Transnational Student Collaboration
Clara Lizasoain Ciriquiain, Spain & Maria Obermeier, Germany
To get in touch
The 6th of May 2020 I reached out to Clara asking for teamwork. We knew each other before, Clara came to Munich in 2019 for an Erasmus semester. We met at the academy of fine arts and quickly recognised commonalities and began to get friends. Before developing ideas for the collaboration we had to explore each other's work and working type. It was difficult to describe our artworks to each other in the beginning. The education systems in Spain and in Germany are different, what we learn, how we learn and where the focus lays. It gives us a different approach to the production and understanding of art, but there are similarities, we share knowledge, definitions and things.
To (not) share
It started to get summer and at the end of May we had a period when we didn't hear much from each other. The reason was distance, none of us was in Munich. To stay in contact we had to use words and these were our interface. We began to exchange ideas about art, culture and the objects that surround us. The dialogue and the description of art works is something essentially important when it comes to art or art education. It contains the translation from objects to language and from the mother tongue to an international one and back to an artwork. The basis for our
communication was and is language. Clara said to me it could be cool to do something about how we express and communicate ideas in other languages. We share language. The shared languages give us the opportunity to discuss shared subjects and objects. In the partly real and partly fictional dialogue that follows, the conversation leads again and again to eating situations, which in turn are the models for the paintings and show how often we looked for meeting each other.
Dialogue
The creation of art or of an image lays not in the hands of one person. Different aspects affect the end product.
In the end of the dialog there will be an image – a painting – an artwork.
[13:33, 7.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I like sculpture in particular
[11:30, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Maybe I can translate them
[14:22, 20.5.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I asked myself if you like writing because I write really much
[14:33, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Why??
[14:33, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I like to write!! Did you read my text?? I don't know how well the translation is
[14:33, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Because I wrote it in Spanish
[14:34, 20.5.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: because of the time
[14:52, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Is it interesting??
[14:34, 20.5.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: oh I really didn't recognize that! it was really nice to read it, although I haven't read the text
[14:51, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: read it and feel me how well is in English
[15:45, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I didn't want to say feel I wanted to say tell
[15:46, 20.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: is it more about how we work together??
[19:01, 20.5.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I think it's nice to kind of influence each other
[09:16, 28.5.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Clara are you there?
[10:16, 28.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: How are you by the way???????
[11:05, 28.5.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: What can the image be a carrier for? Paintings are shared spaces. They care for you like shells carry their pearls.
[16:00, 28.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Is it difficult to write poetry????
[16:10, 28.5.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Yes, I think I get you
[13:45, 4.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: you were on a dream I had the other day
[14:39, 4.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Nice dream
[08:54, 9.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: And did you start to write poetry?
[14:41, 4.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: But it was in the dream
[14:42, 4.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: How are you?? I saw you are enjoying exquisite food
[09:46, 9.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: How are your paintings going on
[09:57, 9.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I don't know them
[19:03, 9.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Yes!! You do! I really like it
[19:27, 9.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Yes, maybe we can explore something that's connected to it
[12:21, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: To bring to the public space the private experience
[12:22, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: But I guess I would not be able to do it here in Germany
[12:22, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Because I don't speak German and I want people to hear our conversations
[13:33, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Do you want to meet for lunch??? Or for a drink I don't care
[13:33, 12.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: both
[13:34, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Italian heritage
[13:34, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Okay do you know some place???????
[13:38, 12.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: You know that I speak Italian right?????
[13:39, 12.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I forgot so much
[15:23, 18.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: You can come for dinner?
[13:26, 13.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: do you still want to paint it??
[13:26, 13.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: yes!
[15:11, 18.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Maria, where do you want to meet???
[17:14, 26.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: something about how we express and communicate ideas in other languages
[17:14, 26.6.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Something about language
[17:42, 26.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: yes, I would love to try out the languages
[07:03, 3.7.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Did you have fun last night?????
[19:02, 30.6.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I started with a sketch to know where to put things and then I have to paint the background
[11:22, 22.7.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: We decided that everybody brings food and drinks that we can make a picnic
[11:03, 22.8.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: How finished do you want to leave it???
[15:07, 27.8.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I have to paint the faces and the hands that’s important
15:07, 27.8.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: and maybe a similar picture with some of your objects?
[21:43, 23.9.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Like how you talk at a dinner table or a party or things like this???
