August 19, 2010
artist sieglinde battley
Colour is a way of life for some people. Meet artist Sieglinde Battley. Before settling in Australia she lived and worked in Norway, Indonesia and Japan. All quite a contrast to East Prussia where she was born and raised. This weekend she will open an exhibition at Harrison Galleries in Sydney's Paddington.
Which five words best describe you? Passionate. Impatient. Critical – with self and others. Brave. Generous.My husband agreed with these and added 5 more. Good ones - Witty, Moral. Bad ones - Glamorous, Wants to dance, Can’t sing.
What was your first career/job and what path have you taken since? I became an apprentice at “Broenners Druckerei & Umschau Verlag”
in Frankfurt, Germany, and learnt about graphic design and all about printing and typesetting before the computer age. I stayed on that path while my children were young and later I studied for a bachelor degree in painting and printmaking. I have been a painter ever since.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? When all fails, pack your bags, saddle your horse and ride into the next sunset.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Persisting – not only after success – but in adversity.
What’s been your best decision? To leave 3 husbands and stay with number four.
Who inspires you? Brave people.
What are you passionate about? Justice, a world without wars, cooking, languages, love.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Charles Bukowsky, Anne Rice, Octavian von Hofmansthal.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Speak Italian fluently, fly business class and learn to dance tango.
What are you reading? Lots, because I am an insomniac and I read at night for hours. But right now Watership Down by Richard Adams and loving it.
images courtesy of sieglinde battley and harrison galleries