WINDSOR FW 2017

Olaf Breuning was born 1970 in Switzerland. In 2001 he moved to New York. Today he lives with his wife Makiko Upstate New York, in a fabulous modernist house from the 60’s, surrounded by nature with beautiful views of the Catskill Moun- tains. His art practice is interdisciplinary and ranges from photo-collages, to word-sculptures, installations, videos, drawings and performances. Typical for his work is a layer of humor and irony, which makes the viewer smile. Breuning enjoys the profanity of pop culture and kitsch icons and taking it to the next level by creating new and strange experiences which always keep a level of familiarity. Michelle Nicol : How are you Olaf? Olaf Breuning : Could not be better, thank you. At which moment did you decide to become an ar tist? It was never a decision, it just happened. Without thinking too much, all of a sudden I had one foot in the dangerous deep waters of art. What was the first piece you produced you con- sidered a proper ar t work? Whatever I did, I always thought I produced a proper art work. But I guess it took a couple of years until people around me thought these were proper art works, as well. And I remember that was the photo “Sibylle”. If you had to choose another occupation today, what would it be? Rock star or scientist. Who is your hero? My heroes come and go….I have always different ones. windsor. owns two of you iconic staged photo- graphs from the late nineties. Do you still enjoy to dress people up in ridiculous costumes and take their picture? Not now, I did too many of those. For the moment, I have other things to do. However, I always enjoy to change as an artist. Your postings of faces made of food and other profane objects can be followed on your Insta- gram account. Please explain. Instagram is the only social network I like. I like images, and I like faces. I see them all over the place….Instagram is the perfect home for this not very advanced art form. How has the ar t world changed over the past 15 years? One thing that really changed our lives over the past 15 years is the internet. It has become a part of us and transformed us, poor homo sapiens, to another level of reading the world around us. And the art world? What do I know! I guess it’s just tagging along with the fast moving insanity. What is the first thing you do in the morning? It’s always the same. Clean cat toilet, give cats food, make coffee for myself, go to the studio, set up a fire, turn on computer and read the news. What is the appropriate outfit for an ar tist? I live in the forest. It does not matter what I wear, unless the deer have an opinion about fashion, but I don’t think so. They too wear always the same. Can ar t change the world? The world is always changing with or without art. But we all hope art might change the world a little, for the better. What do you need to be inspired? Nothing more than life and all the questions that come with it. What are you working on today? Col lect ing ar t i s l ike col lect ion hear t-throbs. Ins ights f rom windsor. col lect ion ar t i st Olaf Breuning. 62 63 Today is Sunday and I decided to have a day off…. took a walk with my wife Makiko and now I am sitting in the living room next to the fireplace and answering your questions. What will you be working on in 3 years? Ha ha, do you think I am a fortune teller? Whom – living or dead – would you like to have dinner with? Isaac Newton, the English mathematician and astronomer from the 17th century. It is known that he had rather poor social skills. He hated small talk. I guess that dinner would be rather unforget- table. New York or Los Angeles? New York. Nature or city? Both. Studio or no studio? Studio, very important! What is the meaning of life? That you don’t know what the meaning is. Are galleries still valid? You don’t think so? I mean, I need them, they put the bread on my table….for that reason, yes they have to be valid!!!!….Please don’t tell me they are not valid anymore! Why do you ask? Do you think they are not valid anymore? Did you hear some- thing? Who told you?…I am having a panic attack! Who are you in love with? Makiko. Is life a joke? No, it’s not. It’s all we have.