[12:27, 27.10.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I'm making lunch now
[16:38, 28.10.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Cigarettes, Glasses, Fanny pack, Phone, Wallet, Lipstick, Keys, Purse
[16:43, 28.10.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I think I'm going to leave
[08:47, 2.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Clara cara if nothing comes in between I have the whole Tuesday afternoon free to paint? do you have time?
[13:29, 3.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Maria do you want to meet today then?
[15:07, 3.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Maria are you still there???
[15:08, 3.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Yes, yes
[15:09, 3.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Can I come inside??
[18:01, 3.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I thought there was something wrong with my body presence.
[23:15, 3.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: How is your painting evolving!??
[23:16, 3.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Going on and on, but better
[11:04, 4.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: do you know the word Berührungsgesten that means in English something like touching gestures
[11:04, 4.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I like that word, because to touch is kind of intimate
[11:05, 4.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: And it's nice to show an intimate moment with an object in the painting
[11:06, 4.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Yes, it's really interesting, so should we change the sketch for something more intimate
[11:07, 4.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: no not really I would let the object be how they are, but maybe we could add some hand at the edges of the painting, that are softly touching something or want to hold something
[11:10, 4.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I think it's totally interesting what relation people have to objects, because when you have like a favourite lipstick or something, the object is getting such a big importance for oneself, and it's possible to get familiar with objects, and being responsible for objects
[11:25, 4.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: We have the same or similar relationship with sculptures than with objects, but objects have a use and sculptures are useless
[12:34, 4.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: right
[08:47, 5.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Buongiorno Clara, ho fatto una versione breve del nostro dialogo, cosa ne pensi?
[09:38, 5.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: Really nice cute to remember our conversations!!!!
[09:39, 5.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I would make it part of the artwork? Because we are really much talking about dinner
[06:57, 11.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: Hey lovely, I went home because I was super tired, I'm in the academy today, too!
[13:43, 11.11.2020] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I'm eating, ich komme später.
[19:22, 21.12.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: would you like to talk via Videocall? Are you at home?
[09:54, 10.2.2021] Maria Anna Obermeier: Buongiorno Clara, fammi und Cappuccino quindi possiamo telefonare.
[18:40, 14.2.2021] Maria Anna Obermeier: Sad that we haven't seen each other.
[16:31, 23.2.2021] Clara Ricarda Lizasoain Ciriquiain: I'm having a pizza in the street.
[10:55, 6.11.2020] Maria Anna Obermeier: I'm starting now
The dialogue shows that although the places where art is viewed are museums, galleries and universities, the discussion about art happens at the opening or during conversations or a meal afterwards. Accompanying these moments is a sense of conviviality and comfort. There is food and drink, as well as seating and smoking balconies. Conviviality or togetherness is created through shared places or objects. A visit to a restaurant follows a repetitive pattern: enter, sit, choose, wait, eat, talk, drink, pay, leave. A visit to a museum likewise: enter, pay, look, buy a postcard, leave. In addition to the common process, the common objects appear. The seating set, jackets, place settings, bags, purses, mobile phones, cigarettes, keys, make-up utensils, etc. The knowledge of objects often transcends cultures and countries and can be used as a link.
To meet
In June we both managed to get back and meet for lunch, for dinner, for a picnic, a drink, a coffee, a walk, a snack in the sun at the stairs in front of the academy in Munich. First we went to watch each other's artworks and then searched for comfortable places to talk about it. The goal wasn’t just producing, but to use our meta-level and talk about art and how artists work together.
To produce
There is no long description about us producing art and working together, because there was always output when we talked or texted or videocalled. From the moment we have started to
exchange, to share or to effect there is production. The process is a kind of product, but the final product is a painting.
To present
In the large painting, four people are sitting on a white plastic set around two small tables; on the table are glasses of wine and oysters with lemon. On the one hand, the depicted persons act within the pictorial space, but due to their flatness, similar to cardboard displays and their direction of acting, they turn out of the picture and towards the viewer. The persons in the painting handle objects in a caring or a not caring way and they tell their stories through the presentation of the object, their acting and their face expression. The painting also shows how they deal with the social relation to each other; is there friendship or a professional relation or both.
In the background of the large picture, an illuminated sign with the words SERVICE shines out strongly from the picture. In the painting, drink and food are served, the protagonists serve the viewer hints about the applicability of the objects depicted. The artist serves the painting to the viewer. The viewer is allowed to consume art, just like in a museum, just like in a restaurant.
The painting Clara created at the beginning of November is exactly the size of the tables depicted in the painting. It shows a table situation from her perspective. The fingers on the edges of the painting or table indicate an extension of the picture, as if people were gathering around the table.