Meet ArtisT Cara Wilmanns
GALIA VELEVA: INTERVIEW WITH SECOND PLACE PRIZE WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FiKVA AWARD FOR PAINTERS 2025 – CARA WILMANNS
Q: Please, tell us a bit about your past. When and where were you born? Where did you grow up? And where do you live now? What was your childhood like? What have you done for a living?…
I was born in 2000 and grew up in Solingen, a town in Germany that sits between Cologne and Düsseldorf. Despite its proximity to major cities, the area has lots of nature and poor mobile phone reception. I think it was a wonderful place to grow up. Whenever we village kids had some free time, we would roam the woods or visit my neighbour’s horses. In bad weather, I would spend time with my
parents, either making music or painting with watercolours. The arts have always played a big part in my life. In fact, both my parents are musicians, so my ending up in the visual arts must have been quite a plot twist! However, I think they took it very well after the initial shock when I decided to become an artist at the age of 15. Although I painted with watercolours as a child, I stopped for many years during my late childhood. It was actually a coincidence and an amazing teacher at school that rekindled my love of painting. She had us paint Animal Eyes in Acrylics as part of some extraterrestrial programme, and my painting turned out to be quite good. Looking back I think at that moment the trajectory of my life changed I knew what I wanted to do. After spending a year on a student exchange programme in Hungary, I decided to complete my high school finals in art and to study art and mathematics at university (yes, I love mathematics, too!). I have just finished writing the final sentences of my Master’s thesis, and I hope I can leave university behind me for good. Studying art in Germany with the desire to paint realistically is… well… I don’t want to sound rude – I’ve met many lovely people at university – but I’d advise sticking with YouTube or institutions like FiKVA.
Q: Who was the first person, who understood you were an artist and/or supported your talent?
That must be a neighbor from the village where I grew up. She was a dear friend of my mum’s and an artist too. Her name was Gerburg Karthausen, and she made colorful pottery, mainly vases for flowers. I think it was actually her who told my mum that I was going to be an artist, whether she liked it or not.
Cara Wilmanns, Myself, oil, 100 x 150 cm, 2022
Q: If you could go back in time to what were the happiest times of your childhood, where would you go and why?
It would be exactly what I was talking about earlier. Running through the woods and being carefree. Honestly though, I wouldn’t want to go back in time because my childhood contains some of my darkest memories too. After all, you can’t be an artist without some trauma, can you?
I’m happy right where I am and excited for what’s to come.
Q: What themes touch you the most? Do you have a favorite theme represented in your art? Or any future plans to work with a particular theme?
My biggest inspiration are humans, which might sound a little bit weird, because right now there are a lot of human dou***bags walking around, creating a lot of mess in the world. But somehow I am optimistic. There are so many amazing people walking around, doing crazy cool stuff, like calculating equations, building houses, pursuing sports, tattooing clients, … , all while they fight their demons and try to just keep living, I guess. This is such a human thing, and I can’t stop being fascinated about it. So when I would describe my art, I would say it’s a kind of scientific and philosophical exploration of the human experience. I think in my portraits, this theme is kind of obvious, but my still lives ask the same questions. For example, in the painting »SPOONS«, I depict 18 spoons I found in my childhood home. I seriously don’t have a clue why we have so many different spoons, but it’s such a human thing. Even the idea that someone created a tool to help with eating is, when thinking about it for too long, absolutely bonkers. I think for now I can’t let go of this fascination, but I would like to discover more of a storytelling approach
to my paintings.
Q: Do you have a morning ritual or a ritual before you start creating? Please tell us about it.
Yes, its called COFFEE!
Seriously though, I don’t have a ritual as such, but I heavily believe in routine and showing up every day. There is this quote from Steven Pressfield in The War of Art, which I love and live by: »[The artist] knows that when the muse sees his but in the chair, she will deliver.« The magic of pursuing art will always happen if you just show up every. Damn. Time.
Q: How would your friends describe you in 3 words?
A weird, dedicated, Cookie-Monster! XD
Q: If you could have 3 virtual imaginary friends (famous or not, still alive or lived in the past …) in your life who have inspired you, who would/might they be? And why?
The first one has got to be Piero della Francesca, artist and mathematician in the Renaissance. The earlier mentioned master’s thesis that I just finished writing, yes, it is about him. This man was not only an incredible painter, but also the person that has proven the linear perspective to be mathematically correct. Over the last year, I have been researching how much his mathematical and artistic thinking are unified in one of his most famous artworks: The Frescos in the Main Chapel of Saint Francis in Arezzo. Oh, if I could just travel in time and see him work even once…
The second one is a bit cheesy, but it’s Brendon Urie from the band Panic! at the Disco. I am too much of a fan to imagine being friends, but this band has inspired me beyond end. I am pretty sure their music gave me the confidence to persue art.
