Maximilian Wiedemann shared with us the tools of his trade and what inspires him to keep on working.
What tools couldn’t you live without in your work?
When I work I listen to a lot of music. It lets me get ‘in the zone’ and focus on what I am trying to create. I love having different people around me, giving me ideas, inspiring me with their own creativity. I find it very important that when I am going through a creative surge, that I have my friends around me to support me. I like hearing what they have to say, my work is a creative melting pot. I love seeing a finished piece and knowing that there were so many different elements that went into inspiring me for me to get the finished product. Unlike other artists that screen-print out there, I paint on top, which means all paintings are unique, and you wont get two with the same effects or even colours.
What inspires you?
I get inspired by what’s around me, what’s current, what’s going on in the news and by music. My art is about things people prioritise and take seriously in their life and then making a joke about it. My current exhibition focuses on the current economic climate. It is all you hear about, and through my art I want people to see the irony that these establishments have created.
What motivates you?
A lot of my buyers come back to me and say that my work makes their homes feel happier. Sounds silly but that’s what my art is about. It is supposed to fun, controversial but always with an element of humour. I keep wanting see how far I can push the envelope. For this show, I created golden pigs with “Too Pig To Fail”, they were extremely popular with the men from the City. Nice to see that they are able to laugh at themselves! I tend to get a lot of repeat customers, once you’ve gone Wiedemann there’s no going back!
What would you be doing if it wasn’t art?
Before getting professionally into art I was in advertising. Creating the slogans that are on my pieces, and creating slogans for billboards isn’t that different. They are both ‘art’ in their own way. I would like to think that if I wasn’t doing ‘art’, I would still be in art in some format, just a different type of artist. Although I have to admit, the office life isn’t really for me. Also, I secretly (or not so secretly) think I would make a great rapper…
