Spotlight: Pavement Artist Extraordinaire Edgar Mueller Exclusive Interview W/ CHAMPMAG.COM
Spotlight: Pavement Artist Extraordinaire Edgar Mueller Exclusive Interview W/ CHAMPMAG.COM
Spotlight: Edgar Mueller Exclusive Interview
CHAMP Magazine
Nathan “Hollywood” Adom
CHAMP: Now we have an amazing artist with us at the moment by the name of Edgar Mueller. How’s it going Edgar?
Edgar Mueller: To be honest – the last year was full of projects I did and I spent more time in hotels than at home by my family. On the one hand I’m most overjoyed for all the opportunities to practice and present my art. On the other hand I felt like burned out. After a month break I feel better now and looking forward to upcoming projects.
CHAMP: Now we’ve had interviews with graffiti artists before, but never have we had an interview with a pavement artist. How long have you been designing streets with miraculous art for?
Edgar Mueller: I was born in Muelheim/Ruhr and grown up in the small village Straelen on the west border of Germany. I drew and sketch since I was able to hold a pencil. I was always an autodidact following the principle “Learning by doing”. Although I studied Communication-Design I remained loyal to the philosophy that what ever solution you find out yourself you will never forget. I did my first street painting at the age of 16. I went to upper school in the neighbourhood Village Geldern where every year a traditional street painting competition takes place. On my way to school I saw these transient paintings done with chalk right on to the pavement. I fell in love with this art and decided to enter the competition when I was 16. At the beginning I often did copies of the old masters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio and others. I love to do copies and learn the technique of the masters and meanwhile to attract people to have a look at my painting. Street painting is still my profession but the subjects of the paintings changed over time.
CHAMP: If you can walk us through how you got into this form of art and what triggered you to get into this world of art.
Edgar Mueller: I always have the wish to create something new. Stagnation is the enemy of creativity. Inspire by the art of Julian Beaver and Kurt Wenner I decided to use the three dimensional technique as my language to talk to people. I just present a stage or scenery where people turns into the protagonist of it whether or not they do it active or by just passing the scene. Reality is challengeable and changeable. Everybody has his own perception and thereby a personal reality. I love to scratch and question it by creatingan unexpected reality divergently from everyday environment. Every artist wants to reach people and evoke feelings. Therefore he or she has to find a language that speaks to the people and challenges.A picture that already said everything after being watched once is not worth for a second look. Using the third dimension turned out to be my language.
CHAMP: What I found amazing is your ability to make plain roads appear in a 3D form and also make it seem very realistic. I love the Lava Burst in Germany piece, but what’s the one piece of work you often get recognized for, or is a popular one?
Edgar Mueller: I created a time laps video of the project “Ice Age” in Dun Laoghaire (Ireland). I load it up on youtube to show people not only the working process of such a painting. The response to that video was unexpected. That was my breakthrough as an artist.
CHAMP: What would be your favorite piece you’ve done out of all of them?
Edgar Mueller: The first huge 3D painting I’ve done in Moose Jaw, Canada. “The Waterfall” was the starting point for my decision to create illusions in everyday life. Before that I did alot of commercial based projects. But I saw myself at least frustrated and disappointed. For years I served clients and covered their need. Mine was to earn money. My decisions for a change and do more free style paintings which are born out of my own motivation bear the ‘Waterfall’, ‘Lava Burst’ and ‘The Crevasse’.
I found a way to keep the balance between commercials and free projects. As an artist I always search for new challenges. Reproducing is boring to me. I will follow the idea to paint over large areas of urban public life and give them a new appearance. I feel like I’ve just touched a part of the unlimited possibilities of this idea. I just love to challenge people’s perception.
CHAMP: How long do the pieces usually take to complete?
Edgar Mueller: That depends on the size and subject of the painting. Usually it takes a week to complete.
CHAMP: Now when you go to these countries and do your work are these requested or granted by the city you’re in or do you just take out your tools and start completing art?
Edgar Mueller: My projects needs detailed planning upfront. Because of their proportion I can’t do them in a couple of hours or even quicker. It takes up to a week to finish a painting. Therefore I need to be sure to have the permission to paint. The best way is to have a request for a project. That makes it easier to get permissions.
CHAMP: What would it cost to get some pavement done by you on their street?
Edgar Mueller: I just have a straight fee for commercials. But it doesn’t make sense to me to get a fee for a charity project.
CHAMP: What kind of instruments or tools do you use to create these masterpieces?
Edgar Mueller: Nothing special. Some rollers and brushes, wall paint and a space to work on. Some good music in the background, nice people passing by and fill my energy.
CHAMP: What pieces are you working on at the moment and what else can we expect from Edgar in the new year?
Edgar Mueller: Right now I’m working on a draft for a commercial in Tokyo. I will visit Rwanda this year as well and can’t wait to do a free style project there. Some other projects are in mind but has not been thought through.
For more info visit:
http://www.metanamorph.com
http://www.european-street-painting.com
