The bridge between abstract painting and sculptural reality
Ju Schnee combines abstract painting with sculptural objects in her work. Her paintings and sculptures create a unique dialogue of color, form and material that opens up new perspectives on contemporary art. We met up with her for a chat.
Photo: Torben von Gazali
"Practicing yoga has shown me how much body and movement shape my thinking and my art."
Ju Schnee, artist
Ju Schnee breaks down boundaries - between analog and digital, between image and sculpture, between artwork and experience. Born in Graz, she now lives in Vienna and combines classical painting with augmented reality and AI to create colorful, moving works that seem to unfold endlessly in digital space.
Cat
Material: synthetic resin, high-gloss surface, 2022 Size: 24 x 25 x 25 cm
Deflation
Material: Resin, high-gloss lacquer, 2022 Size: approx. 25 cm
Hello Ju, thank you for coming to visit us today here in Friedrichsdorf at Arnold AG. How or when did you first come into contact with art? Were there certain experiences or people in your childhood that brought this about?
Art has been with me all my life. I always drew and painted and as a child I really wanted to become an artist. But back then, that was a totally exotic idea for me - like being an astronaut or similar unattainable professions.
During my studies, I initially thought I had to do something 'sensible'. But after I moved to Berlin, I realized: I can't do anything else, I have to make art. And then it just came to me.
2021 Cooperation with the ceramic brand Motel a Miio. Photo: Monsieur Mustage
"I have learned to listen to my
intuition and follow my
inner drive."
Photo: Monsieur Mustage
What immediately stands out in your work is that you combine classic painting with new technologies such as augmented reality. Were there any doubts or skepticism about these techniques at the beginning or was it clear to you from the start that this was the way forward?
I never wanted to commit myself to one direction. I'm experimental by nature and like to try things out. On the one hand, I've always enjoyed painting immensely, but on the other, I was fascinated by digital art and new technologies. I often felt like I had to choose one direction - either classical painting or digital art. But I just experimented in the studio. I animated posters, then designed prints, and finally I came to painting. And then I understood: Painting with augmented reality opens up a whole new universe: suddenly the canvas is no longer just a two-dimensional, static object. It can change, move - and become an interactive experience for the viewer. I said to myself: why should I limit myself when I can simply do both?
The artist next to her works, Photo: Torben von Gazali
And you are probably also expanding your target groups, aren't you? Through classical painting you reach those who are interested in traditional art and through digital technologies you appeal to the younger generation.
Yes, exactly. But it's actually even broader than that. Older generations who are open to new technologies are also interested in my work. I find it exciting when people can not only look at exhibitions, but also experience them. Some stick to classic painting, others delve deeper with augmented reality. And then there are children who engage with the digital in a playful way - it's completely normal for them to walk through an AR installation with a smartphone.
That's the beauty of it: my art is not just for a specific target group, but for everyone who engages with it.
"I need the craft.
I want to smell the paint,
see the relief on the canvas."
Photo: Sandro Jäger
You have a degree in communication design and also studied information design. To what extent has this influenced your current work? And how do you approach a new art project? Where do you get your inspiration from?
My studies certainly gave me a flair for design, but it also taught me to think about the benefits. In art, however, I want exactly the opposite: to be free and simply create.
What really inspires me is movement - especially through my experience with yoga. I trained as a yoga teacher and taught for a long time. This physical engagement with flow and energy is reflected in my art: my forms are always in motion, in a constant flow - and augmented reality continues this movement.
Photo: Monsieur Mustage
You took part in the first big NFT wave.
How do you feel about it today?
Yes, 2022 was the big breakthrough for NFTs in Germany. I'm a person who likes to experiment, so I wanted to give it a try - and it went surprisingly well. I sold well, but I was missing something in the long term: I need the analog. I want to smell paint, see the relief of a brushstroke, work with my hands. That's why I quickly realized that pure digital art wasn't fulfilling for me. But NFTs and digital art are here to stay. I see it like vinyl and streaming: both have their place.
With all the experience you've gained in your life so far, what advice would you give your younger self?
I would say to myself: dare to do it sooner! I often hesitated for too long - whether it was with projects, moving to a new city or approaching people who inspired me. Sometimes it took me two or three years longer to implement something. Today I know that things can always go wrong, but if you don't try, you'll never know.
Thank you very much for the interview, Ju. We are already looking forward to your next projects and to upcoming collaborations.
Projects
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