NATURE IS WHISPERING
Interview and post by MUXI GALLERY Shanghai
Artist Astrid Krehan has a PhD in natural science and is a big fan of adventure in nature, she is fascinated to capture the beauty of nature in a way that most people can not get close to. Her works have always conveyed to the audience the awe of nature, and remind that human beings need to provide more care and protection for nature in order to sustainably enjoy the comfort and pleasure that nature brings to them.- Standing in front of the artist’s works, the audience seems to be able to feel the mood and atmosphere presented by the wind, light, air and rain dew at the that time, all is peaceful and perfect but is whispering something.
MOODY BLUE, 100H X 175W EDITION 1/5
ARTIST INTERVIEW
Muxi Gallery & Astrid Krehan
YELLOW TREASURE VIII, 80H X 150W CM EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: Could you share the main driving force behind your works with nature theme?
Astrid Krehan: I admire and profoundly respect Nature. Experiencing it’s fading raises my saddest concerns for the future well-being of humanity. Using abstract photography, I recreate what I am seeing to raise awareness of the beauty of our planet and of the need to maintain and protect it for what it is: a TREASURE.
YELLOW TREASURE VIII, 85H X 150W CM EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: What are you looking for and what do you want to express in your photographic works?
Astrid Krehan: I am looking for patterns, shapes, textures and colours that help me express the message I would like to bring across in form of abstract photographs. In my “Nature Series”, I looked for the “artworks” nature created by itself, using them as raw material to create abstract images that raise awareness of their beauty and essence to our life.
YELLOW TREASURE V, 90H X 135W CM EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: Could you talk about the experience when you travelled in the Dunhuang dessert and how you processed the works of YELLOW TREASURE?
Astrid Krehan:I have been always attracted by formation and pattern of sand dunes. The remarkable size of the Dunhuang sand dunes made me feel the power and energy of nature, where the wind, as the main sculptural artist, forms these astonishing sculptures. They are in a continuous flow and reveal the stories about the geologic history of the Dunhuang region. Series “YELLOW TRESURE” is taken in varying light conditions using a variety of camera techniques to express the moods and feelings that the desert reveals to us at different times of the day
INFINITE HORIZON, 100H X 135W CM EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: Many of your works looks saturated color and delicate texture, how to interpret the relationship between visual and concept in your works?
Astrid Krehan: The beauty of abstract art is ( and why I like it as a media of expression) that it uses a variety of languages to communicate with each individual. I find it fascinating to see how people experience my images and communicate with them. Although I am sharing my feelings and expressions through my work, I like to keep a free spirit for interpretation.
ILLUMINATION, 100H X 150W CM, EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: In the process of photographic creativity, what attracts you most and what’s the most difficult part?
Astrid Krehan: I enjoy tremendously both the creativity with the camera and the creativity in the post processing at the computer. It is a very therapeutical process for me, one where I dive into my own world and forget everything around me. The most difficult part for me is finding the right objects and patterns that help me to express the message that I would like to bring across in the form of an abstract image
JEWEL BOX VIV, 106H X 120W CM, EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: What other things interest you in life aside from art? And do they influence your photographic creativity?
Astrid Krehan: I am very attracted to patterns, textures, formations and colours and their influence on us as humans. Combined with my passion for nature, architecture and adventure, this provides me with tremendous sources for my abstract work. Adventure travel allows me to experience and learn about different cultures and how individual cultures use different styles forms, texture and patterns in their daily life and architecture that express their lifestyle and values. I like to incorporate this variety into my work.
JEWEL BOX X, 106H X 125W CM, EDITION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: Every artist has her own unique artistic language, do you want to keep the element and languages or do you want to try different languages?
Astrid Krehan: For the moment I am still developing and fine tuning my language of expression and feel that I still have many resources that I can exploit. However over time, I can see myself using different languages or combining new languages into my work.
RICE TERRACES II, 82H X 135W CM, EDTION 1/5
Muxi Gallery: What’s your next photographic creativity plan?
Astrid Krehan: At the moment I would like to focus on projects and themes that help us to re-connect in a time when we are so disconnected.