A thought.
Die Neigung, mirrors, 90 x 520 x 90 cm, 2017
AT: What are your favorite tools and materials for working?
SM: My work consists quite significantly of mirrors, which for the most part do not reflect images.
AT: Do you leave your work open to interpretation? Or do you think the viewer should engage with your work in a specific way?
SM: Yes I do, but, as for most conceptual pieces, you’re free to give a short explanation.
AT: How do you feel while you are working? Do you think of the final result?
SM: I feel happy because my thoughts are finally transformed into reality. Yes I do, because I think that it’s better to be sure what you want to realize before you start spending your time.
AT: How do you understand when a work is finished?
SM: The simpler, the better.
The Moment in Time, stacked venetian blinds, 2018
The Moment in Time, stacked venetian blinds, 2018
AT: Where does the inspiration for the work come from? Do you find inspiration outside or it’s all inside you?
SM: I’m a sensitive analyzer of habits of vision and perception, including my own.
AT: Do you think art can be learned or it is something innate?
SM: It’s innate but I think you have to study arts for having a very solid foundation for future growth.
AT: Are there any artists that influenced your works? Why?
SM: When I saw Troika’s work ‘Dark Matter’ I was really impressed by how they manipulated our perception while turning around the artwork. This experience paved my way for future projects.
AT: How important is for you the role of social media?
SM: I’m really skeptic concerning today’s transparency and contemporary obsession of all private processes, but without social media I would not be writing this interview at the moment.
Pro & Kontra, folded mirrors, 150 x 100 cm, 2017
Konstruktive Destruktionen, cut canvas, 2018
AT: What’s your opinion about the contemporary art system nowadays from your point of view as an artist?
SM: It’s really hard.
AT: What do you find to be the most challenging or daunting thing about pursuing art? What is the most rewarding part of working as an artist?
SM: You always have to pull off some seriously good stuff if you want to be recognized, and if you do, you are getting the exhibitions you always dreamed of.
AT: What do you do outside of art?
SM: Playing with my one-year-old daughter.
AT: What are your goals and expectations for the future?
SM: To keep doing what I do for the rest of my life.
Exhibition view
EDUCATION 2009 History of Arts, University Trier, Germany 2006 Master in Visual Arts, UMB University Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France SOLO/DUO SHOWS 2019 Fragil, e.artis contemporary, Chemnitz, Germany 2017 Museum of Vanities, IKOB Museum of Contemporary Art, Eupen, Belgium 2017 Blackout, e.artis contemporary, Chemnitz, Germany 2016 Ecriture Sans Fin, AICA International Association of Art Critics, Kiosk, Luxembourg 2015 Shadows, Kiosk Trier, Trier, Germany 2015 Die Entzauberung der Welt, 21Artstreet, Kehlen, Luxembourg 2014 Erase Project, Galerie A Spiren, Strassen, Luxembourg 2013 Sali Muller, 21Artstreet, Kehlen, Luxembourg COLLECTIONS MAC Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Lissone Private collection, Milan IKOB Museum of Contemporary Art Private collection, Milan Municipality of Strassen EDITIONS IKOB Museum of Contemporary Art e.artis contemporary PUBLICATIONS IN LIBRARIES Arken Museum of Modern Art Arter Space for Art e.artis contemporary Galeria Elba Benitez IKOB Museum of Contemporary Art JD Malat Gallery Kallmann-Museum Ismaning Kunsthalle zu Kiel Kunstmuseum Krefeld Kunst- und Museumsbibliothek Köln La Galerie Centre d'Art Contemporain Latvian National Museum of Art MAMAC Nice Neues Museum Nürnberg Oldenburger Kunstverein Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam The Flat - Massimo Carasi AWARDS & SHORTLISTS 2018 Premio della Critica, MAC Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, Lissone, Italy 2017 Luxembourg Art Prize, Finalist, Galerie Hervé Lancelin, Luxembourg 2017 Aesthetica Art Prize, Longlist, York, The United Kingdom 2016 Aesthetica Art Prize, Longlist, York, The United Kingdom 2016 Int. Emerging Artist Award, Shortlist, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2016 Salon de Montrouge, Shortlist, Paris, France 2015 Blooom Award, Nomination, Cologne, Germany 2015 Incubarte Award, 7 International Art Festival, Valencia, Spain 2013 Prix Jeune Artiste, 7e Biennale d'Art Contemporain, Luxembourg
UPCOMING
