Vanessa Lindenau

Viennaillustrationsarchitecture

28 Jan

Written By Caroline Steffen

Vanessa, please introduce yourself:

Hello, my name is Vanessa Lindenau, and I work at the intersection of illustration, architecture and communication. Drawing plays a central role in my practice, allowing me to study and understand spaces through observation. I am also the founder of SpeakingOf, a communication studio based in Vienna with a focus on architecture and design.

#1 Can you tell us something about your training? What did you study, and how did you find your path?

I have a background in fashion design, which had a thorough impact on the way I observe my surroundings. Shapes, proportions, and geometry play an essential role in pattern making and this way of perceiving my environment adds some sort of visual strictness to my artistic work. I wasn’t in design for long though. Instead I focussed on the process and narratives behind which ultimately led me into communication. I always used drawings as a creative outlet, so these two paths have developed in parallel and architecture is where they meet.

#2 Your illustrations often depict architectures or fragments of them. How did you come to focus on this, and what has been your most exciting work recently?

My drawings reflect the topics I generally engage with, as for me they are a way of communicating. In 2019 I spent a year in Sydney, a city designed primarily around cars – an experience which made me contemplate on the importance of public transport and public spaces, and the effects of suburban environments – ultimately leaving me with a strong aversion to housing speculation and sparking my interest in urbanism. I am interested in the anonymous architecture of Vienna’s social housing buildings of the Red Vienna era or the infinite repetition of multi-family homes (polikatoikia) in Athens, hunting for structural and aesthetical details within the concept of mass housing.

It was exciting to see my drawings on show in London recently. A city in which people are also suffering from the effects of excessive housing speculation.

Sculpture by Hans Leinfellner_Vienna.jpg

1) Sculpture in Vienna, artist unknown, 2) Art in Architecture, 1050 Vienna, 3) Robert-Uhlir-Hof, 1020 Vienna, 4) Sculpture by Hans Leinfellner, Vienna @ Vanessa Lindenau

#3 The color blue plays a significant role in your illustrations. How did this come about?

Initially I used a black ballpoint pen, but I was missing softness, texture and depths in these drawings which made me switch to colored pencils. Over time I became a creature of habit, sticking to this one particular pencil in “night blue”. Though I have experimented with multi-colored styles many times, it just doesn’t sit right. The blue has become such a defining element for me that it feels crucial to the way I communicate visually.

#4 Besides your illustrations, you also work with ceramics. How do these two disciplines complement each other?

Like many others, I started playfully working with clay during the pandemic as a way to stay sane and learn something new. The hand building technique turned out to be ideal for translating my understanding of pattern-making from textiles into ceramics. Three-dimensionality, which is often of little importance in my drawings, is given more attention by working with clay. Unlike a piece of paper, the sculptural nature of ceramics opens up new creative possibilities to explore how these two disciplines can intertwine.

#5 Can you share more about your project 'SpeakingOf' and what you have planned for it?

I recently founded SpeakingOf, a studio dedicated to PR and communication in the fields of architecture, design, and related arts. Being involved in diverse projects creates a dynamic environment that is both inspiring and energizing for me. On the long run, I’ll be looking for the right space in Vienna to give SpeakingOf also a physical presence. I’m planning to showcase artistic works spanning architecture, design, photography, and fine arts, creating a space for dialogue and exploration within these disciplines.

#6 What are you most looking forward to in the coming month regarding upcoming projects?

At the moment, I’m working on a large-scale wall design for a museum in Vienna. With almost 30sqm the scale is much larger than what I am used to, so it’s thrilling to see how the illustration will evolve as it grows across the wall (and scary!).

In terms of free works, I wish to create a large-scale ceramic piece inspired by wall works in public spaces, drawing from the long-standing tradition of “Kunst-am-Bau” in municipal housing in Vienna. These artworks, integrated into façades and sculptures placed in inner courtyards, were often essential elements that defined the character of these housing complexes.

#7 How do you see the role of an architect in today's society?

Architecture is a diverse discipline that goes far beyond the fields of design and construction. The areas of housing and urban planning that interest me have a long-term influence on the realities of many people's lives, be it on a socio-cultural or economic level. But it is precisely here that the dilemma of an architect as a service provider between profit-orientated requirements and the desire for sustainable or socially integrative construction often becomes apparent. As for me, I hope to find architects always on the side of the future user not on the side of the profit.

1) Residential building in Milan | 2) Shapes, Barcelona | 3) Brutalist residential housing complex „Rozzol Melara“, Trieste | 4) Office building in Barcelona @ Vanessa Lindenau

#8 How does your environment ( Vienna ) influence your work?

I grew up in a typical suburban setting. Ever since I can remember I felt the urge to escape from these surroundings – I think I was around 4 years old when I first decided to move out my parents’ place. These early experiences likely triggered my craving for dense, concrete cities, big structures, and a vibrant cultural diversity. To feel inspired my environment has to be energetic and lively on a social and cultural level.

I can best explore a city when I’m traveling alone. I cross places by foot and public transport, walk and sit a lot, observing the characteristics of an area. Of course I take a ton of photos that later serve as the visual basis for my work.

#9 Three things that inspire you at the moment?

A few years ago, I visited an extensive retrospective of Aldo Rossi’s work at the MAXXI Museum in Rome. His architectural achievements are impressive but the artistic depiction of his designs is what made a lasting impression on me.

I’m drawn to large housing complexes and office buildings which are often dismissed as unattractive or outdated. I find inspiration in uncovering the (in my eyes) hidden qualities of these structures.

Starting my day with swimming laps in the pool always works for me. The repetitive movement and the sound of water helps to reset my mind – whether I’m struggling with the next stage when drawing or writing, after swimming I’m always one step closer.

#10 What do you currently read, watch, listen to?

Read: I have problems concentrating while reading but I devoured the book “Wild Swans: Three daughters of China” an (auto)biographical work by Jung Chang, recounting the lives of three female generations in China, spanning from the late imperial era to Mao’s regime. Highly recommended!

Watch: In a parallel universe, I’m a secret detective, that’s why I mostly watch crime content.

Listen: NTS Morning show with Flo