Anna Kuen, born 1991 in Bavaria, currently based Berlin. She studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna in the class of Daniel Richter. Kuen’s abstract paintings form a body of work which combine high-contrast color compositions, angular and organic structures and realistic details, with many of them referring to the nature of her homeland.
Since when do you paint and what are your favorite motives?
I have always been painting, went to school for music & arts and afterwards studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Over the years my paintings became more and more abstract and are inspired by the landscapes I grew up in.
When you create a new work, how do you proceed? What comes first?
Before I start a new painting I usually make some rough sketches with a black liner in a sketch book. I also write to create more focus on my creative work in the studio & to leave daily life outside. I then paint rather intuitively & see where the process, inspiration, the topic of a series leads me. I am also always working on some smaller works on the side, these are either works on paper or small canvases, color and structure studies.
From what do you get your motivation?
I am an overall creative person, if I am not creating in any way (painting, drawing, music etc.) I feel unwell. I have an urgent need to create (in any way - painting, drawing, music, movement) in order to live.
Your life without art would be...
…not my life.
What's the best art venue in your city right now?
I have a yearly membership for all museums in Berlin and find it very inspiring and refreshing to revisit them over and over again. One can learn a lot by looking at art from different eras.
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