Gunter Puller
from Austria
—>
Interview: 10 questions
1. Tell me something about your life and the educational background
As an artist I am autodidact. At 16 I started to draw and to commit myself politically for some years. I drew primarily ornaments and then always more simple geometric forms, from which my first metalworks finally arose. At the same time, too, I was, however, interested in the cinematic art and contemporary flows of the fine art. Influenced by Viennese action and performance artists I used art as a means for the direct political action within the framework of political events of the trade union movement. A further essential influence on my life and my artistic development had since the end of the eighties the music and art scene around the legendary Viennese Blue-Box which I frequented. Until the 2nd half of the nineties I worked primarily as a sculptor.
In 1997 there was a change in my work: plastically forming had stepped down in favour of a multi-media and discursive mode of operation in projects. Main concern of my work now is to scrutinize and explore systems as they appear in the artistic, social and political environment. The choice of the media and techniques in my projects is very flexible and is determined by the particular topics. So I use video just with the same matter of course as other artistic means.
2. When, how and why started you filming?
When I was 16 years old I developed a passion for criminal films that is continuous up today. With 18 I wrote a film-script for a film which should be realized with the cinematic stylistic device of the suspense. I have never filmed the account, however, regard it as the beginning of my cinematic work. The first videos I made were done to the documentation of my art. In some cases I used film as an autonomous artistic means already in the eighties.
3.What kind of subjects have your films?
My films always are always embedded in greater projects. The action and topics subordinate themselves to the respective project-specific questions.
4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?
First thing before I use the camera for a certain work I always wonder whether I could not work with another medium as well. If I have the answer, everything else by itself arises. Through my artistic approach to films I do not commit myself to certain cinematic principles or styles.
5. Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.
At present I still am using a cheap camera as it is available in every electro market, though I sometimes use a tripod that was as expensive as the camera.
6. What are the chances of new media for the genre film/video in general and you personally?
It is technically now more simply to produce films and to present them to an interested audience.
7. How do you finance your films?
In most cases I apply for a grant for my projects at the federal or communal offices for cultural affairs
8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team? If you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?
Both than also. Sometimes I work with camera people who film me according to my precise instructions at my artistic actions. However, I often work alone, doing all steps of the film production myself.
9. Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making?
First I was fascinated by Hitchcock and further whodunnits. Currently examples for my filmic work are rather rare. I found approaches for this among the artists Marcel Broodthaers and Erwin Wurm.
10. What are your future plans or dreams as a film/video maker?
My future plans refer to my complete work as an artist.