Interview online magazine Artmoire.art
„DO YOUR OWN THING, DEVELOP YOUR OWN STYLE, STAY FOCUSED, SELF-AWARE AND RESILIENT“, Pit Buehler | June 2019
Pit Buehler (born 1972) is a portraitist and photographer for the performing arts. He was born and raised in Switzerland
and describes his childhood as quiet and pleasant with many fond memories. Memories that have shaped his artistic career. Buehler recalls collecting natural objects as a child and transforming them into small works of art to express his feelings and fantasies through his creativity. In addition, visits to old churches with his parents awakened a deep fascination for the contrast between sacredness and darkness that he saw in the paintings and sculptures. As a child, he was a big fan of „The Adventures of Tintin“ and the stories of Jack London, which had a significant influence on his career.
Becoming an artist was not a rational decision, but rather his lifestyle, which somehow led him in this direction. As Buehler himself says: „Hitchhiking through almost a hundred countries certainly had a big influence on who I am today.“ And this is undoubtedly evident in his work. Buehler has a unique way of capturing the stillness of a moment, reflecting the past and the future... all in a single image. Whether it's a portrait or a photographed movement, you can feel that everlasting sense of recognition that goes far beyond what you can capture with a glance, and at the same time, curiosity cries out for the whole story behind such an image. Contrasting feelings that complement each other, and somehow you are simply satisfied with the mesmerizing elegance of such a beautiful moment. All depicted in one picture. All said and done in one picture.
Rembrandt, Bosch, Judith Leyster, Caravaggio, van Dyck, Rubens or Frans Hals are some of the painters who have helped me improve my portraiture and develop a better understanding of how to compose a photograph and how to shape the light in my artwork.
My works are meant to inspire rather than challenge. My artwork reflects my lifestyle - exploring the world and getting to know exotic characters, immersing myself in their sometimes isolated worlds and spending time with them, learning about their lives and their art, and ultimately capturing a portrait in my own personal way - that's what it's all about for me. Ultimately, my vision is to create a subculture of characters that not only seem to connect with the viewer, but also correspond with each other.
I am inspired by the works of photographers such as Tim Walker, Diane Arbus, Sylwia Makris, Vadim Stein, August Sander or by studying the works of old masters. Books can also help me to find inspiration.
To remain a free spirit and to be financially and emotionally independent.
Answer: It's not life as an artist that makes you lonely, but the question of how to deal with all the complex and sometimes strange thoughts you have that you can't share with anyone for various reasons. On the other hand, loneliness and darkness are sometimes necessary - because they can be very stimulating and help you think about your work and find new inspiration.
Search for adventure.
There is no tomorrow.
