Ludwig Schult was born in 1984 in Schwerin northern end of the former GdR. With many years spent in graffiti and murals he has been focusing on abstract painting since around 2010, working from his studio in Lichtenberg, East Berlin.
How did you get into art?
I got into graffiti as a teenager, so drawing and murals were central for many years. I learned carpentry, studied art history and 'ended up' in movie decorations. My work in and outside the studio aims to connect all these threads.
How would you describe your style? What makes your art special?
It's always a back and forth. Working in film production frequently forces me to interrupt my studio work sadly. But I also get in touch with all different kinds of topics and materials. So I often switch between styles & approaches and then remix them up. I like an appeal of cut out and of the accidential, to walk the line between meant and happened.
How do you go about developing your work?
I rarely have an explicit path layed out, more of a technical scheme. I start from one colour, some background structure or material testing and from there apply layers. At times it's done in one or two days, another work carries many years of shelf life until I finally feel that it's somewhat complete. While that felt inconsistent in the past, more and more certain lines of work are growing together.
Who or what influences you?
Observations in urban surroundings fascinate me, traces of people without people. Of course I'm influenced by many abstract artists past and present, by many postgraffiti positions with similar approaches. I think affordable art is a great meta concept. And I love Brad Troemel's work.
What are you planning to do next?
Half of my artist life I worked figuratively. I'd like to reintroduce more traces of actual things into my works. I want to work outside again and do more installations, make the pieces be more integrated. Can't deny the beauty but sometimes I feel abstract painting to be the last refuge of white males in art and I don't want to go down that road only.
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