Hanna Roeckle

The Liechtenstein artist Hanna Roeckle has lived and worked in Zurich for many years. In this interview, she talks about the connections she still has with her home country.

INTERVIEW / Anna Walser

When and why did you have the desire to become an artist?

I painted, drew, built and constructed a lot as a child. I grew up in a woodworking shop, so I had a lot of space and materials at my disposal. I knew that I wanted to do something different from what had been planned for me. It wasn’t clear from the outset that it would be art, in fact. I was torn between art, architecture and interior design. After teaching art in the canton of Zurich for many years, I focused entirely on my own art.

What are your current connections to Liechtenstein?

I have many links to Liechtenstein, both through my family and through my work, that is, art. Here, I do exhibitions and commissions for art on buildings or in public spaces from time to time. So, this is where I also have a second residence.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I have different sources. It could be science, architecture, design, colours, minerals or crystals. It always depends on whatever I am working on at the time.

What are you working on right now?

I’m always working on sequels to previous works. The polyhedron sculpture displayed here (“Aquarius” in the image slider) has given rise to a larger sequence of other sculptures and wall objects.

In my work, configurations are created that are in continuous movement.

What gave you the idea to have these sculptures painted with iridescent colours?

For me, the paintwork was merely the means to achieve what I had in mind. I have developed the paints further, researched these colour options for a long time and expanded the system. However, it’s not the type of paint that’s important, but what happens to it.

Are you referring to the colour change that happens when you move around the sculptures?

Yes, that’s very important. In painting, the colour change results from the juxtaposition of different colours on a surface. My sculptures create this effect from the movement around the work, through the incidence of light and through the reflections of the surroundings.

What is “Wave” all about?

“Wave” is part of an overall installation consisting of spatial, sculptural images. They move away from the wall shaped like a relief, but at the same time they adhere to it. This creates spatial confusion. I had designed the series for an exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Appenzell.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge in many respects. What has been your experience with the pandemic?

Artists do not experience much restriction in their work during a lockdown. I was still able to work in my studio. But the pandemic was scary for me too. Exhibitions were constantly being rescheduled. As an artist, I am used to having to be flexible. But this required even more flexibility. At the end of 2021, I had to complete a series of works on a tight deadline, and then the exhibitions were postponed at short notice.

Which is your own favourite work?

Most of the time, I have a favourite piece in the latest projects I am working on. There are also favourites from each work phase. You can look at the older works with a certain degree of detachment, but with the newer ones, you tend to be more biased. You deal with it intensively, you get the feeling that it’s the best work, and 10 years later, you think about it differently again. But sometimes, I also have doubts. That’s a kind of driving force that makes me want to keep working.

What were your thoughts when you learned that your art was to be displayed in a bank?

I usually create my works without a specific idea in mind for a particular space, as they have to function independently of the space. The first work for your bank was bought at an exhibition. Over time, there were purchases at other exhibitions. It’s always great when you can display works in a (semi-)public space. I’m also pleased that VP Bank has bought works from different phases, because my work is always evolving over time.