Interview: The Artist Werner Szendi

Ich freue mich, heute einen weiteren Künstler vorzustellen. Werner Szendi lebt in Österreich in einem ruhigen Ort direkt an der Donau, wo er in seiner Kunst eine ganz besondere Ausdrucksform gefunden hat. Mit seinen Werken setzt sich Werner mit Themen wie Freiheit, Frieden, Liebe und Heilung auseinander. Dabei spielen auch spirituelle Themen, wie die heilige Geometrie, eine wichtige Rolle in seiner Kunst.

Werner ist ein Autodidakt, der sich über viele Jahre hinweg eine eigene künstlerische Sprache erarbeitet hat, die aus leuchtenden Farben und kraftvollen Formen besteht. Denn Werner verfügt über ein tiefes Verständnis für die Wirkung von Farben und der Energie, die sie transportieren können.

Introduction

What is your name?
Werner Szendi

Where do you live?
I live in Kritzendorf/Klosterneuburg/Lower Austria directly on the Danube north of Vienna.

What kind of art/creativity do you mainly do? (Painting, sculpture, photography, digital design, etc.)
I started with pencil drawings at the age of 16. I then painted various things in watercolour for 2 years. When I was 18, our vicar at the time saw pictures of mine and told me that I should paint oil on wood. If the paintings were good, he gave me commissions for churches, for which he was responsible. After trial paintings, I painted my first altarpiece for the church in Edlitz in Burgenland when I was 19. The church paintings made me famous in southern Burgenland and I received many commissions, which I painted in watercolour or oil. At the age of 35, I discovered acrylic painting, which I now use for many of my paintings because I appreciate the luminosity and quick processing and mixing possibilities. In between, however, my love for oil colours, which allow for even finer work, always takes hold of me.

Have you had any formal training, or are you self-taught?
I have been self-taught for more than 40 years. I never went to art school and never attended a painting course. I taught myself everything by studying old masters and nature. Nature in its perfection and beauty and my own intuition and imagination are the greatest teachers. If the artist succeeds in establishing a higher connection through meditation and contemplation, he is able to create masterpieces. In the meantime, I struggled with this because I realized that every gallery was asking for training. Looking back, I am very happy and proud that I have consistently followed my own path of self-discovery and personal growth, and will continue to do so. I don't want my art to be influenced by others. It is not authentic if you recognize the teachers in the works. By the way, most of the great artists were self-taught.

Where can people see your work? Do you have a website or social media profiles you would like to share?
As I am also a trained web designer, I maintain my website myself. I have also been present on all common social media platforms for years. My artworks are now also listed on Artsy and at some galleries worldwide (e.g.: Werner Szendi | Austria | TERAVARNA).

You Are Creative. Why?

How Did You Get Into Art? Where Did Your Creative Journey Begin?

Creativity used to be considered divine inspiration. It was reserved for the few geniuses and the highly gifted. However, I firmly believe that the divine is in everyone and that everyone can be creative, i.e. a creator. Creativity does not only mean being artistic. Creativity is also often needed to solve everyday problems.

I enjoy creating beautiful paintings that touch the viewer positively. I don't paint negative pictures because I know the power of pictures and their influence on people.

How did I get into art?

It was a holiday at my parents' house in Harmisch/South Burgenland/Austria, when my father was having a nap on the sofa in the kitchen after lunch. I was bored and in 10 minutes I drew my sleeping father's face in pencil. When he woke up and saw my drawing, he was very impressed, and my mother was also delighted with my work. They encouraged me to draw more faces and landscapes. After a while they said that I could draw very well, but I should try using colours. I took my watercolours from school and painted my first watercolours.

I was an altar boy and our parish priest heard about my artistic talent. He said I should try oil on wood because he needed such works of art for his churches. He gave me a photograph of his home church and said that if I did well, I would get my first commission for a sacred painting.

I was 19 years old when my first altarpiece was consecrated in 1985. The sacred paintings were copies of old masters from books. From them, I learnt many techniques to paint pictures in a powerful, energetic and unique way (e.g. light and shadow techniques).

I wished that one day I would be able to see the originals. Divine guidance then made it possible for me to see originals of my works in the Hermitage (St Petersburg) and the Vatican Museum (Rome). There are no accidents in life. As an altar boy, I used to look at and admire the wonderful old murals and paintings in churches. I used to think it was a shame that the artists who painted them were no longer alive to see their work admired. To me, it was a great thing if an artist could get his paintings into churches during his lifetime.

At that time, I would never have thought that I would become an artist myself. A few years later, my artwork was hanging in several churches in southern Burgenland. Since then, I know that you can create and achieve anything in life. We create our world with our thoughts, wishes and ideas.

What Inspires You?

