Anna Bjerger Interview: It's All About Process

“The painting moves me forward - and I follow.” Meet Swedish Anna Bjerger, who wants to preserve the excitement of painting, and who paints from photographs, feeling that she can somehow rescue images “that would otherwise disappear.”
By painting from photographs, Bjerger furthermore feels that she is able to bring out another dimension of that particular photo: “The idea of bringing them out of this context into another context where they become something else, that’s kind of a goal.”
Bjerger believes that you can indeed “force inspiration by having a strict work ethics.” She does, however, argue that intellectual thoughts should be kept apart from the process of painting, as you need to be completely present in the painting itself. In other words, painting needs to be thrilling: “To me it’s physical, it’s painting, it’s a space and it’s paint, it’s brush marks, it’s time - that’s what it is. And it’s wherever that will take you. But I don’t really want to know where I’m going to end up. I want it to be a journey.”
Anna Bjerger (b. 1973) is a Swedish painter, whose starting point is other people’s pictures. Bjerger paints with quick strokes against a background of anonymous photographs of objects, landscapes and people - thus reworking something that has already been pictorialized before it reaches her. Bjerger has exhibited in Europe and the US, including David Risley Gallery in Copenhagen and Dublin Contemporary.
Anna Bjerger was interviewed by Kasper Bech Dyg at her home in Småland, Sweden in February 2016.
Camera: Jakob Solbakken
Edited and produced by: Kasper Bech Dyg
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2016

[@orkidbox]

Her watercolors have such an energy and the skiers painting surface is beautiful. I think this interview shows how difficult it can be to articulate a non-verbal idea when you spend all your time thinking visually.

[@bilal_ahmed1011]

Knowing that moment when to stop. That is the essence of making art intelligently and vigilantly. Beautiful insight into an artistic process

[@renatoalcides5104]

Did not know her. Her voice & words and the elegant way the images and music are presented are perfect. Thank you Louisiana Chanel. I will have her work and words always. Work and ethic: one without the other does not endure. True artist.

[@tube8854]

Watching this video and listening to your thoughts, has resonated with mine, the major difference is that I lost my way in the hum of life ( generally in other peoples lives ), I’m an old woman now I still feel that call you make me think that it may be not too late to listen to it louder and follow it. I will die incomplete if I don’t. THANK YOU FOR SHARING, YOU CANT IMAGINE HOW GRATEFUL I AM.

[@kathymarquardt215]

Do it

[@kathymarquardt215]

Do it

[@brycenew]

Dear Gloria, you are so right. It's not too late! Answer the call & express your true self! Don't give up!! The world needs your art, your creative expression and the happiness & joy that will come from it. Your happiness will pass to other people and will help other 'stuck' artists create too. Wishing you great health.

[@Tobazhniazhi]

It's never not too late deary

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

For some painters, it's the destination, for others, it's the journey. So many great art/artist videos on this channel.

[@cdgarcia]

So much wisdom and openness in her words ❤

[@treppenhauer4643]

I really appreciate this video. Thank you very much. I particularly appreciate her talking about immediacy when you paint.

[@juanpablozapataartist.zapa2202]

Thank you. You uplift my desire to keep painting.

[@brycenew]

Fabulous video / interview. I got a lot from this. Many thanks Anna and Louisiana Channel!

[@filibertkraxner305]

What a wonderful series of carefully phrased, honest and very open insights. While I don't create paintings, much of what she said resonated with me. And I definitely subscribe to her observation that something happens when you meet an artwork in person. If it really grabs you, I think that can be really emotional. Lovely video!

[@lcballard]

So glad to see this, thank you

[@kusonoqui]

Love the ski painting and the watercolors she had an exhibition here at Querétaro city museum greetings from México 👋🏽☺️

[@marcusprice5907]

Thank you Anna, I enjoyed this.

