N° 11 : MARTINA MUNTZING
“The Artist”
Martina, with her distinct philosophical mind, exceptional artistic mastery and irresistible green eyes is our eleventh portrait.
As a painter and draughtsman, and as one of the most celebrated artists in the contemporary Scandinavian scene, Martina’s paintings touch on something both intimate and distant, both sacred and profane where the real subject is the parenthesis that constitutes the existence between birth and death.
Martina’s paintings go beyond the physical figure of the subject, exploring the psychological dimension of the person’s mind and emotions, capturing a palpable stillness, like a fateful, subconscious premonition. As if the painting has brought time to a halt.
Almost all the subjects Martina chooses to represent tell a part of herself. They are close to home, focusing on immediate family; children growing up, loved ones disappearing, the hardship of adulthood etc
Each work is patiently executed with time-consuming precision and meticulous details. As a contrast, within the paint-blotched walls of her vast atelier, Martina surrounds herself with a deliberate disorder. Piles of stacked books, reams of papers, discarded painting materials, empty food boxes and used teabags scattered over the floor, as if she wanted to liberate herself from her surroundings to fully be able to concentrate on her work.
As Francis Bacon once said :
« I think chaos may be a spur to create order and to cohabit amongst memories and wounds ».
Martina is based in Stockholm, and her work is represented in the collection of The Modern Museum of Stockholm, amongst others.
What is your most outstanding character trait ?
I am kind
What is your idea of perfect happiness ?
To rest from the ego
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever experienced ?
The chest of Bryan Ferry
Which talent would you most like to have ?
To be able to fly
Which living person do you most admire ?
My son, for his unstoppable energy and big heart.
My daughter for her vivid brain and perspicacity
Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in fiction ?
Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind
Who are your favorite writers ?
Cora Sandell, Doris Lessing, Kerstin Ekman
What do you consider is your greatest achievements ?
The times I wanted to give up, but didn’t
In which imaginary country would you like to live ?
All countries are fictitious
What do you regret the most ?
Unnecessary uncertainty over the years
Which flower would you like to be ?
Anemone
Who are your favorite artists ?
Hans Holbein, Lucian Freud, David Hockney, Ingres
Which bird would you like to be ?
Crow
What is your greatest fear ?
To die from those I love
What is your most treasured possession ?
None
What is your favorite occupation ?
My life
What would you change if you could ?
Nothing
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be ?
A wind
What is your current state of mind ?
Open
What is your favourite motto ?
“In the storm the oak’s root is fixed”
