CHAN(N)ELING MY INNER COCO

Vreni Frost: That is a question I keep asking myself sometimes. I am fortunate to have a great deal of independence and the ability to plan my time however I want because I am self-employed. There are periods when I’m in the studio all day long, recording podcasts in front of the microphone, but then there are days that I can fully devote to creating art.

VF: I never wanted to be an artist, but I wanted to paint. And I always did, during COVID lockdowns, very excessively. I painted canvas after canvas. Friends and family encouraged me to show my paintings publicly. And then I just dared. The feedback was overwhelming. My paintings have triggered exactly what I wanted: a good mood and positive feelings.

VF: I love eyes, hands, and mouths! And not just looking at these physiques but also painting them in my own visual language

When painting, I follow one simple rule: whatever happens on the canvas, I just let happen without any limitations. I don’t follow any routine and let mistakes happen. What I don’t like is that it's painted over. By the way, this was also true of CHAN(N)ELING MY INNER COCO.

Magritte and Matisse inspire me, but also numerous colleagues that are still alive, like Michael Swaney, Heidi Ukkonen, Dora Foldes, or Superblast.

VF: I remember that very well, because my first solo exhibition was not long ago. I was really interested in how the viewers would react to the pieces and whether I would make any sales. I told my parents that it would be wonderful if I could sell two or three of my pieces. In the end, practically everything was gone, and I was completely shocked! I love the pictures myself very much and am very happy and honored that others do the same.

VF: I myself have three little tigers at home: Willi, Flip, and Suri. My love for cats dates back to my childhood, as evidenced by my crudely painted cats. My parents have kept many of my paintings and archived them in a thick folder. This is a real treasure for me, and I reinterpret many of my early paintings today.

VF: I'm just coming back from a three-week social media hiatus and slowly finding my way back into the online world. We consume so much bullsh*t online and try to fill empty holes inside us with our social media consumption because dealing with these issues is usually pretty painful. I have drastically reduced my screen time and try to be on social media for no more than an hour a day. I see social media as my portfolio, where I can show my work and speak about my topics. Social media has enabled me to do many of the great collaborations that I get to do, for which I’ve worked hard. I'm grateful for these opportunities, which might not have happened without the reach and influence I gained through Instagram and Co.

VF: Feminism is not yet a motif in my art but is ever-present in all my other work as a presenter and author. This topic will certainly find its place in my art as well; it will come about naturally, just like all the other works. I'm already curious about what form that will take.

VF: Digital feminism is very empowering. Growing up, I had very few female role models. Fortunately, this is changing, also thanks to the Internet, and feminists are fighting for women’s rights everywhere. Nevertheless, it’s still a constant, tiring struggle, and a lot of education still needs to be done.

VF: I always try to draw attention to injustices, whether online or at the supermarket checkout. I also debated whether I should work with EXPANDED.ART because Johann König is currently being criticized for sexism. Generally, I would like to see more courage in the art scene to take a stand on such issues and speak openly about them.

VF: I can go on a stage and speak in front of 5,000 people with no problem. But showing my paintings was intense. I was nauseous from excitement; I hadn't realized it was that bad. For years I have been presenting myself as a person on the Internet and have been building my personal brand online, but it was different with art. Perhaps because the old and established art scene is still very harsh in its criticism. Social media helps here, too: anyone can become an artist or even a critic. For me, the elitist art scene has had its day. I find nasal murmurs, strange etiquette, and blasphemies about artists and gallery owners alienating. I also did not know that it is frowned upon to introduce oneself as an artist to galleries. You have to be discovered. I introduced myself anyway; I never got an answer. Maybe at the next one. Or I stay without a gallery, which works great so far.

VF: Be open, show yourself and your paintings. Create a strong network and a thick skin to hide behind during difficult times. Be a nice person (in life anyway), support other artists, and have a clear position.