A delicate world: Artist Sylei

How did the sale of your first artwork come about?

That was very exciting. I painted a work and, in between, always posted a few forecast photos on Instagram. The interested party from Hamburg then contacted me and wanted to hear the story about the work. I told it to him, and he wanted to buy the work immediately.

What do collectors of your works appreciate most about your art?

That it is so colorful, and the sight of my works brings optimism to the viewer and sends worries on vacation. My collectors agree that I convey pure cheerfulness and happiness with my works.

What are themes of special meaning that you also repeatedly address in your art?

A smile enchants everyone. You can tell that when you see a child's laugh. Yet it has faded away for many in our society. To catch a glimpse of a smile has become rarer. I want to achieve that all people can be happy despite the scars behind their walls and their diversity. A theme that has a very big meaning for me is cheerfulness, and art can convey this. Cheerfulness and cheerfulness are fixed elements of my identity.

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Can you tell us a little more about the " Characters" series?

There are areas in our brain that are responsible for emotions. They also promote community and social interaction. Whoever feels with me is my friend. And if you now look at my figures from the Characters series, then these very areas in the brain are addressed. My art can offer viewers the opportunity to introduce small pauses and oases in their everyday life because they are allowed to let their eyes wander once and explore something happy and optimistic.

The warmer and more positive images are, the more comfortable people feel in their place. This also ensures that people are happy to come back to their company after, for example, a long home office stretch. Furthermore, art in corporate spaces encourages creativity and conversations among each other, which guarantees team cohesion and better work results.

At what point in your life did you begin to identify as an artist?

It was when I was about ten years old, actually. I kept it like Gerhard Richter once said: “Nobody is interested in me, so I paint.” I painted commissioned works very early on.

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How do your ideas come about and how do you develop them?

I use the stories that life wrote and observe my fellow human beings very intensively, and I also love to hear their stories. The characters in my series "Characters" show feelings and emotions through their body language and looks.

When I have captured a situation or the emotion from it, I develop the portrayal. I also think carefully about which colors best convey this emotion. I find that sadness, death, love, happiness, etc., can be represented with certain colors, and I make use of them. I usually start with a preliminary drawing and then work out my ideas step by step until, in the end, the work represents my ideas.

Which places / spaces have a special meaning in your art?

That's pretty much every place and every room in which real life takes place. That's where my inspirations come from. I love being around people, observing them, talking to them, and hearing how you've been doing in your life so far, and I collect the impressions like a little sponge.

And, of course, my studio has a special meaning for me. It is my oasis, where I retreat to bring all the stories and events on the canvas.

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Do you surround yourself with other artists? What is your environment like? Are there people here who have an influence on your art?

I am in constant exchange with several artists, whether through social media or through Aurum Future.  For example, my environment is active in architecture, social professions, and the event industry. This mixture of originating things in connection with making sure that other people are well and have nice moments clearly has an influence on my art.

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What role do innovation and tradition play for you?

Innovation plays a big role for me, of course, because, as an artist, I am constantly developing new ideas and trying my hand at different techniques.

At the moment, I'm creating some works of mine that I'm adding gold leaf to. And tradition is equally important to me because I like to pass on advice, be it in terms of knowledge, ideas/skills, or culture, which in my life so far have brought me to where I am today.

Is there a work of art in your life that has particularly impressed you?

Yes, there is.  It is the Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer. She is also called by many the "Mona Lisa of the North.”

My first thought upon seeing this work of art at the time was that I would be very interested to know what her story was. She looks so mysterious, yet she has such an open hearty look. I also painted her once recently, but in my style. I was contacted directly by a collector. The work will be moved to her rooms in a few days.

What is your unique selling point that sets you apart from other artists?

It's the way and technique I abstract my figures. My brushwork and use of color create the areas of color I desire, thus making the emotions visible. I have not seen this before with other artists.

Do you have any current or future projects you would like to talk about?

I am currently in talks with some luxury hotels regarding collaboration with my series "Creation Luxury.” I represent with my works the values of bliss, optimism, and sovereignty – all synonyms of luxury for me.  Luxury brands radiate to the potential customer and evoke the appearance of beauty. It conveys the feeling that one possesses what is most beautiful about oneself.  So you can acquire luxury, be born into it, or try to be luxury yourself. I would like to show this series directly in the rooms of these luxury hotels, where luxury is also lived.

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Available artwork and information on Sylei at:

http://sylei-art.com

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