Clara-Lane Lens is a 28 year-old painter from Belgium. Having been active as an artist for over ten years, she currently works between Berlin and Brussels, while keeping an atelier in Alt-Mariendorf. UnAufgefordert conducted an online-interview with the young painter, with questions surrounding her artistic output and life as a creative.
UnAuf: The artworks I saw while visiting your atelier primarily concerned themselves with the topic of depicting androgynous people in their private spaces; for example bathrooms. What inspired you to pick up this topic specifically?
Clara-Lane: It’s a topic I started working on during my masters, when I was studying painting in Gent, Belgium. I was friends with someone that naturally had an androgynous look, and when I painted her something just clicked and it inspired me to continue in this direction of androgyny within portraits. It evolved over the years and I realised what I was pursuing was mainly the topic of intimacy, within the spaces I paint but also within the people. To catch their essence, that one thing that makes them „them“, which – when captured well – makes the work intimate. And spaces like bathrooms are directly connected to someone’s intimacy in the sense that one enters them alone or only allows trusted people to join.
UnAuf: You’ve been working here in Berlin for quite a few years now. Has the city inspired or altered your work in a tangible way?
Clara-Lane: I’ve been in Berlin for a few years, yes. Lately with more back and forth to Brussels. I like the combination of both cities as they are very different but in a few ways quite similar. Brussels has a coziness I can find within the certain more defined „Kiez“ in Berlin. It has impacted my work mostly because of the people I’ve met here. People are always what gives my work a new direction or turn, their energy and presence, not per se the imagery of cities.
UnAuf: The art-scene in Berlin has the reputation of being quite diverse and vibrant, yet the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many artists to focus more on commercial work or even switch to another job field entirely. What experiences have you made?
Clara-Lane: I think the pandemic and the economic crisis we are in at the moment influences everyone, there’s no escape from it, especially when your practice is as fragile as the one of creatives. I understand artists that quit the art world because of it, and I don’t want to be this person that tells them to „keep holding on“ because it’s definitely not easy in this economy.
UnAuf: Your work has been exhibited in multiple acclaimed galleries in Spain, Germany and Belgium for example; what is the process of securing a spot there like? Any experiences that stick out?
Clara-Lane: There’s no specific guide to get to your personal goal, I think everyone has a different path and makes their own connections through particular choices. The only advice I can really give on this is to get as much exposure as you can get. If not in acclaimed galleries, find art spaces or rent out a simple location and host exhibitions of your work for your friends. Make connections by going to openings and talking to people, talk to other artists and curators, be curious and interested. Friends will get you far and are much needed in the art world, in my humble opinion.
UnAuf: After conducting a quick Google-search I found out your father is a music composer/artist as well, with you having acted in one of his short films as a child. Did growing up with an artistically involved parent influence your own career-path?
Clara-Lane: It definitely gave me a head start, and a privilege of not having to fight or debate my choice to become an artist. I think my parents would almost have been disappointed if I chose a corporate job instead. So in that sense it might have sped up my artistic journey and aided me in finding my voice faster than I would have with different parents. Having them support me and my work is a gigantic help.
UnAuf: Were you ever, during your career, in a position where you lost passion or motivation for your artistic work? If so, how were you able to „reignite the flame“?
Clara-Lane: Of course, it happens to every artist I’m sure. Like any other career there are downsides and challenging moments. And since creatives use their imagination to actually work, when they go through moments where there’s a lack of it, it’s not like we can work on auto-pilot and check out at 6pm. The mental state goes hand in hand with the actual creation.
I think taking distance from one’s work helps, forcing it usually makes it worse, for me at least. If possible, taking some time off and going for a walk in nature, or having a good talk with a friend (about something other than your work), or even watching a good movie can help. Anything non-related to your work can actually revive ideas and lust for creation. Also, very important, surround yourself with people who actually believe in you and your practice. Nothing destroys the creative mind like people who continuously put your ideas down.
UnAuf: Do you have any useful „starting-out“-tips for aspiring painters/artists? How possible is it, in your opinion, to cover the expenses of one’s own artistic output, considering that you have spent a few years in the industry as an artist yourself?
Clara-Lane: If you’re not from a privileged background that can support you – as most of us aren’t – it is absolutely a challenge for beginning artists. I would definitely start out with at least a part time job on the side, so that you are able to fully focus on your work without having to think about your creativity in a commercial way, which – to me – kills artistic vision. Work enough on the side so you can pay your rent and buy your food, in the sense that your practice becomes a place of relief where you can fully express yourself without having to think ‘if this will sell’ for instance. That’s when the purest work is created.
UnAuf: Are you working on any new projects right now (that you can tell us about)?
Clara-Lane: Multiple things are in the making at the moment, unfortunately I can’t quite talk about them yet, but will be sure to let you know once they’re out.
Fotos: Clara-Lane Lens
