8 Questions with Marco Riha

Marco Riha is an Austrian artist based in Mexico featured in Al-Tiba9 magazine ISSUE04, interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj.

For Marco Riha, visual arts are a liberation, a spiritual quest of sorts. A fascination of screaming without making a sound, a soul-searching endeavor, a life journey of finding a perfect composition. Like life, sometimes there is a failure, sometimes success. Ultimately it is about creating, showing up, risking, bearing it all. In the beginning, his artistic expression was private and therapeutic during his symbolic naïve phase. Then, he started abstract experimentations into colors and textures. His latest works deal with socio-political provocations. As society’s moral compass “Crocodile on Fire," is a reminder of fauna burnt by global warming and wildfires.

marcoriha.com | @marco.riha

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Please describe the intention behind your art. How do you successfully express this intention?

I intend to provoke emotions. It starts with my own; when I put all my passion into a piece of art and feel an emotional response after completion, the first step is done if emotions are triggered in the viewer I have successfully expressed this intention.

Can you talk a little about your formative years as an artist?

My formative years as an artist were my wander years, my many years on the road, traveling. Expanding horizons, visiting exotic countries full of breathtaking beauty, learning about diverse cultures, belief systems, and ways of seeing the world all became the fertile soil for my creative journey.

There are a lot of paintings on the market these days, how do you differentiate yours from the rest? In other words, what do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?

What differentiates my art from the rest is that it describes my very personal soul's journey—a spiritual quest of sorts, laced with my unique sweat, tears, dreams, and visions.

What is the best part about creating art using various art supplies and techniques?

The best part of mixing is to watch the painting seemingly grow by itself.

What do you believe is a key element in creating a good painting?

To be 100% focused and present.

What do you wish you knew about painting before you got started?

Nothing, as a self-taught artist, it felt wonderful to start without preconceived ideas, completely naive. The challenge is to stay that way.

Why do you love what you do?

The concentration and focus while creating are like a meditation for me. I love looking at the finished creation and hearing feedbacks when I exhibit my work.

Do you have any upcoming shows or collaborations?

On April 8th, 2020, we are going to have a collaboration of different artists in Las Galerias, Mexico.