After exciting stints in Rio, San Francisco and Montevideo, the German-Brazilian artist Bianca Green has returned once more to Berlin. After touching down, she took some time to talk to us about the inspiration behind her illustrations, textile designs and photo collages.

You previously worked at a local radio station in Frankfurt and then later for MTV in Munich and Berlin. What made you leave the music biz and become an artist?

It's a daily battle to work with a subject that you are so passionate about. And even with the many amazing moments and experiences I’ve had, the daily grind was extremely exhausting. My love for music is what got me interested in the job, and my love for music is what made it easy for me to leave the job.

From Rio de Janeiro to San Francisco to Berlin, you’ve lived in some of the most exciting cities on the planet. Which has had the biggest impact on your work?

They’ve all shaped me to become the artist that I am today. But putting all these famous, beloved and wonderful cities aside, tiny little Montevideo in Uruguay probably had the biggest impact on me and my work. It’s where I started to have my creative visions again, where I searched and found my artistic voice, where I collected a lot of my material to collage with…it’s where I created a life for myself that allowed me to bloom into an artist.

 

Your work is very eclectic, both in subject matter and techniques—where do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration everywhere. It depends on my mood, state of mind and general openness. Right now, I’m soaking up and enjoying the changing layers of Berlin again. This city surprises me constantly. Taking the inspiration and then getting creative always comes in waves for me. I don’t stress it, it comes when it wants.

How do you feel your personality comes out in your work?

My work is 100% my personality. If you know me, you see me in my work. And if you only know my work, you already know a lot about me.

What does a typical day in your studio look like?

I’m the type that doesn’t plan ahead. I wake up and don’t know what my day will look like, and I love that! Depending on my mood and inspiration, a typical day can look like anything from setting up a large painting and doing that for 3 days straight, or sitting down with my linocut tools and carving away until my fingers hurt. It can also be an office-like day where I am just on my laptop answering emails and dealing with paperwork. Every day is truly different, which is why this is the life I chose. Or rather, it chose me.

 
Being yourself is the only way you can create something special.

Which projects are you working on at the moment? Do you have any special projects on the horizon?

I’m currently developing a lot of concepts and writing down lots of ideas. This year will be all about helping them exit my brain and exist beyond my imagination. And I’m carving a lot again! Block print and linocut are my current favourite mediums—they get me super excited!

Do you have any words of advice for aspiring artists?

Just be your authentic self. As cheesy as it sounds, being yourself is the only way you can create something special. Using other people’s styles or taking other people’s ideas will show and, most likely, not get you very far. Experiment and play around until you find your very own voice, your very own style and the things you want to express. Everything else will follow automatically.

Tacos or currywurst?

Definitely tacos. I eat AVAP (as vegan as possible) and currywurst was never my thing. But Mexican food, si por favor!

Thanks, Bianca!

Text: Lisa Kaufmann

Translation: Nicholas Potter

Photos: Cordula Schaefer