So I wrote about German-born, UK based artist Susanna Bauer about two weeks ago. She sent me a quick note to say thanks, and she also mentioned that she liked listening to the podcast… obviously I wrote her back immediately and said, “Great! Wanna come on?” Luckily for all of us, she said yes. I loved every minute of this almost hour long call {yes I kept recording after we said goodbye… again}. Not only is her work lovely, so is she… and don’t even get me started on her Bavarian/British accent! You can listen just below those leaf cubes, or you can subscribe on iTunes. Ok, so you can picture the woman who goes with this lovely voice, here is Susanna in her Cornwall studio:
Look at all of those leaves just waiting for a turn on Susanna’s table! I wanted to hear all of her secrets and tricks, but apparently the only trick is being Susanna… slow, careful, with a delicate hand. That’s why when she said, “I’m a bit impatient”, I laughed hysterically and then immediately had a title for the episode. How can you do work like this AND be impatient?! Hilarious.
Now, before she worked with leaves there were some very beautiful, and very cozy, sticks and stones:
Oh. I love them so much. She’s taken a little break from sticks and stones, leaves being her main focus for the moment. Speaking of leaves, she sent me a photo of the first leaf she ever worked her magic on:
Wow. Beautiful. There is real genius at work there. Next up, this is the piece I mentioned… many leaves being connected in the middle. In fact, much of her work is about connection. We didn’t go into that, so I wanted to add a note she sent me, after we talked, on exactly that:
“The ‘how is it done’ element of my work, I guess, is a first and immediate connection point for someone who sees my work, but what I find far more interesting is what can happen next, when the work draws a viewer in, slows someone down to look closely at the detail of how it’s made, but also how intricate, delicate and fragile the leaf and nature as a whole really is. And also how fragile we are as human beings, subjected to the tensions and pulls in our connections and relationships, where I think the making technique of crochet becomes a nice metaphor as it is all about tension.
For me it’s a new way of having a dialogue with the natural world and opening up a new way of looking at our relationship with it, paying attention to the very small. I have often seen people walking past my work with a quick glance, but then doing a double take, turning back and taking the time to look. And sometimes they walk away with a smile or start a conversation about what it makes them feel and a connection has been made. And if it makes someone walk a little bit slower and look a little bit closer at what surrounds them, even better….and my work is also a daily reminder for myself to do just that.”
Ah, so so beautiful. I felt like I made a connection today too… a connection with a kindred spirit. Thank you so much to Susanna for taking the time to do this with me, thanks to Saatchi Art for supporting the episode, and you guessed it… giant high fives to you for listening! There will be more art for your ear next weekend.
Other links:
- Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED talk about the “elusive creative genius”
- Her upcoming show in New York at Muriel Guepin Gallery {two-man show with Leigh Anne Lester}
- Another show currently hanging in the UK, titled ‘Leaf Works’, at the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World
This was another lovely podcast to start my day in the studio. I have seen Susanna’s work for years but enjoyed hearing her story.
ah, thanks kelly. me too! ; )
a world within a world~I likey!!!
this was my favorite podcast of yours to date. she is lovely and so many wise words !
one of my favorites too!
Yes, one of the best episodes yet!
This episode, one of my favorites for sure! I love it when you talk after saying goodbye, and then it´s intimate and cozy. Susanna is a wonderful artist, love her work since you discovered it for me!
And congratulations on your late work Danielle, it´s so good you feel so confident and proud and confortable with it. I want to buy one of your pieces when you feel ready to let them fly! And also, I love the way you have to approach avery single artist in these interviews, that is also a form of art, you got to feel proud of that too.
Thank you so much for sharing and making me learn so easily about so many wonderful things. You have a golden touch.
ah, thanks everyone! it was such a delight talking to her (and maria, thank you so much… such a huge compliment! xo)
Susanna’s work is really beautiful. I really enjoyed your discussion about being authentic – its in my thoughts a lot at the moment.
I also enjoyed her explanation from the day after 🙂
Great interview!!
Though I very much enjoyed your discussion with Susanna about her work, I loved the discussion at the end about your new body of work. Congratulations for finding your true, authentic work. It gives me hope to keep pushing to find mine! Cheers and thank you.
Love this! I am inspired to “try” this out. I live at the beach where I can access smooth stones from the ocean and I crochet…but not at this level 🙂
I absolutely loved this interview. You can practically hear the twinkle in Susanna’s eye as she talks about the various winds of fortune that pointed her this way and that, and how she had courage and faith enough to follow. So lovely.
I feel like every time I have a favorite episode, there comes an even better one after it! This is my new favorite…
that happens to me every time too ; )
She’s the best! Isn’t it amazing the way she makes us look differently at nature with every altered leaf…
http://www.calsfieldnotes.wordpress.com
Love. Just loved this. All of it. Such unbelievably gorgeous work! Susanna–your comment about taking time for a second look at small things in nature–a big yes!! Side note: Maybe this already exists, but I think there should be a place where we all share photos of our studio spaces…Messy, neat–it’s all part of the creative story.
This is the first of your podcasts that I’ve ever listened to, and I thought it was great. Thanks so much. Excited that I have previous and future episodes to listen & look forward to.
really great episode, i listened twice. i’m still figuring out instagram, what’s your name there?
thanks! i’m @thejealouscurtor on instagram, but my personal work can be found in one place if you search instagram for #daniellekrysaart 🙂
I am now addicted to your podcasts. It inspires me to push myself to be a better artist. Thanks you for The Jealous Curator.
A fellow Canuck.
yay! thank you michael : )
Oh my gosh. Simply love
[…] I heard the jealous curator’s podcast interview with Susan Bauer and I completely love her intricate little conversations with nature, and her leaves, oh the […]