“I am a wandering vision-machine. If I had to describe them all right now – I would like to – it would go beyond the scope of this.”
Name
Alexandra Feusi
Profession
Artist
Website
Who are you?
Oh, my favorite question! No idea. I am still trying to figure that out but I can’t give you a definitive answer to that anyway. I am constantly changing, it would be boring if I didn’t.
What do you do?
Anything and everything, as in my art, so in life in general. In terms of art, I have mostly been drawing and painting so far, but I also do performance, installations, prints, short animated films, puppets, concept art, photography, collages, self-dramatization, music, text, three-dimensional figures, clothing, and jewelry. I experiment with all kinds of materials, techniques, and styles, and I’ve only tried a fraction of what I’m planning on. There is still so much to discover, to experiment with, and to combine.
Where are you from?
My mother is from Warsaw, my father from the Swiss canton Schwyz, and I entered the world in Zurich.
Your style in 3 words?
Quirky, honest, me
Your weakness? Your strength?
My biggest weaknesses are my self-doubt and the difficulty of making decisions, and additionally, I can be very moody. My strength is my willpower; when something is important to me I will fight for it with all my might, and I don’t give up until I have reached my goal. My energy for that I owe to my sense of humor and my imagination. I am also very curious and adventurous.
What makes you different?
I think principally my sense of humor, my slightly odd way of thinking, and my enthusiasm for inconspicuous things in everyday life that nobody else notices.
When did you decide to become an artist?
Initially, I wanted to become a clown, but then I decided to become an artist after all. I was about five years old.
What do you find most fascinating about your work?
To create art is pretty much the only thing of which I never tire. Generally, I have a hard time concentrating on just one thing, I allow anything to distract me, except in art. I am really addicted to it; I would even argue that it feels about as important to my survival as eating or sleeping. There is nothing I would rather do. When I am creating art I forget everything around me, I no longer brood over life and all its facets. In this seemingly senseless smearing around of paint, everything suddenly makes sense, or at least it feels that way. I can paint for nine hours without break, and as soon as I have washed my brush and said good night to my painting, I already want to start painting again. I would not want to live without art, it is my lifeblood.
A few words about your favorite creation?
I don’t have a favorite creation. I weave a web with my works, one creation links to the next. Everything is connected somehow.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
I love the work of Pipilotti Rist. I wouldn’t say that her work inspires my own, but I think she is an amazing woman. I would like to have her as a friend, or that she would take me under her wing. At my first solo exhibition I met her mother by chance, and when I realized, I was in hysterics internally, but of course I didn’t let anything on and stayed totally cool.
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
Oh, there are countless ones. I would love to work on a large scale, paint a whole high-rise with a giant paintbrush from top to bottom, like a big canvas. Or to put a group of parachutists on a high platform in front of a wind turbine to imitate the blowing of a dandelion using people. A giant installation of my collected knickknacks where every visitor can reserve an object, and at the end collect it for free. There are still so many ideas I want to pursue.
Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“
My art. And of course world peace. Actually, pretty much everything in light of the fact that I am a 7.47-billionth of the people alive today, and that earth is nothing in comparison to the universe.
2018: Where are we going?
First to the moon, if it was my choice. Then to the end of the rainbow, and with the plundered money from the pot of gold onward to New York. I’ve also never been to Asia. Ideally, we will just go on a trip around the world.
When the going gets tough…
Just keep going and trust blindly that everything will get better, after all you have nothing to lose. When I am doing badly, I imagine I am a diver, who must dive through the dark oceans. Occasionally I see something beautiful, a fish or a jelly, and eventually I surface, inevitably, because I don’t want to drown, and then I see the sun and an island on the horizon. I digress…
Your city’s favorite spots?
Oh, there are many. Zurich is gorgeous. The old town enchants me anew with every stroll, and when the weather is right, you can sit down by the lake and admire the snowy mountaintops. I also like District 5 very much, where I always feel like I am on a holiday. There is always something wonderful to discover.
Do you have a vision?
Just one? Innumerable ones, and every day new ones are added. I am a wandering vision-machine. If I had to describe them all right now – I would like to – it would go beyond the scope of this. Otherwise, I am always glad to share my visions and ideas in a conversation.
What would you do if you could change the World?
What do you mean „could“? I am already at it!
Tell us about your future plans…
As a successful artist, I will travel in my mobile, solar-powered Disney castle from art opening to art opening around the world, place giant works of art into the landscape, and realize tremendous happenings, and I will be the first artist to exhibit on the moon. With all the money, I will try to make the world a little more just and beautiful. In the near future, I want to move to Vienna to study fine arts.
Last but not least: what is your favourite Song?
Of all the difficult questions, this may be the hardest… „Heroes“ by David Bowie, when I hear it, it feels like I swallowed freedom. Or „Codo“ by Döf. My heart skips a beat every time I hear it. And since we are already in space, maybe also „Space Oddity“, which makes you feel so wonderfully insignificant and small. All the pressure and expectations fall away, like when you look at the stars, nothing matters anyway.
#…?
#Bowandbyebye