I am mainly inspired by the beauty of nature. I'm always getting tips on what to paint. These come from books, the internet and conversations with interesting people. Inspiration can be found in every moment of life.

For me, inspiration means connecting with a being from higher spheres. Before I start my work, I gather myself, meditate and ask for divine protection and blessings. I create my own sacred space where I can be creative. Silence and music are part of it. When I manage to make this higher connection, I am in flow and able to create masterpieces with a lot of power and energy.

Are There Certain Artists Or Styles That Influence You?

From an early age I was fascinated by the masters of realism and naturalism (Michelangelo, Raphael), then impressionism (Monet) and finally surrealism (Dali). Recently I have become increasingly interested in sacred geometry and its spiritual meaning, working with the power and energy of various forms and symbols. I often have little to do with informal or abstract painting. But perhaps I will develop in that direction too.

What does your creative process look like?

What are your favourite materials and tools to use and why?

From idea to canvas is often a process that can take years. For example, I wanted to paint light years ago. I worked on it for nights on end and didn't want to succeed. I painted over it several times and was in such a flow that at some point, at 3am, I realized, exhausted, that the painting could not be called Light, but Eye. I sat in front of it for an hour, staring at it. Suddenly I felt a strong energy flowing out of the painting. I had goose bumps all over my body and a real feeling of pressure in my heart. Only later did someone explain to me that this was a so-called initiation energy that I, as an artist, had received back from the painting. This energy had somehow changed me. For only a week later, I was able to paint the picture of Light, just as I had imagined. I was obviously not energetically ready for it before. My picture of Archangel Michael, for example, had been in my mind for many years. My grandfather's name was Michael, as was my son's middle name. Last winter the time had come. I felt an inner urge to finally paint this picture because the time was right.

I started drawing and painting on paper, then on wood and now mostly on canvas in oil or acrylic.

Colour is very important in my art. I love bright colours, but also contrasts, light effects and magnetic tension on the canvas. Colours have a very high vibration, and you can create a lot of positive energy with the right use of colour. My wife and I have been studying the effect of colour on people for many years. We can tell which colours are important for a person's development from their birthdate. We give tips on how to steer your life in the right direction by making small changes to your colours. With the power of the right colours and my symbolic images, we have been able to achieve amazing effects.

Is There A Particular Project Or Work That Is Important To You?

I love all my artworks. In a way, they are part of my own development and have many stories and memories attached to them. But I can let go of all the pictures without any problems. I am happy when as many people as possible enjoy them and are touched by them.

What Was The Biggest Challenge You Faced As An Artist?

The biggest challenge was probably the 'Kidsart' art project, especially from an organizational point of view. On the 8th of September 2012 I painted more than 1000 acrylic paintings with more than 1000 children in Tanzania between Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro under the motto 'Childhood Dreams: What I have always dreamed of' as part of a peaceful celebration with more than 3000 people. The local radio and television were there, and the press in Europe covered it. My wife and I took the artworks to Vienna and sold them at a large vernissage and exhibition in aid of the project. It was remarkable that all the children's artwork was positive.

How Important Is It For You To Connect And Interact With Other Artists And Creatives?

Very important. I have a large international network through social media, where many artists are in regular contact with me. I meet a lot of artists at group exhibitions. The exchange is always mutually enriching.

What Does Art Mean To You? What Role Does It Play In Your Life?

Art is my life and my calling. I always notice that I become unrounded and stressed when I can't paint for a long time. I need art and to grow personally. It is my outlet and my way of expressing myself and helps me to process life. Making art is meditation for me. Creating art makes me a producer, not just a consumer. Art helps me to be authentic.

What Do You Think Is The Role Of Art In Society?

What Role Do Artists Play Within Society?

Art has existed since the dawn of humanity and will always be an inseparable part of life, regardless of ethnicity or political and religious beliefs. Art is communication and the will's need for creativity.

The artist's task should be to bring order and reason to his mind and peace and love to his heart. This makes everything he creates harmonious and meaningful.

Through meditation and contemplation, the artist tries to ascend to higher realms to capture forms, colours, signs, symbols, sounds and sensations. If the artist succeeds in expressing and integrating what he has received into his works, these works of art have an effect on people and encourage them to take the same path to these heights. That is why such works continue to have an effect on people centuries later.

What Do You Think Is The Role Of Art In Society?

What Role Do Artists Play Within Society?

I use my paintings to express my deep feelings for peace, freedom, love and healing in the world. I also write texts for each of my paintings that express my thoughts and motivations.

Thank you, Werner!

Your Chance: Be Part of my Interview Series!

If you are an artist or creative person, whether you work in painting, music, literature or any other art form, and would like to talk about your work and creative process, please get in touch.
I look forward to showcasing the diversity of creative expression in my interview series and reading about your perspectives and experiences.

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