"The spaciousness in the middle of the city is great."

Anna Pascher studied fashion design at the AMD in Düsseldorf and ran a fashion company in Berlin for over ten years before turning to her second passion, art, and returning to the Rhine with her family. The pictures she has been painting since 2021 depict everyday objects - mostly table scenes, which she transforms into colorful, lively still lifes in surrealistic tableaux. Pascher experiments with materials and surfaces, using both acrylic and oil paints on paper and canvas. Anna Pascher explains why she moved from the Spree to the Rhine, how her new life in Düsseldorf feels and where she draws inspiration for her art during a visit to her studio in Stockum.

Your subject matter is everyday objects, which you depict in surrealist still lifes. What fascinates you about this subject?
The table scenes are often inspired by emotional moments with my friends and family. Sitting at the table together and having conversations is very valuable to me. I like to play with everyday objects and abstract their shapes. In the meantime, I am incorporating more and more surrealistic details to break out of the concrete representation and overcome standardized ideas.

Your works are created intuitively by putting yourself in a situation. How can we imagine this when you are alone in your studio, far away from any social circle?
I imagine myself in this atmosphere, even if I don't plan very much beforehand - for example, I don't plan how many virtual people will be sitting at the table. It just works like that. Like a head movie, or rather a head restaurant (laughs). I think imagination and intuition are some of my greatest talents.

You ran a fashion company with your husband in Berlin for ten years.
That's right. My husband and I had a label for corporate fashion and lived and worked in Berlin for ten years. We wanted to shake up the world of outdated workwear and make it look more contemporary, which we succeeded in doing. But then, three years ago, we decided to pursue other hidden passions. For me, it was always an inner calling to make art and when Corona came along, I thought to myself: it's now or never!

You and your family moved from Berlin to Düsseldorf in 2021. Why?
It was a gut decision. We had had two children in the meantime and asked ourselves where we would feel most comfortable. We clearly chose Düsseldorf, where my husband's family is from. The proximity to nature, the expanse of the Rhine, the shorter distances - all of this influenced our decision. I had already lived here for four years, studied fashion design at AMD and met my husband in Düsseldorf.

How do you feel about living in Düsseldorf?
It's very pleasant. I enjoy being able to cycle into the city. It's a luxury to be in the city center in ten minutes. The short distances are very fortunate for us. I can focus much better here. It feels more rounded, I'm very much with myself. My passion makes me so happy that I would love to dedicate the whole day to it. Any time saved is a gift.

What surprised you most when you arrived?
What surprised me most about Düsseldorf was the development that Ackerstraße in Flingern has undergone. I lived on Degerstrasse 17 years ago, when there were far fewer restaurants and stores. However, I also liked the fact that I found many places as I remembered them: Carlsplatz, the Hinkel bakery, the Salon des Amateurs. The beloved, familiar places are still there, so I arrived back very quickly.

Düsseldorf is a city of art. What role does that play in your work and your life? Do you have a gallery in Düsseldorf that represents you?
Not really - I'm currently working with Galerie Nuo in Munich. However, I had my first solo exhibition in Düsseldorf after a very short time at Off-Space Nails on Birkenstraße. A lot of people came to the opening and I found the atmosphere familiar and intimate. You get talking, you design an exhibition - it's all uncomplicated. You always bump into people on the street, which is very likeable. Nevertheless, the diversity is enormous and there is a wide range on offer, which is also fueled by the close connection to Cologne and the DC Open, the joint gallery tour of the cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne.

What inspires you in Düsseldorf? Are there places that give you artistic input? Perhaps also gastronomic places?
I love brasseries, you can see that in my figurative work. I like going to the Brasserie Hülsmann, the Brasserie Stadthaus, the Robert, the Bar Olio. These are great places.

Where do you go out when friends come to visit?
We often go to Carlsplatz, run small errands, have a coffee or a glass of wine at a wine stall. I also really like Heinemann. When my husband and I were newly in love, he invited me to the Heinemann Café for a gentleman's cake and a pot of coffee. He knows how much I love cake. We are real Heinemann fans!

Do you have a favorite place that you would like to share with our readers?
The galleries on Birkenstraße, everything is very compact there. I like walking from gallery to gallery, it's very inspiring and I almost prefer it to visiting a museum. I find the Philara Collection very impressive in terms of its space - and I also like to go to the Bulle Bistro there.

Where do you go when you want to switch off?
I love nature, that's one reason why we're here. Walks on the Rhine meadows in Oberkassel are beautiful at any time of year. The spaciousness in the middle of the city is great. But I also love walking behind the racecourse, which is almost an insider tip. During the week, I'm often there on my own.

annapascher.com

Interview: Ilona Marx
Photos: Markus Luigs