ibug 2021 & Plan B: "Nowadays street art is a bit too much just nice pictures"

Die Künstlercrew Plan B hatte die weiteste Anreise nach Flöha. Wir haben die Finnen zu ihren politischen Stencils befragt.

Die Schlange links und rechts vom Einlass der diesjährigen ibug ist viele Meter lang. Die Kennzeichen der geparkten Autos verraten Besucher aus ganz Deutschland. Das internationale Festival für urbane Kunst findet dieses Jahr in Flöha in der ehemaligen Buntpapierfabrik statt.

Fast scheint es, als hätte die Zeitkapsel Halt gemacht, irgendwo um 1983 herum. Jeden Moment könnten die grauen und roten Schnurtelefone noch klingeln, irgendwo raucht bestimmt noch eine Kippe der Marke Cabinet in einem Aschenbecher. Pigment-Glasdöschen, Tapeten-Musterbücher, Wandschränke mit halbnackten Schönheiten, Stapel voll mit Buntpapier in Neonfarben - die Künster*innen der diesjährigen ibug in Flöha finden eine Buntfabrik vor, die wie nach einem Dornröschenschlaf einfach aufgeschlossen wird, ohne vorher „leer geräubert“ zu sein. Auch für die Organisatoren der ibug eine Kuriosität.

„Das Gebäude wurde von uns so aufgeschlossen, wie es damals mal war"

Massig Spielraum, um sich auszutoben. Viele der Künstler*innen arbeiten am offenen Herzen der alten Buntpapierfabrik: Aus Überresten der Buntpapierproduktion werden Installationen, Wandarbeiten und Lichtinstallationen sowie jede Menge urban art eng mit der Industriebrache (kurz ibug) verwoben. Kleine rote Punkte verbinden sich in Treppenaufgängen zu einem großen. Auf DDR-Tapeten finden sich meterlange Wandbilder wieder, die aus Buntpapierresten zu Ornamenten zusammengesetzt scheinen.

Die Künstler hinter Plan B setzen ihre Arbeiten ebenfalls aus dem farbigen Papier zusammen, das sie in der Fabrik vorfinden.

Are you a crew or is there a single person behind plan b - (please excuse my ignorance at this point)?

Art matters, not who is behind it.

The Afghan girl was probably created quite spontaneously to the current situation in Afghanistan. Does the work apply to all women in Afghanistan or did you have someone special in mind?

Yes, it was created quite spontaneously. It applies to all women in Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan turned to worse at the same time with the festival, so the idea came up quite easily. It was also inspired by all the colorful paper in the factory and the background of the woman is made from the papers found there. The idea is also to show with the colourful papers that the women there are many sided and colourful inside, even though they are oppressed. And even if you tear out a piece of them you will just find a new layer under it.

Lately many Plan B artworks have been about political leaders, so it was nice to make something totally different, but at the same time political. It was nice to make this piece and the result was quite good, so something a bit similar may follow in the future. Probably there will also be some paintings or prints with the same theme.

You had the longest journey to Flöha. What was it about the ibug that attracted you to come so far?

It's always nice to go to new places to make art, especially if it's a place where you wouldn't go otherwise. ibug is a really nice concept and the atmosphere is warm and friendly, so it was nice to take part in it again.

I perceived your works at ibug as one of the most political. How do you perceive political art, is it obliged to speak out against grievances? Would you like to see more of it yourselves?

Yes, it's often quite political, but not always. Political art is a good way to pay attention to the problems in our society. It doesn't have to be too straightforward though and it can also be contradictory. The main thing is that it makes people think. And yes, it would be nice to see more of it. Nowadays street art is maybe a bit too much just nice pictures. Which are fine too, but it would be nice to see more political content.

Have you actually left traces of your work outside of ibug? In Flöha, for example, or on the way there?

This time there was not so much time for it. But there was such a nice selection of papers there, which attracted to make a paste up version of All you need is likes piece. It was put up in Berlin after the festival.

Vielen Dank für das Interview.

Weitere Infos zu plan b: www.planbstreetart.com.