Interview with Rob Gruner
O-A: What is art for you?
Rob Gruner: Art is for me…, the inner feelings, obtained from inspiration, to be realized visually with painting, in abstract forms.
Because these impressions, which I experience while painting, have a stimulating effect on my sensual zest for life, they form an essential factor in my life.
O-A: What wouldn’t you do without art?
Rob Gruner: Without art I would probably be less sensitive; less interested in certain aspects of life…, namely those aspects which now urge me to paint! Especially later I discovered that I became more and more fascinated by things which were not determined by their form…, but much more by their effect on me. With this I achieved that I felt more and more the need to give shape to this in abstract forms with paint.
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O-A: Who or what inspired you artistically; a person, artist, event, experience…
Rob Gruner: Painters who fascinate and inspire me artistically, are especially the moderns of the last century, in which I think especially of the painters: Antoni Clavé, Nicolas de Staël, Serge Poliakoff, Kurt Schwitters, and Jackson Pollock.
O-A: What is a vivid memory of a remark concerning your art that got stuck with you?
Rob Gruner: A vivid reminder of one of the remarks about my art is, however, that one finds that when one looks at it, new impressions arise time and time again. One experiences my works as not static!
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O-A: How do you search for inspiration and themes for your work?
Rob Gruner: What can sometimes inspire me very much is the sight of certain works of art by other artists, when visiting museums. This is sometimes so intense, that on the spot I would also like to paint …,so besides joyful admiration, I also catch a strange feeling of regret that this is not possible! There are many artists that I admire very much, especially the moderns from the last century such as:
Antoni Clavé, Nicolas de Staël, Serge Poliakoff, Kurt Schwitters, Jackson Pollock…, etc., etc., etc., etc.
O-A: What names do you give your artworks?
Rob Gruner: The names I give my works of art usually come up spontaneously; they arise from the association of my mood with music, literature, the environment, the light, etc., etc., etc. But most of the time I call my work: “Without title”. This, because I believe that everyone should be able to experience a work of art in their own way. A name could give too much guidance to this! This principle makes the essential difference between realistic and abstract art!
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Interview with Rob Gruner; 26.10.2020
