The Tip Of The Eisberg
Can you tell us about what you wanted to convey with this piece of artwork? What were some inspirations or ideas you wanted to consider when you were creating it?
First of all, I spent a while thinking about what reconciliation really is and which steps have to be undertaken on both sides for it to emerge. How do we get to the point where frontiers are set so firmly and communication has failed so severely that reconciliation seems impossible to reach? Who is prepared to take the first step then?
Why is reconciliation as a theme important to you?
Reconciliation is based on the capacity of reconsidering your own point of view as well as on being open to the fact that you might have been mistaken too. A process that is vital for any sort of personal development. This is true both on a small and on a large scale: in a private setting, but also when it comes to conflicts between states.
What was the creative process like in creating this artwork? (Do you map it out in a plan beforehand, do you work on text first and then illustration or vice versa? You can also talk about the medium or methods you use in creating the work.)
First of all, I open up the topic in all directions, by sketching, writing and reading a lot about it. Next, I usually start to sketch the first scenes very intuitively. Only after this process do I pick the idea I feel most excited about and focus on it.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
There’s a family story touched upon in the comic. The conflict itself remains rather unspecific though - as a reader you only see the tip of the iceberg. The reason is that I was more interested in conveying a specific feeling or mood than in presenting a particular story.