Last but not least, Therese Schwartze. Come on! If there is a QUEEN in figurative arts in the 19th century. It has to be her! She is THE icon!!!
Q: If you could initiate a positive evolution in the contemporary figurative arts, what would it be? And what would it look like?
Love and respect for each other in the art community. I consider myself very lucky to have met many wonderful artists through exhibitions and awards, who have become good friends and support each other. However, that is not always the case, and it is easy to let envy and gatekeeping take over. I don’t believe that’s a healthy approach. There is room for every artist to exist, create and sell their work. I’d rather cheer each and every one of us on, and celebrate every small success, than create spite in an environment that is tough enough as it is. We need to be good to each other!
Q: If your hands and brushes were the tools to give your generation a voice, what story would you like to tell in your future works?
Talking about a harsh environment, I believe I belong to the last generation that grew up without a phone. When we were playing in these woods there was no way to call for help, except running all the way home. Maybe this wasn’t the safest place for us to play, but it was real and it taught us a lot. The world is rapidly changing and sometimes I think the we are losing a sense of this reality. Feeling, breathing and experiencing life is so important. This is the story I want to tell in my art and also with my art. My paintings are objects of reality.
Q: What are you most grateful for in your life so far?
Being able and allowed to live it! Gazing upon history and observing the world around us, not everything is perfect, but many of us are in such a privileged spot. Whenever someone asks me what I do for a living and I tell them I am an artist, they stare at me and shoot right back, »Is it really possible to do that for a living?« Well, perhaps it’s not easy, but the odds (especially as a woman) have never been better.
Q: What makes your heart pound faster (in terms of art)?
Hours of uninterrupted painting. Starting the next »stage« of a painting. Going to see my framer (uuugh that moment when you discover the right frame for a piece is just so sweet). Meeting up with other artists and discovering their art. Walking through a museum and analyzing how the old masters did it. And so on… To sum up, a lot!
Q: Which painting/work from an artist would you like to have in your living room one day? Please tell us why.
If Vermeer’s milk maiden ever gets stolen from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, please don’t come looking in my living room 😉
There are so many theories about how Vermeer created his paintings, but all of them fade away when you stand in front of his work. A few months ago we went to Amsterdam and I saw this painting for the first time in real life. I think I stood in front of this painting for 30 minutes straight. The immensely fine detail and the sudden color shifts are incredible. I am still in awe!
Q: What is your ikigai? (‘ikigai’ is a Japanese concept that means your ‘reason for being’. ‘Iki’ in Japanese means ‘life,’ and ‘gai’ or actually ‘kai’ describes value or worth. Your ikigai is your life purpose or your bliss. It’s what brings you joy and inspires you to get out of bed every day. In French they refer to ikigai as to ‘la raison d’etre’).
Painting. And when I am done painting, more painting.
Q: What makes your eyes sparkle?
Besides art: coffee, cookies and good music.
Cara Wilmanns, Mum, 100 x 150 cm, 2023
Q: Just out of curiosity: where is your work “Adorned” situated at this moment? What can you tell us about the character(s)?
I am quite happy to tell you, that it is with the MEAM Museum in Barcelona right now until December and will be part of the Figurativas award exhibition. After that, we will see!
The painting has been quite a departure from my other figurative work and also a challenge I was happy to take on. My model is a fellow artist, but he would never call himself that, I suppose. In fact, he does tattoos for a living, wonderful works of art that people imprint on themselves. He has countless tattoos on his body and gives the impression of being a very intimidating person, but he is not. Rather, he is a humble person with a deep love for his craft, which allows his imagination to run wild. Painting him in his workshop seemed a natural place to capture his personality in all its facets. The aim of the painting was to walk on the razor’s edge, to portray strength alongside inner insecurity. Denying being an artist while being surrounded by the evidence of it. In the end, this painting might reveal more about how I often feel as an artist than anything else. I feel like whenever I paint a portrait there is a synthesis between the model and me, it’s never one-sided or objective.
Q: Do you find it important to participate in art awards? Why? What has participating in art competitions brought to your career?
For me, it has proven to be more and more important. Last year I took part in the annual RP in London and couldn’t believe that I made it into the exhibition. It was my first time exhibiting internationally and connected me to so many artists that have become friends. Through these friendships, some opportunities have arisen that would not have otherwise. Summing up, awards gave me the opportunity to break out of my local niche and actually start reaching an audience that is more relevant to me.
Q: If you could use 3 words to describe FiKVA, what might they be?
I have only experienced the FiKVA online, but everything has been so nice. I’d say: approachable, heartwarming and in the interest of the artist.
Thank you!!!
www.carawilmanns.de
