The first time I saw Manuela's work, I think it was 2 years ago. It was a big (giant!) piece, mainly with pink all over it and it was like a street art work. I instantly followed her on Instagram and since that time, I can't stop loving what she does. Her vision, her style and the trust she is building with the audience: everything is cool and joyful.
The first time I saw Manuela's work, I think it was 2 years ago. It was a big (giant!) piece, mainly with pink all over it and it was like a street art work. I instantly followed her on Instagram and since that time, I can't stop loving what she does. Her vision, her style and the trust she is building with the audience: everything is cool and joyful. But I was missing something: I wanted to know more about her and when I asked, I was not sure it could be interesting for her. Now I have the interview, I am glad to say that she kindly took the time to do it - and providing quality pictures of her works! Thanks a lot Manuela for this little interview!
Who's Manuela Karin Knaut? - Thanks to the artist for this picture.
Can you tell us a bit more about you? Who you are, where are you from and since how long have you been an artist?
I am an independent artist currently living in Braunschweig, Germany. I acquired a Master of Arts in Fine Art at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have been making art since as long as I can remember.
Did the past few months change something in your vision about Art? Was it a big deal to be in a lockdown period?
The lockdown was intense but most of the works I created in this time frame radiate a great calmness, as well as a type of curiosity for what lies ahead.
Manuela at work with this massive piece!
Do you have any particular influences? Are they some special people who made you want to do what you are doing today?
I am most inspired by everyday encounters made in the public sphere, whether while travelling in a new country or in my own neighbourhood. Many of these interactions, which society sometimes tells us to take for granted, often turn out to be the most enlightening and humbling. By directing my attention outside of myself, I am quickly challenged to try and understand what it feels like in someone else’s shoes. I can’t think of a better lesson for an artist.
About your style now, would you define it as a "street art" style or this is just something wild and unordered on purpose?
I wouldn’t define my work as street art but the process can be similar. A lot of my works contain a similar type of accelerated, intuitive energy, while also keeping movements and gestures very controlled.
One example of Manuela's great composition
Another example of Manuela's work
You also recently tried working with both texts mixed to painting. Do you find something new inside this technique? How do you land on this kind of process?
My use of text in painting is quite playful and my process is not dissimilar to some surrealist poetry techniques like automatism or collage poems. Sometimes I pick the first word my finger lands on while flipping through a book; sometimes I use overheard phrases my teenage daughters mention while discussing a pop song or cultural trend. It
Finally, do you look at what other artists are doing? What are your thoughts about contemporary art, and today's art field in general? Which artists do you recommend following today?
The installation art scene and its theoretical background are a big inspiration for me; some examples of artists working in this direction whose work I admire would be Gregor Schneider and Rosemarie Trockel. Apart form this I love to follow university exhibitions and art students, young artists in general and not limited to painting, and finally, art fairs and biennales are obviously always very interesting.
Are there any future projects that you can talk of, and what are you currently working on? Any exhibition soon maybe?
Unfortunately I had many exciting projects coming up that were cancelled because of Corona; 7 exhibitions including 3 abroad in Turkey, Austria and Japan. I am hoping to maintain and reschedule some of these, most notably the one in Japan.
On a more personal level I continue to question painting from all sides again and again, and am starting to combine photography and installation into my painting practice.
Thanks again to Manuela for taking the time, really appreciated! Please take some time to check her website (www.mkk-kunst.de) and her Instagram account (@knaut_contemporary). See you soon for another interview, always with great artists!
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