FUCK NORMAL I WANT MAGIC

Mateusz von Motz: As an '80s kid, my first memory of being creative was drawing and building castles in the living room. I remember spending hours on video games and Lego, so that's had a massive impact on my recent work. My dad was autistic and super interested in technology, so we had a Commodore, an Amiga, and many other game consoles from early on. I remember my first drawing on a Commodore 64 and creating pixel art, trying to replicate characters from my favorite video games, like Mario, Sonic, or Bomberman.

These early experiences with technology and creating something from nothing sparked my creativity, setting me on a path of artistic expression that has lasted a lifetime.

MVM: Coming from a working-class family, higher education was a priority for my parents. However, with diverse interests, choosing a single field to pursue was challenging. I started with one faculty and progressed through others, using each experience to refine my understanding of my preferences and how I wanted to learn and explore things.

Ultimately, a professor from my Architecture Studies program recommended that I attend the art academy, and it was a good decision. I discovered a love for art and found my true passion, which led me to where I am today.

MVM: Studying under Juergen Teller and working at his studio was a transformative experience. The atmosphere in London, the diverse projects, and Juergen's unique perspective on things were all incredibly inspiring and exciting. His approach and practices pushed me to be true to myself and create my own way. I gained a new perspective and began to believe in myself as an artist. Looking back, this was a crucial and defining moment in my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it under the guidance of Juergen Teller.

MVM: Expanding my practice over time feels natural because I am fascinated by many things. I often work on several projects simultaneously, much like reading multiple books at once. If something gets boring or gets stuck, I jump to another project. So moving from materials to technologies and spaces, and using a different range of techniques is something that keeps my practice fresh and exciting.

MVM: Breaking down old structures and combining things into a new perspective is something that fascinates me, like creating a new environment. You can set the rules in a new, not-existing way. This is something that drives me and keeps me going to research a lot. I was always fascinated by contrasts in materials and things that, for example, others could not go along with. But in my mind, it worked, so I just needed to create things so people could see and feel them too. I discovered this is something I like—bringing things together in a new way, adding a new dimension.

MVM: I had a fantastic experience working through an artist workshop in Greece with a group of disabled people. At that time, I wasn't diagnosed with autism (I was diagnosed later during the COVID-19 pandemic), and it happened that I was working with an autistic child.

We built architectural structures out of wooden grill sticks and small foam objects. We saw it as a city, and it was incredible how quickly we expanded without using verbal language but through gestures and interaction. The room was soon filled with a foam architecture structure, and it was a great experience.

At the end of the workshop, he asked his mom to translate something for me in English. She translated the following: "If you ever travel through time and space, remember, the color brown is time." It blew my mind because I was writing my dissertation about simulation, time travel, digital space, and multiverses.

As a late-diagnosed autistic person who grew up in a family where magic, spirituality, and meditation were important, I always felt like an outsider in real life with other kids. Therefore, the concept of space as a dimension, emotional space, and social interaction space was always something I researched to better understand my environment. It was natural for me to use these topics in my creative practice.

MVM: The FUCK NORMAL I WANT MAGIC series was inspired by a desire to change something in my life. I had a difficult time when I felt trapped in a loop of problems, dealing with medication and suicidal thoughts. But luckily, I realized I was not alone in this struggle and that everyone faced tough times. How we deal with them and the power we give to these thoughts and situations is up to us.

Someone once told me that not everything in life is magical, that we have to deal with normal everyday struggles, and this is the reality of life. That was a game-changer for me because I needed a bit of magic every day. I was frustrated and decided to make a change, manifest my desire for magic in my life, and transform it into art. That's how the series FUCK NORMAL I WANT MAGIC came to life. I decided to enjoy the beautiful moments of life and savor the joyful moments. It had a huge impact, reminding me to concentrate on the things that make me happy. The work received a fantastic response from people worldwide, showing me that many others like me are also seeking self-rearrangement and rethinking their lives to find happiness and meaning. It's a beautiful thing.

With that in mind, I started concentrating more on an idea for a project in 2017 while studying at the Royal College of Art in London. I researched quotes that impacted me and were critical of today's society. However, in 2017, I wasn't ready for it. I needed time to find myself and my canvas to paint on, and the mirror became an essential element. A mirror is a magical object, and when I did the first work, it was a relief. This move allowed me to create a self-reflection for the person who looked into it, creating a parallel universe. With GIFs, memes, gaming, and all the new materials I'm working with now, I just opened up a memory of my childhood. My work is transforming into something else, and I'm happy to show more work soon.

MVM: Humor, for me, is the best energy. It's just such a powerful force that brings people together. A genuine smile is beautiful, and I love to see people have fun and enjoy the time of their lives. Imagine creating something that brings joy and a smile to people every day.

My work connects with society in everyday dialogue. It's ironic, critical, and serves as a reminder. I need these things in my life—art, books, quotes, and music—to help me remember to take pleasure in life's everyday tasks. Playfulness and joy are part of my new artwork, and I would like to incorporate them even further into my future works.

MVM: The times are changing, technology is massive, and social media has an indescribable reach. The lockdowns have kicked humanity even further into a hyper-virtual reality. There will always be a way to connect, and every generation has a universal language. I'm thrilled that so many people identify with my work. It's incredible because these works are an expression of my inner dialogue.

In a time when we have a generation connected everywhere, all the time, and bombarded with content in a parallel reality via social media, it makes me even happier that these works have such a huge fanbase. This way of interacting is becoming increasingly important. As a highly sensitive person on the autism spectrum, everyday struggles in real-life social interactions can be challenging. It just feels good to work in a safe environment and go public when you are ready for it. Honestly, I prefer working via the Internet and social media and spending much time in my studio.

MVM: Having many followers means considerable interest in what you are doing, which is a good thing. However, I wouldn't say that you will automatically be successful just because you have a huge number of followers. It certainly helps to reach out to people with your artwork. But there are so many things that have an impact on your career. The right time and place are essential. Ultimately, every artist needs the possibility to showcase their works and show them to the public if that's what they want and desire. But having a bigger audience is very important in any kind of industry. The Internet is a vast space with billions of people, so why not use this space to your advantage?

MVM: Contemporary art will continue to evolve as technology advances. In the future, I expect to see the development of a user-friendly device that connects our real lives with virtual reality (VR). This device will allow us to seamlessly use VR and reality, creating an interactive and immersive experience for everyone.

If such a device is created, it will undoubtedly revolutionize our world. How we interact with art and each other will change massively. As AI continues to develop rapidly, the possibilities will be endless. It is an exciting time for the future of art and technology.