If society had to define art,

it would be a creatively expressed message, but one that is so hidden and complicated to understand that only studied artists can interpret the message of the artwork. Susanne Wilke, however, wants to prove the opposite. She is an artist, graphic designer and illustrator. Susanne tries with her series of pictures to stimulate people to think for themselves. She conveys her messages easily and simply. She achieves this by choosing motifs that speak to everyone personally, because everyone can put themselves in the situation. Her handwriting is delicate yet wild. Sometimes, however, it may just be beautiful to look at, because that too is art.

Susanne Wilke was born and raised in Rostock during the GDR era. She completed her Abitur there as a skilled construction worker. In her final year of high school, she applied to study architecture. Susanne was admitted to the program, but only on the condition that she join the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany). Since this was never her plan, she fled to Flensburg via Poland. From Flensburg she then went to Kiel to study architecture at the Muthesius School. The studies were exciting and educational for Susanne. While writing her thesis with the topic “Architecture and Art – Art and Architecture”, both Susanne and her professor realized that her true passion lay in art. Susanne thus applied directly to study art and was immediately accepted into the main study program without having to complete an undergraduate degree. After receiving her diploma in architecture, she seamlessly transitioned into an experimental art class because she spontaneously did not want to specialize in one genre of art. In her course of study she was very free and so she was able to try out many things. Even during her architecture studies, Susanne often worked with artists, graphic artists and designers. There Susanne met the Landschütz brothers and they began to set up joint projects as early as 2004. Michael, Stefan and Susanne soon realized that the cooperation worked very well and founded the design office “SALZIG” in 2007 after graduation. In order to live out more possibilities, they decided to move to a bigger city and Berlin won the race by a big margin. In their opinion, Berlin had the necessary network of artistic, creative and cultural contacts. So they packed their seven things and the kids and moved to the capital in 2009, where the Urban Art Gallery is still based in the creative neighborhood of Friedrichshain. Susanne was then already a mother of two, a daughter and a son. The son’s father is Michael. Susanne incredibly enjoyed working at the gallery, where she served as art director. The three artists were able to really take off. However, after a few years Susanne distanced herself more and more from “Salzig” as she wanted to pursue her own goals. However, her artwork is still exhibited there and is offered for sale.

Since the separation of “Salzig” Susanne works as a freelance artist, graphic designer and illustrator. On the side, she cooperates with youth centers and supervises art projects with children and young people there. She wants to teach young people that there is no right or wrong in art. It is close to her heart to teach them that one should not think in pigeonholes. Her focus, however, is on her own art.

The first time I came into contact with Susanne’s art was in the gallery “Salzig”. Quite by chance I stumbled upon the store while exploring Friedrichshain and the first thing I noticed were the kiss stickers on the counter. At that time I didn’t know who Susanne was and that she was the artist behind the stickers. I bought one and stuck it in my day planner. I kept visiting the Art Gallery and discovering the different artists who were exhibiting their art there. I was so fascinated by the little stickers with the kissy mouths that I couldn’t get enough of them. When I learned that she drew 105 kisses, I was blown away and was the first person to buy the whole series of stickers. That’s how I got to know Susanne personally. At first the kisses were just the mouths of friends and acquaintances, but the idea spread like wildfire and suddenly she was getting countless selfies with kissing mouths. The series does so well because in this day and age of selfies, Facebook, Snapchat and smileys, everyone knows how to send a kiss. So you understand the message of the kisses at first sight. She told me she wants her art to appeal to people with messages that are easy to understand but powerful. “Instead of an ass-kicking, it’s better to just put a kiss on it once.”

Susanne likes to work in series. The series “Undress” shows women’s bodies that are undressing. The series is made in Susanne’s handwriting, delicate but still wild. In her approach, she first sketches the drawing with pencil. The lines are then traced with fineliner. She sets the accents with a brush and uses watercolor for this. The color sometimes does what it wants and can only be directed a little. Intuitively, however, she does the right thing and thus the picture is perfect. Susanne also shows only one detail in this series, so that the viewer is invited to think up the rest of the situation itself. So it is left to him how to interpret the title “Undress”: Is the person in a nice situation, perhaps with her partner, or is it an uncomfortable situation for her, where she is asked to undress? Susanne leaves these questions open and challenges the viewer to think further about the situation. It is personal moments that she draws. She likes that because it allows her to address the viewer directly, as everyone can identify with it. That’s why she also shows very personal sides of herself, to make the pictures as authentic as possible.

Recently, she had a shocking experience when she offered her son’s room on AirBnB when he was on vacation with his father. Visiting was a couple from Malaysia. The wife never saw them without headscarves, although only Susanne and her daughter were at home. The husband never let his wife speak and bossed her around even though they both had the same college degree. This experience made Susanne very sad. She wants to give a voice to marginalized groups like this downtrodden woman. She does this through her art or her projects with the people involved. Art is the common language there.

In addition to her art, Susanne works with youth centers where she can do just that. In these projects, she teaches the children that you can also apply artistic freedom to your whole life, not just to art. “It’s always a matter of interpretation. There is never a right or wrong. How you do something is, always your own decision.” In the youth centers, for example, she worked with Egyptian girls and Syrian children. Although they do not speak the same language, she was able to give the children an experience on their way with the projects that they will never forget. Susanne is aware of how much her work with the youth centers helps the children and young people and how much she can influence them positively. She would like to do projects like this more often.

In Susanne’s opinion, access to art of any kind should be free, such as in museums. Susanne also exhibits her work at the neighboring “Centre Manouche,” which is French for “Center Man.” The “Centre Manouche” is a place where music, art and culture meet. Every Friday the center is open and her friend and co-founder plays music while Susanne draws. People come and go, people talk, ideas are exchanged or they are just together. Especially larger works she can realize there, which are also exhibited there. She is still working on the development of the center and has more and more ideas of things that can still be offered.

Susanne invited me to the “Centre Manouche” for a concert. The atmosphere was very familiar and I had the feeling that the music was played just for me. It was a wonderful experience. Susanne’s paintings on the walls around the stage and the auditorium intensify this mood and make the room lively and cheerful.

Susanne’s wish for her future is that her ideas will never run out. But one cannot doubt this at all, watching her passion at work. “Inspiration is always very unplanned,” Susanne says. “It comes unexpectedly and then gets stuck in my head. If I can’t get rid of it, I have to realize it.” What comes out of it she doesn’t know, but she never doubts her art. She is aware of her skill and dexterity and knows that when her art comes from the heart, it is always right. Whether she can still see it that way in retrospect is irrelevant. Her favorite project is always the one she is currently working on. Her focus is on it and it gets her full attention.

Susanne’s work is very versatile, creative and Susanne enjoys it very much. To express herself in her art and to bring her ideas from her hand on paper frees Susanne. Thus she processes topics that occupy her, whether beautiful, or not so beautiful. “Choose a job you love and you never have to work again!”, is Suses motto. It is clear that Suse loves her work. Actually, Susanne was just trying it out with art, but it worked out.

Positione

2nd Camera, Production, Directing, Audio, Editing, Text, Regie, Ton, Schnitt, Text

Short Info

Kuss drauf portrays the Berlin artist Susanne Wilke. The project was created as part of a module during my studies at the DEKRA Hochschule für Medien.