Set Your Style

Anna Nero and Jana Schlegl are two very young and very talented girls from German Art Collective “Sickhead Productions“. Both now living in Frankfurt, they come from very different backgrounds. Anna was born in Moscow, Russia, daughter of an architect and a painter. Growing up in an artists-collective was the foundation of her interest in art and culture. Jana was born in the socialists’ part of Germany. As a child from a typical working-class family, she had no education in painting or drawing and no creative environment but her passion for the arts was so strong that, as soon as she had the chance, she decided to study art at the University of Frankfurt.
I personally find their art very strong, striking and appealing at the same time, and I like the interesting way they use their own symbolic language.

In May 2007 Anna and Jana organized their own collective first exhibition.
I had the chance to have a chat with them and they turned out to be very nice and friendly, so let’s go to read their interview and see more pics.

Click Continue reading to go to next page.

NAME
Anna Nero and Jana Schlegel

JOB
Nero: student/ artist / currently becoming a djane
Jana: studies art/ artist

HOW OLD ARE YOU?
Nero: 19
Jana: 24

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Both in Frankfurt/Germany.

YOUR FAVOURITE SONG?
Nero: oh that’s hard. There are plenty. But I believe my all time favorite is “Pass this on” by The Knife.
Jana: “Exact neutral” by Stereo Total.

FIVE THINGS THAT YOU CURRENTLY LOVE MOST?
Nero: standing up early in the morning, djing, sun, sleeping
Jana: good movies, wine, hanging out with friends, football, photographing

YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRANDS?
Jana: We both have no favorite fashion brands, we almost never wear brands.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
Nero: Is there something like the typical indie-style? Hhhm, I believe my style is something between this indie-style, sometimes a bit of trash, and eighties for sure.
Jana: A clash between indie-style and 70ies hippie-style.

YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP?
Nero & Jana: definitely the flea market and second hand shops.

WHAT’S YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
Nero: A black vintage dress by DKNY, but I never wear it.
Jana: I really can’t decide.

WHAT PICE OF ART WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO OWN?
Nero: Some of the creepy installations by Mark Manders.
Jana: “The burning Giraffe” by Salvador Dalí.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION?
Nero: Music, real life, nightmares
Jana: coincidence and eyes

YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST?
Nero: Salvador Dalí.
Jana: Dalí, Picasso.

WHO ARE YOUR FANTASY DINNER PARTY GUESTS?
Jana: Curt Kobain and Dorian Grey. In one room.
Nero: Ian Curtis.

YOUR LAST TRIP?
Nero: To Dublin and to Belfast. It was horrible. I’ll never go there again.
Jana: Berlin (it was great).

AND THE NEXT ONE?
We’re going to Anna’s hometown, Moscow, together.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE?
Nero: A village near Moscow where I spend my childhood and the hidden little backyard where I live.
Jana: My dreams and the forest.

AND YOUR FAVOURIT DISH?
Nero: Sushi and Thai food.
Jana: Tom Kha Gai (Thai chicken soup)

WHERE DID YOU MEET HIM/HER ?
In a place called “Institute for comparing Irrelevance”. Really.

HIS/HER WORST VICE?
Nero: Jana’s worst vice is her indecision. And she forgets everything.
Jana: Nero’s worst vice is her ego.

IF I CAME TO FRANKFURT WHAT SHOULD I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO SEE?
You’ll definitely have to eat at “Frankfurter Küche” the best Restaurant for traditional Frankfurt food. The museum of modern art of course, the beautiful riverside… .There are some nice spots in Frankfurt.

WHAT COULD YOU EASLY DO TO HELP THE PLANET?
Jana: destroy mankind.
Nero: I feel that I do enough with not having a car and not polluting the atmosphere.

One could describe Nero’s art stylistically as a mixture between classical surrealism and symbolism. Although she paints with acrylic colors, her work mostly has a very graphical touch to it, as she can express herself better with the help of lines and shapes rather than colours. Anna’s topics are often real-life subjects, former experiences or situations translated into her own symbolic language, so in a way her art is very direct. The emphasis lies on the content rather than on the aesthetic aspects.
See more of Nero’s art on Artwanted.

Jana’s art is symbolist and meditative at the same time. The basic composition element is the line, but also often a use of strong and expressive colors. Jana’s aim is to meditatively express her inner processes, without really reflecting them in order to achieve a “real” and close connection to herself and to the beholder. The subjects are experiences and emotions, human relationships or artistic translations of Jana’s environment.