Cantonale artists on their work – Corinne Vogel

My artistic practice is characterised by a process-oriented exploration of materiality, perception and the interplay of colour and form. Pigments, binders and colour mixtures are understood not only as technical means, but as active agents within a visual-sensory structure. I define my artistic practice as an open system that feeds on direct observation, material research and composition. Everything begins with seeing and feeling – and finds its form in the process. I move between states – fluid and rough, soft and hard – and orient myself towards phenomena that can often only be grasped as atmosphere or sensation: wind, rock, scent, touch. My images arise from the attempt to translate sensory impressions into my own visual world. The access to this is always the material.

Parallel to her painting, she creates analogue and digital collages as well as prints, particularly linocuts and monotypes. Here, the ongoing process of collecting and transforming is condensed. Patterns, colour tones and textures are isolated, superimposed, rearranged and transferred into compositional contexts. Lineation, light-shadow relationships and spatial structuring serve as organising interventions in a fundamentally open, experimental process.

During my studies in Producción Artística in Valencia (Spain), I worked freely across various disciplines – with wax and bronze, in photography and printing. I always found this versatility enriching, a broad field in which I could express myself. With the birth of my daughter, my focus changed. I increasingly devoted the time I had available to painting – and discovered that this was where I found a new clarity. Since giving up my job, I feel freer than ever. My energy now flows entirely into art. This decision is not only organisational, but also mental: an attitude that opens up inner spaces and relativises outer boundaries. So for me, there are no more excuses – no workplace that is too small, no supposed lack of framework. I work with what is there. That is my way of overcoming boundaries and forming new possibilities from what is given.

I often start with liquid paints such as egg tempera or gouache. I prefer to mix my own colours; working with pure pigments takes me directly into the material depth of the picture. Building on this, I add further layers of acrylic or oil, which I occasionally supplement with oil pastels or charcoal. Sometimes I also draw the first lines directly with charcoal to give the composition a clear structure from the outset. I work on both raw canvas and primed cotton. Raw linen fascinates me with its absorbency and tactile presence, while primed cotton allows the colours to shine with a special luminosity. This alternation between materials and techniques keeps my practice alive; it allows me to remain curious and rediscover the idiosyncrasies of each medium. Every material has its own pitfalls and hidden qualities. For me, it is precisely this diversity that lies at the heart of the artistic process: exploring, trying things out and reacting. Experimentation and the study of materials are essential components of my work – they open up paths that only become apparent in the act of doing.

Corinne Vogel (born in 1983, lives and works in Thun)