Johann
Koenig
Artist
Director
Interview
Photography
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Rock, paper, scissors!
A quote from you is: "The pictures in the mind of the viewer are as important as the pictures on the wall, maybe even more important? Would you like to elaborate on that.
What I mean by that is that art is not only visual, but that it is always something that you bring in yourself with it and what you project or imagine and that it is not only about the purely visual impression from outside.
As a creative person, how important is the topic of freedom to you?
For me, success means freedom. The best thing that could happen to me is that I could do the projects I want to do and have no constraints from the outside that let me do anything. Of course you always have to do things you don't feel like doing. But I can do my work the way I want and that is the greatest freedom you can have.
Johann Koenig"Freedom for me is being able to do everything,
but not having to do any of it."
Why is Johann König creative?
Of course I am creative in a certain way, but that has nothing to do with what artists create. Whatever I find interesting, sometimes you think it would be so much easier if the artists had fewer objections - sometimes it's difficult finding processes. Life would be so much easier (laughs). But everything we do is based on what the artists create. Of course this is a huge dependence - if they don't do anything, we have nothing to do.
Is there an exhibition piece that appeals to you in particular?
I really find this tennis court very impressive. It's also a difficult work, between the bigger and smaller boy and the superiority of the bigger one, which he can't seem to really enjoy either. But it is above all this atmosphere - to get up there. You automatically become somehow quieter when you go up there, I think. I'm glad that experience, on experience, on experience is piling up there.
You mentioned your accident that took your sight - how do you deal with it?
Through my time in the hospital and the accident in general I have developed a different stamina. I have gone through worse things than now, for example, economic crises or other fates that have nothing to do with the body. However, it was never an advantage for me, but it is simply too disadvantageous to be so restricted. In moments of stress this time helps you, but there is nothing good about being handicapped, except that you make the best of it.
What truths do you have learned so far as a gallery owner?
What I have taken with me is from the artists, this courage to dare to do things. I think that is the most important insight. To go new ways and that's why the artist is so special, because he has to find himself first and that can take a long time and you can learn a lot from this process alone. To go his own way with self-doubt and self-confidence.
