5 Questions for Simon Schwartz
29 November 2022Simon Schwartz
has long since made it into the mainstream as a comic artist. His breakthrough came
him with the volume “drüben!”: an epic about the fall of the Berlin Wall, in which he
perspective tells the story of his family's escape from the GDR. Meanwhile
Schwartz has produced an extensive and thematically broad body of work
which made him one of the most important illustrators and authors of his
generation.
Illustration Simon Schwartz signed, 2019 ©
LUDWIGGALERIE
Nathalie
Schraven: You are participating as a comic artist in our Otfried Preußler exhibition
a special role. Instead of comics, we can use hand puppets from you
exhibit the things you made with your mother as a child. What is the
story behind it?
Simon Schwartz:
The story behind it is that at a child’s birthday party – sometime
in the first or second grade – with a school friend, create your own version
for the robber Hotzenplotz and created a script. The script
can also be seen in the exhibition.
Fig. Simon Schwartz' hand puppets © Photo: LUDWIGGALERIE
Oberhausen Castle
Nathalie
Schraven: While Preußler’s stories are often based on legends and fairy tales
In your own works you often refer to historical
Role models. What are the biggest challenges for you, the historical
To reproduce and depict events?
Simon Schwartz:
My selection is based on the extent to which these biographies relate to
present and are also relevant to the present. Many topics can then be found
also simply in the biographies.
Nathalie
Schraven: When and how did you find your own style?
Simon Schwartz:
It is difficult to say. A style develops over decades and is
always in development. However, I try to give a
to find your own graphic equivalent. Nevertheless, I believe that you can always
sees that it is a “Schwartz”.
Nathalie
Schraven: Who are your artistic role models?
Simon Schwartz:
I don’t have any direct role models, but there are certainly works that have influenced me
An important influence is certainly the GDR comic magazine “Mosaik” by
Hannes Hegen of the 50s and 60s, although of course that was not my time
A particularly important influence was of course my studies in
Hamburg in the classes of Anke Feuchtenberger. However, the
Interest too. While I used to be impressed by many comic artists like the American
Comic artist Chris Ware, today it is mainly the
free art scene, fashion or film.
Nathalie
Schraven: What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a comic artist today?
want?
Simon Schwartz:
The classic answer would of course be: draw a lot. I think
that quality comes from quantity. But also very simple characteristics like
Punctuality and deadlines are important. But above all, I believe that
Business acumen and economic knowledge, such as an understanding of
usage rights, etc., are essential so that you can ultimately benefit from your art
can live.
General