* As winner of Second Prize in Modern in the 2000 International Art Contest, being selected by such a diverse group of artists from all around the world, how do you feel? 

It's really nice. This is the first time I ranked well in a contest like this, and since this one is also the biggest I've participated in, it adds up well to the final sum. I have quite bad experiences from art contests from before, in this little town I come from there is a annual contest where local artists exhibit and people of the town vote on the 12 artists they would like to see illustrate the next years official calendar. Usually almost all winners are members of the largest artist collective in the town. But with this contest it seems to matter less who's got most friends since I don't know many, maybe none, that voted for me.

* Please describe your current works and any plans for forthcoming exhibits. 

I'm currently working on a new site "maxmagnusnorman.com", which will be up and running in maybe a month. In that site I will work more seriously with the Internet. I'm not going to make art especially designed for the net but continue to use it for displaying my paintings, sculptures and thoughts. In the real world I have a number of smaller exhibitions to look forward to. When it comes to painting I continue on my path painting the visions I see.

* If any, in what ways have you seen changes in attitudes towards "art"?

The common view of art has changed to be much less profound than before and much less critic, and this is bad since it opens the door for rubbish, and causes a dichotomy with my view of "art as my religion".

* Do you think that the fine artist will survive as technology replaces our skills? 

Yes, there will always be a market for things based on the closeness to the creator (in this context the artist) or "the basic human touch", without it we can sort out "human" as well.

* What advice could you give to those embarking upon a career as an artist? 

That they ask themselves this question and make the right moral decision from its answer: "Is this my religion, the path that I must follow or am I just making extensions of the wallpaper?"

* Why did you enter the Art Dept contest and what decided your selection for entry? 

Because my art needs to be seen. I selected "The Babel Portal" because it's spectacular and draws attention. It works as a portal not just to the dream world but also to my less eye-catching works.

* Is there anything about being an artist that you do not like? 

The ups and downs of my economy. If I wouldn't constantly need to worry about money I surely would do and have done miracles by now.

* Would you sell your most favourite artwork, or keep it?

If it's a work of art that I made myself I usually have no problem selling it. The painting I make tomorrow is always better than the one I made yesterday. And selling it doesn't mean destroying it, the painting still exists somewhere out there owned by someone who hopefully likes it.

* How important was education and training to you? 

Most methods I use I have found out for myself, but education gave me valuable perspectives and insights.

* Is there anything in your art career that you would have changed? 

When looking back these ten-twelve years there are of course things I could have done better, opportunities missed. I'm quite a hermit and maybe it would have been better if I'd nourished contacts with other people in the art world better.

* If you were invited overseas to exhibit your works, where would you like that to be? 

Anywhere as long as it's kept on a professional level. "Pay to be seen" galleries don't interest me. But a serious invitation to exhibit is always interesting.

* Do you recommend use of the Internet for an artist's publicity? 

Yes, but one has to keep in mind that Internet is still in it's cradle and a large part of the artist's audience still doesn't use it. 

* If you have sold works via the Internet can you describe how it went? 

Occasionally it happens that I sell some painting or sculpture via the net, out of maybe ten requests for price lists maybe one actually buys something. There has been no problem with transactions and such, but it is still not easy to give the "product" justice via JPEG images and text descriptions. People are usually surprised when they see how much better the piece of art looks in reality.

* Would you change anything about how the contest is organized?

Maybe a separate sculpture category instead of the mixed media one, it might do more justice for the artists if they where allowed to show maybe up to three works.

* How can the Internet be made better for working artists?

Broader bandwidth and better image quality. And no taxes for artists and similar "quite non profit cultural people".

Best regards
Max Magnus Norman

Box 2 86 221 Kvissleby Sweden  tel: +46 (0)60 15 59 14