Contest 7 - Winner's Interview - Patrick Egger

What has contributed to your growth as an artist?

What has been decisive in my pursuit of painting is the transposition of my feelings onto canvas. A true joy drives me in this creative process.

What was the inspiration behind this work?

The world of mountains is one of my favourite themes due to the depth of the emotions it evokes. The rock, the ice, the pristine snow combine under dancing plays of light and striking contrasts, creating magical scenes conducive to meditation. A misty atmosphere, concealing details in the background as the distance increases, adds a touch of mystery, even esotericism, to the painting. The viewer incorporates their own resonances.

(Note: This painting is inspired by a photo by Paul Pastourmatzis.)

If you could buy an artwork by another artist, which one would it be and why?

There are many, for example, a painting by the Chinese landscape artist Qui Shihua, born in 1940, whose works appear to be monochrome paintings, almost white, at first glance. However, after prolonged immersion in the painting, landscapes become visible and, depending on the eye, become more and more detailed, or disappear again beneath the mist.

What is your view on technology (e.g. Generative AI, Digital Arts) and the way it is influencing the evolution of arts?

Although initially uninterested in AI in my artistic research, I understand that it can be a potentially very rich tool for pictorial and other creative endeavors. But behind a work created with AI, there still lies (for how long?) an artist with their soul, their sensitivity, their depth...everything that constitutes the substantial essence of a work of art.