Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Max Gehlofen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Max, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

After Art University i founded a restaurant and catering service with a good freind of mine. These years told me that nothing is for free. I realized that there is a lot of effort in things that others dont see. During this time i learned to adapt to problems and get through trouble ive never heard of before. After a few years i recognized that dedication and hard work make me happy in a way. So i lost my fear to do my art for a living. It was time to make a decesion so i closed the shop and started to prioritize my art and put everything i learned in the restaurant on top of my artskills to get through. I think without the etime in the restaurant i would have been to naive in businesscases, to make a living with my art.

Max, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I`m an artist from germany. I mainly do sculpture, drawing and performance art. I am interested in the possibilities of life still to come. My works stem from invented, naturally grown forms based on shapes known to our perception. I avoid using external energy and intentionally produce formats that I can create with my own body power. A compellingly human dimension emerges.
I want people to look at my art and think about their relationship to the enviroment. We´re all connected to our sorroundings and its important to be a part of it. We don´t stand above other creatures or things. Our impact has to be reduced.
In mixing up invented forms of living structures i create images of deep connection. Inventing forms instead of copiing them allows me to show people the uncertainty of perception. I´m forced to make a lot of decisions during the process of form findning on my own. That creates a unique aesthetics.
Most necessary for me is that my work shows what i think makes sense, not what others want to see or buy.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I think NFTs are something but not art. In my opinion art is connected directly to body and soul. There wont be art for me on a computer.
I know thats a very subjective view, but i feel like sharing it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want people to become active thinkers. If you are able to discover the strength of your mind by yourself you will have learned this lesson for ever. So i do stuff to open peoples´ mind. It is important for a society and the enviroment that people think and act free. It is hard work to get to the point where you are free in our society. Everything is full of Consumption, marketing and money. If you dont open your mind you will fail in this world. So my goal is to help people a little with this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maxgehlofen.com
• Instagram: @maxgehlofen

Image Credits

Frank Homeyer, Gabriele Kunkel, Benjamin Brückner, Chris Fay