“Stepping out of everyday life and familiar surroundings is important – getting to know other things, seeing new perspectives.”
Name
Ramona Schacht
Profession
Visual artist and photographer
Website
Who are you? What do you do?
My name is Ramona Schacht. In my art work I explore how people live their intimate (?) relationships. Essentially, I am interested in the intimacy, that develops between the persons that I portray and myself during the process of becoming familiar and during the photo session itself. So, my work becomes part of my life and vice versa, which is very exciting and opens up spaces for dreams.
Where are you from?
I was born in a small village in Lower Saxony. After a stopover in Greifwald I am now living in Leipzig, Germany.
Your style in 3 words?
intimate, fragile, focused
Your weakness? Your strength?
My way of living leaves scars on my body. Well, I live in a way, that my body already wears pretty much scars. There is a lot of restlessness and impatience in me. But at the same time I can treat the people in my environment with a lot of patience, warmth and tolerance.
What makes you different?
It will probably be most visible in my work: body fragments, close-ups of skin and its unique details, making visable not only the portrayed persons, but also my vulnerable humanity.
When did you decide to become an artist?
My parents and all their neighbors have farms. When I was a child, I always wanted to photograph and draw these striking looking personalities. But I never wanted to become a farmer by myself. So after a little detour I became a photographer and I am glad to be doing that also in the of Heidi Specker’s class at the HGB, Leipzig.
What do you find most fascinating about your work?
The indescribable closeness and revelation to one’s counterpart. But if I could put it into words, I would not bother with photography.
A few words about your favorite creation?
My last exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts (MdbK) in Leipzig has deepened my exploration of intimacy. I spent half a year preparing the presentation very focused and precisely. To develop my way of presenting the work I built models and replica of exhibition forms like huge slide projections in the room, big pictures, light boxes on the floor, pigment prints, or double exposures with overhead projectors. Although in general I am more concerned with the process of my work than with its reception, I am very glad when exhibitions are well received and well attended.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
Nicholas Nixon, Edward West, Lina Scheynius, Peter Puklus, Bauhaus designer and others. Gerrit Rietveld, László Moholy-Nagy.
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
I would like to work more on forms that step into the space and in doing so also enter a relationship with my photographs. This allows to investigate deeper how photography and the space interplay with each other and create associations.
Finish the sentence “More important than my career is …”
… the relationships with people I love.
2019: Where are we going?
If places are meant, besides Leipzig I will work also in Rostock, Thessaloniki (Greek) and Karaganda (Kazakhstan).
When the going gets tough….
This happens to me more often than others, but then I go anyway.
Your city’s favourite spots?
Oh, Leipzig is in any case a wonderful city. The art school is probably the place where I spent the most and time and I really enjoy it.
What would you do if you could change the world?
Giving everyone a lifelong basic income. Generate more perception, empathy, tolerance of one’s counterpart and in our social interaction.
Tell us about your future plans …
Stepping out of everyday life and familiar surroundings is important – getting to know other things, seeing new perspectives. Therefore, I would like to live and work again abroad for a few months.
Finally, what’s your favorite song?
It depends on how I feel and what I am doing. Quiet, confident, I like Alin Coen, LEA and for working I like Peter Sandberg, Joachim Pastor or Oliver Koletzki.
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