Support for makers
Susann Riedel
Susann Riedel is a painter from Chemnitz with an international art project: "Classefrauen". She paints portraits of women who are committed, who go their own way and realise unique projects. During the pandemic, the artist from Chemnitz has come up with a special project. It's called "My classmates are there for you". She explains what is behind this new, Germany-wide project and what Susann Riedel's motivation was in the "Maker of the Week" interview.
How did you come up with the idea for your "My classmates are there for you" campaign?
Susann Riedel: I am in constant contact with the women from my project. Several of them have told me that they still sit up at night and set up an online shop or prepare webinars for the next day. This gave rise to the idea of a joint platform. On the one hand, so that the women can exchange ideas with each other and, on the other, so that they can also get new input from outside. The background is simply that the campaign should be a small economic help in these difficult times.
At classefrauen.de/aktion and www.facebook.com/classefrauen, Susann Riedel bundles the current ideas, offers of help and activities of her class women. One of them, for example, has developed a board game to prevent relationships from breaking down under the weight of the pandemic, while another now also delivers her delicacies to customers' homes.
How did the "Classefrauen" project come about?
I've been a full-time painter for 14 years and started out by creating two series of pictures. In one of the series, I painted women from my imagination. Then I was asked if real women could model for my pictures. That's how the idea of portraying women who do something special came about. I want to create a small tribute to them with my art.
The project has now been running for over two years and can be seen as a permanent exhibition with changing pictures in the Saxon State Parliament in Dresden. "Every three to four months there is a small reception to introduce the new class women. Fortunately, the next one can take place as planned in June," says Susann Riedel.
How do you get to know the women for your project?
I often read something about the women in the newspaper or hear about their projects in reports and then I simply approach them. Or I get to know new interesting women during my work and ask them if I can paint them. Sometimes women are also recommended to me. It's important to me that they are committed, are in charge of special projects or have visions. My aim is to give the women an "advertising opportunity", so to speak, so that they can introduce themselves. I've met so many great women through the project, which makes me very happy.
How has the campaign been received?
It has been very well received so far. The women have gained a lot of new enquiries through the campaign and the number of hits on the pages is also high. Many have asked me to continue the campaign for as long as possible.
Susann Riedel is planning to continue the campaign for at least another two months and to give a final presentation at the end about how the Classefrauen will continue in the future.
What are your hopes for the time after corona?
I hope that the economy can return to normal as quickly as possible. And that all the efforts that people are making at the moment will continue to bear fruit after the pandemic.