From Germany, Nadja Lana moved to Ireland earlier this year and is now based in East Cork …
Who or what kickstarted your interest in art? As a child, I was always drawing and painting, and visited a lot of museums and exhibitions with my mother. I first studied art history, only to discover that I wanted to study painting. I then applied to the Düsseldorf Art Academy, one of the most prestigious art schools in Europe, and began studying fine art there, specialising in painting.
I found studying at art academy a very intense time. You work very hard, then have to face criticism from professors and fellow students in colloquiums. This period of my life had a big impact on me. I made lifelong friends and became confident in my painting. I had a lot of time to experiment and studying with different professors definitely influenced my painting. There are many different nationalities represented, which also leaves different influences on the art. In 2023, I finally graduated as a master student under Professor Ellen Gronemeyer.
How do you define your art and how has it evolved? I would describe my art as impulsive, ambivalent and sometimes even meditative. My style combines fine drawing, painting and a conceptual approach, often exploring themes of identity, nature and transformation. No two paintings are created in the same way. Sometimes, I repaint over and over again for months, put them away and finally reach the point where they’re finished. There’s always a point in your work when you no longer surprise yourself. That’s exactly when it’s important to rethink it.
How and where do you work? I currently have a studio in Midleton in Co Cork, which is the first time that I have a studio on my own. I really appreciate the space where I can bring my paints and dogs. I work with photographs that I take of my friends and myself, with sketches from nude drawing. The landscape and everyday objects also influence my painting. Plants, buildings or even stills from video games often flow into my paintings. I try to make the viewers voyeurs of my world to create a certain ambivalence while viewing my painting.
Tell us about your current exhibition: I’m delighted to exhibit at Sea Church in Ballycotton. It’s particularly exciting to exhibit in an old church where my paintings will provide quite a contrast to the surroundings. For this exhibition, I combined some of my latest works that I created in Midleton, with older ones from time spent in Spain and Germany. As I’ve only been in Ireland for a few months, this is my first exhibition here, which I’m particularly looking forward to.
What do you love about what you do? I’m very grateful to be able to do what I love. What I love most about my work is the freedom to do what I want. It’s very varied and requires a lot of self-discipline to constantly engage with yourself. It’s also fun to network with other artists and exchange ideas. These conversations often lead to completely new ideas and works. Especially in my paintings, many people see completely different things and have different emotions when viewing them. This is particularly exciting for me and I always enjoy these conversations.
Need to know: “Art at Sea Church” supports local artists and allows them to showcase their work free of charge. Nadja’s exhibition launches this new initiative and opens on October 3. @nadjalana
SEE MORE: Artistic License – Martin Finnin
