How did you get involved in bodypainting?
Ludwig:
I would say I discovered bodypainting just because of Andy's idea to make something for the Unite Parade in Salzburg. Actually my main focus was on illusion painting and airbrush. I had already created a bodypainting during my apprenticeship, but I never expected to do it in a professional way. Since the Unite Parade it became more and more of a habit with each new painting. And now I'm a real bodypainting junkie! Or maybe that’s just because of the colours that I am inhaling.
Andreas:
Ludwig already did his first bodypainting during his vocational education for a presentation.
Then almost 3 years ago I wanted to go to the Unite Parade in Salzburg and make something crazy...
I discussed with Ludwig about what we could do and we decided to paint our faces like dragons. But it did not remain by the face... At the end we were two full body paintings and two partial paintings.
It was the best advertising for Ludwig as he had only started his work as an airbrusher and illusion painter a few months before.
Our painting was such a success that I decided to sign him up for the world championship.
First he thought I was kidding, then he said I was crazy and then we started to work on our ideas.
When we arrived at Seeboden we were scared seeing all these professionals and wanted to go home. But then we said, "Okay let’s do it just for fun". On Sunday evening we were all sitting behind the stage calling mummy and crying tears of happiness as we were ranked place 7 in special effects, not really knowing what were doing there.
And since that day we are addicted to bodypainting.
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Do you live from bodypainting alone or do you also work in other areas?
Ludwig:
As Andy already mentioned I do a lot of things. From Bodypainting, illusion painting, airbrush on vehicles and any other surface to make-up artist. Generally I'm painting on almost any surface.
Andreas:
For Ludwig it was a great help to start his freelancer work but it is not the only work he is doing. It’s just one part of his great work, besides airbrush on vehicles and any other materials, as well as illusion painting. When ever it is possible I help him as his general dogsbody... making costumes, cutting audio-shows, as photographer and as assistant and painter when needed.
At the beginning I was still studying, now I am finished and the future will show how our work will further develop.
Perhaps we will open up our own studio offering all of our work.
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How is your work unique?
Ludwig:
I'd say that no artist is able to answer this question. Each one has his own style and this is what makes each artist unique.
Andreas:
I would say our work is unique in anything we do...
Ludwig has his own very special way of painting and it is the same with me taking pictures.
Each time we meet our fantasy goes crazy and our ideas and projects are growing.
Sometimes people call us silly ;-) But I think that’s the important think... being silly and crazy to have new ideas and to create something innovative and new. |
What do you use as inspiration?
Andreas:
There is nothing specific... each time we see something that is beautiful, fascinating, extraordinary or just crazy and imaginative it is suddenly an inspiration for us. Very often it’s just an idea that seems impossible to realise that causes us to say "hey let’s try it!" Even if it is a pair of 3 meter wings that even we never thought it could be possible to build.
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Your work is often created as a partnership, what rolls do you have in your working relationship?
Ludwig:
In general it would be possible to say that Andy takes the pictures and I am doing the work before. But it is not possible to separate our work like this.
Our tasks are melting together and it becomes strong teamwork. It is some kind of give and take. Bodypainting is a type of art that lives from photography.
Andreas:
I’d say I am the general dogsbody. No my first task is making good pictures of the models. Bodypainting is a type of art that fades. That makes it more important to make pictures that capture the piece of art in an adequate way that reflects the intention of the painting. That’s my main task I would say... sure there are many many other things as well... not at last to paint sometimes on my own, what I am really loving to do. |
What direction do you want to see your work taking?
Ludwig:
In a positive one! *smile* ... kidding aside...
My dream is that one day my name stands in the credits of a good movie in the category Bodypainting and Make-Up Artist.
Last but not least I'd like to mention that bodypainting is an Art that lives from the model that gets painted.
I'd like to thank all of my models that made the paintings possible and say that I have grown fond of them.
Andreas:
In my opinion it is the time to show the world that art today is not limited to music stars and some abstract painters.
There are people having talents that are comparable to great former artists... I think Ludwig is one of those people as well as several other painters. I’d like to see that one day people are saying: "Remember these great artists from the beginning of the 21st century?"
They did such a great job like those artists hundreds of years ago" |
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