issue 4 - photographer interview
 

Name: Rudi Silbermann
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Education: Photolithographer / CG Artist

--Current projects and publications:
3D Architectural design and visualizations of housing developments in South Africa….and of course your magazine.

--Past projects and publications:
I am full time employed as a 3D designer and visual artist for an architect firm – Black Currant Architects. My projects range from housing developments, apartments, industrial, commercial and interior projects.   

1) What inspired you to begin photographing? How has that inspiration changed over time?
When I was a kid I loved art; I mostly sketched and drew. Years ago I started playing around with Adobe Photoshop 4 and got totally hooked on computer graphics and 3D modeling.  What inspired me to begin photography will have to be the way I visualize things and then capture them in a way that I see it, then combining it with my Photoshop and 3D modeling skills to create artwork that I visualize in my mind.

2) What do you pay attention to now as opposed to the past? What has changed in your vision?
In the past I used to go out and take photographs and not really focus on a specific project that I wanted to do. What has become important to me is to focus on one piece of artwork at a time and photograph and collect enough resources and materials to create the finished artwork to the best of my ability. A very important aspect for me was to learn to be patient. In the past I was always in a hurry to complete my work as quick as possible, but I’ve learned to be patient and spend more time on detail….

3) Who has inspired you?
I’ve always enjoyed surreal artwork and been greatly inspired by great artists like Dali and South African artist Keith Alexander.
Most of my inspiration now comes from the Flickr website and all the great artists featured there….there is so much talent.
I also find music to be a great inspiration to my artwork.

4) What would you say your underlying theme is in all of your work?
I try to create a story with my work and try to do it in such a way that the viewer can use his own imagination to read into it. I try to keep my work surreal and entertaining. I would say my underlying theme would have to be things that matter like love, freedom and happiness and the search for it in our everyday lives. 

5) How does your work relate to your life?
Most of my work is pictures or visuals that pop into my mind. Then I try to put them onto paper. A lot of my work is me expressing my emotions.

6) Where do you see your work going in the future?
I always push myself to do better artwork and photography…..so I have to work more on being patient…okay, let's move on!!

7) What is your goal in photography?
Right now my goal is to do enough good work to have an exhibition one day….that is my dream at the moment.

8) When someone looks at your photography 100 years from now, what do you think they will say?
Let's visit planet earth….

9) Tell us about your experience with the Waterlogged August collaboration. What was enjoyable about it? What was difficult? What would you do differently if you had it all to do over again? What was your favorite photo/piece of writing?
I think for me the highlight must be collaboration with Isaac and how perfectly it matched…almost like it was done by one person. I am honored to work with such a talented poet. I’ve really developed a passion for poetry working with Isaac. His work really is like a painting. I found it weird to work and put this magazine together having never met or seen that person in real life. I don’t think I found anything difficult; everything seemed to just flow together perfectly.
What would I do differently? I wouldn't change a thing...this is such an awesome concept. I love all Isaac's poetry, but one that stood out for me would have to be Flock Song.