The cultural and art scene had to get along for almost a year and a half without events, exhibitions or vernissages. In the end, however, the omens had slowly changed, and many things were finally possible again. A first stop for the Ebersberg artist David Dott was: the “Affordable Art Fair” in Brussels – a long-cherished dream. The 40-year-old Dott is a fine draftsman with well-considered concepts. His passion is the line. He composes his pictures strictly, often mixing realistic, three-dimensional representations with abstractions, indeed showing all intermediate stages of alienation. He has since moved from Ebersberg to Munich.
SZ: How much pathos is there when someone says about you: An Ebersberg artist is making the step out of the district town and even from Munich to Europe?
David Dott: A bit of pathos, an emotional perspective is included: I’m from Ebersberg. And Brussels is the European capital. The Affordable Art Fair in Brussels was my first appearance at an international art fair. And that after all the months of the pandemic. I am really happy!
What kind of art fair is that from which you have now returned?
The name Affordable Art Fair sums it up very well: a fair for affordable art. It takes place on a rotating basis and at certain intervals in various metropolises around the world. The organizers set the limit that no work there may cost more than seven and a half thousand euros. That is of course nothing compared to the well-known art fairs. But first of all, people also have to be able to afford a work for three, four, or five thousand euros. The standard is quite high, both with the artists and with the visitors. Suddenly there is a demanding and well-heeled audience in front of you. At least for me this is not exactly commonplace.
When you exhibited in a Munich company two or three years ago, the boss bought a large part of your arsenal from you because he liked it so much …
If you will, Brussels will appear in my biography as the exact opposite. I sold so little there that I really don’t want to admit it. Exactly one drawing. I did not even begin to cover the costs that such an art fair appearance entails.
But you still sound quite satisfied.
Yes. It’s a pretty cool thing to be part of something like this at all. That really did my motivation good! And I’m happy that it still worked out. First, a gallery owner, with whom I often work, opened the door for me. Then the fair was postponed two or three times, canceled and then still terminated. And I was lucky that in the end I got something from an artist’s corona aid pot. That meant there was enough money to advance the Brussels expenses. In addition, you never know what might develop from such an appearance in the future. A customer has just bought two pictures online from me. She became aware of our gallery two years ago at the Affordable Art Fair in Hamburg.
How are you going now?
The way an artist’s life goes on: drawing, painting, being creative, working out new art projects. Now I have to finish some commissioned work, then I want to get back to my self-portrait project, which has been on hold for some time. I had taken seven self-portraits but only completed three. And quite fittingly, the members’ exhibition of the Ebersberg Art Association this time has the motto “Self-portrait” …
And otherwise?
Not long ago it looked like the scene was getting ready for a hopefully quickly subsiding pandemic. I’ve noticed that people out there have opened their eyes to art again. That was really good for my artist soul. But now it looks completely different again. Let’s hope that this winter will be over quickly and that things will look up again.