Publications

Get Acquainted with Pius Fox

Arterritory.com
17/05/2013
http://www.arterritory.com/en/blogs_video/daily_dozen/2295-get_acquainted_with_pius_fox/

Until May 21 it is still possible to see the exhibition “The Same in Mirrors” 
by the young German painter Pius Fox (1983) at the art gallery Māksla XO. The son of a speech therapist and a rock musician tends to paint rows of small paintings, arranging them on a big wall. Not only in the exhibition, but also during the work process. The artist tells Arterritory.com that he has long lost the illusion that it is possible to place “everything” in one painting. That is why he creates many small works to try-out and realise as many ideas as possible. At the same time large-scale canvases are also present at his studio. We asked the young artist, who is represented in Berlin by Martin Mertens gallery, to answer 12 simple questions, as well as to let us look into his studio. Since 2004 Pius Fox has arranged five solo exhibitions in Berlin, Munich and Paris, as well as participated in 17 group exhibitions in Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Karlsruhe, London, Paris, Athens, and the Georgian National Museum, Tbilisi. His artworks have been represented at such art fairs a Preview Berlin, ArtAmsterdam, Munich Contempo, Slick Brussles, Drawing Now Paris, Slick Paris and Pulse Miami. Go and see the exhibition to experience, what it’s like when the exhibition hall of the gallery welcomes more space, as many of Fox’s paintings resemble doors and windows – not only by their appearance, but also by the impressions. 

1. What’s the best moment of your day?
Even if there are some beautiful things during a day the best moment is the triumph of the free mind.

2. Why do you work as an artist?
It brings several parts of myself into a visible form as well as the process makes them alive.  But I give consideration to some other possibilities why I work as an artist: enough space to doubt. I wasn't able to do something else in the long run. And last but not least, artists attract women that even Freud didn't figure out why.

3. What films, concerts, exhibits, or books have left a lasting impression on you?
The last book I read was J.B. Pontalis "La force d'attraction" nearly two years ago and it has left a very lasting impression on me.

4. Where do you currently get ideas for your works?
In my studio and from my studio back home.

5. Which work(s) of art would you like to have in your possession?
Paintings of Giotto or Piero della Francesca, Rafael, Vermeer, Matisse or Cezanne. I would like to know how my relation to these paintings will change if I possess them or live with them everyday.

6. What do you do when you’re not occupied with art?
I substitute art in different ways.

7. Do you sleep a lot?
Yes, it's one of the most important things for my constitution. So if I can, I sleep a lot. I think most people sleep too little.

8. Do you collect anything?
Leavings of the past and my own paintings.

9. What is one of the most important things in your studio?
Colours and music.

10. What do you like to eat, and what don’t you like?
I like to eat food in which you can feel history with a little surprise in it. Heartless food makes me angry.

11. When you were a kid, what did you want to be?
Archeologist and musician. Searching and finding and the dionysiac expression. I think both are big issues for being a painter.

12. Name three creative individuals, from any era, with whom you’d gladly spend an evening.
Jimi Hendrix and Picasso being in Brigitte Bardot's company.