[@juanpablozapataartist.zapa2202]

Thank you. Wonderful expression

[@lisengel2498]

I think you are very clever being so aware of the feeling and your willingness to be very concentrated and yet get “out of the way” that is great and also a quality that when caught each image is unique and cannot be copied in any way. I have been reflecting very much on “ what is quality in art?” And of course it cannot be answered as such - it is there when you can feel it. And maybe the creative process is dependent on “ The magic moment” both in the process of painting and experiencing It is maybe about the mystery of experience - and for me it is made wonderfully visible in these “photopaintingfeeling life” images =as tactile visualisations - They are very beautifull paintings and it is a very inspiring videonarrative of the artists process - thank you for making it

[@guitarbobish]

I love your ethos and your work.Good luck to you.

[@lisengel2498]

Wonderfull interview - very interesting to listen to - like being in an open process of wonder and intense presence

[@julioluna3366]

Thank you very much!

[@brunildamarrero2095]

Beautiful!♥️

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

I love to hear an artist talk, love to watch them paint. Helps me see, what art is, and see what art ain't. To share the thoughts inside your head, about the thing you do, is nobler than the kings and queens, And more useful too. DA VE 01/02/20201 Poem inspired by this video. Thanks for doing what you do, and sharing your thoughts with us. I love the flow of water color, and find beauty in how/what you paint. Best wishes for your continued success.

[@OneSummerSky]

This is amazing. Her art really resonates.

[@tonsfocus]

Beautiful interview. Really top notch, and I love the guitar (accent) track. Lovely!

[@fdftmdon]

The quilt painting is so beautiful

[@ChrisCoombes]

Anna is great!

[@ChrisCoombes]

Nice one Anna.

[@pedromarques3539]

Great watercolors!

[@omygod9062]

Love this woman

[@YvanabARuTSamandova]

what is the music in background ?

[@nonaorbach1]

In The Book Of Permission I talk about Walking-Writing-Drawing. It is a method l, tool used for the processes I am in. The symmetrical action has a creative affect 😊 I sense your process and I notice how you trust it. I do too as an artist and also as a thetapist.

[@user-le3lg4qq9d]

Very beautiful music

[@birhanustehay8695]

Its a nice interview .

[@girlinagale]

Lovely.

[@user-my5ze3dm2s]

I like the ski painting.

[@1VolumeJump1]

What is the song they use?

[@franciskhuu2783]

Can I get the name of the guitar song at around 2:50 seconds? Thank you. Great video

[@deelynn8611]

I know where i want it to go and what i want the painting to be, and I can't get there.

[@hermitcrypto2787]

Sometimes i think successful artists are better at explaining their process then the actual process..

[@mehrdadmohajer3847]

👏

[@nasfgh]

what's the music that's playing in the back?

[@jmdza]

i don't know

[@chrisc1257]

Deception, by Choice.

[@ThomasFasano]

@@chrisc1257 This is a bogus reply, cryptic and not helpful.

[@chrisc1257]

“We fancy men are individuals; so are pumpkins; but every pumpkin in the field goes through every point of pumpkin history.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

[@chrisc1257]

Painting pictures of photographs (in a factory) is deception. That is the only message here.

[@nataliekazful]

"it's a very 10 years thing" time holds the process

[@rayandnoah8769]

Skiers are beautiful

[@chrisc1257]

Group effort a la factory.

[@jmdza]

can you draw me?

[@johncastle8254]

Photocopier

[@Hurious]

I think you should take your own photographs and use them to paint from. I photograph and I paint, and I would not take kindly to hear you say that you had “rescued” one of my photographs by painting from it. That is my perogative, not yours.

[@KeyDyer]

And how do you feel abt people taking photographs of paintings?? Surely the same??

[@paintingtracey]

Same with me!

[@Karlena_Lewin_Studio]

I was thinking the same thing this is illegal technically. they are not free reference photos I’m a full time Artist and I know not to paint from someone else’s work

[@hildecuvelier6674]

pitty she doesn't speak swedish

[@majorhoulihan8448]

She is talented but she talks a lot....maybe more than needed... cuz its all there. You look at the paintings and you see it, everythjng she tries to explain

[@odsman]

She is being interviewed...

[@quickimod6008]

I love Dumas. Your work is true. Elegant way of talking. I love your work. Thank you so x