Art Blog

10 Questions with Lothar Böttcher

"Light is the medium that informs our perception through sight."

Lothar Böttcher sculpturally use glass to manipulate light, to create another dimension, enticing the viewer to look through the glass and see the contiguous space within and beyond.

If not art, what would you do?

My dad wanted me to become a CA, but I am surely not cut out for that. Don't get me wrong. I love numbers... Definitely something in the creative industry. I love solving problems. I'd say something along the lines of architect or carpenter. Something that combines hand and mind.

Where does your inspiration come from?

There isn't just one thing which inspires me. I am influenced by current affairs, technology, history and emotion. My material of choice allows me to work with the idea of perspective, of a point of view which broadly touches on science and mankind's curious nature. I guess my inspiration is a quest to find my place in this infinite cosmos.

What's your secret obsession?

During prohibition in lockdown I built a distillery out of an old beer keg and copper tubing. I love the experimentation to get that firewater distilled and playing with various ingredients.

Do you have a creative muse?

Glass is my muse!

Which creative medium would you love to pursue but haven't yet?

Bronze. I would love to see how bronze or metal casting in combination with glass can expand ideas of surface and transparency.

Favorite time of the day?

Sunset, when the light of day trickles away.

What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can't live without in your studio?

My work is very specialised, with a variety of tools needed to bring ideas into physicality. The most important though will be a pencil and paper.

Favourite or most inspirational place in South Africa?

This question isn't quite fair. There are many inspirational places all over SA. Driving over the Swartberg Pass several years ago still echoes in my mind's eye with those majestic textures of the Swartberge. One gets an understanding of scale, of how small and young we are compared to the ancient brute forces of nature.

What, in your opinion, is the hardest step in creating an artwork?

Overcoming the fear of starting.

What's the best creative advice you've ever received?

Make mistakes.

View Lothar's portfolio on Art.co.za and follow him on Instagram.