10 Questions with Carmen Rieger
Carmen Rieger (IRIS) was born in Romania and has been living in Austria for almost 22 years. A graduate of the Faculty of Industrial Design, she has worked for many years as a furniture designer. Since 2018, she has experienced a whole new style inspired by the organic forms that fluids create in their movement. She called this new style "Fluidism''.
For IRIS, her style, Fluidism, is a tribute to the most fascinating, important and complex fluid on Earth, without which life cannot exist, WATER.
Water is witness to the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things. For the artist, water is not only the flow of life but also an expression of spirituality. It is a sacred gift of inestimable value that we must take care of. For her, water is an expression of love and interdependence of all life forms on the planet and in the Universe. Water unites all of creation into a whole of boundless beauty, diversity, and complexity. The water in our body reminds us of the beauty and the unique chance offered to be present in everyday life, to witness the magnificent spectacle of life.
Her artworks are composed of intricately organized, organic forms inspired by the movement of fluids. From the beginning, the artist chose to use the 7 colours of the rainbow and the shades obtained by combining them in all her works of art.
She wants to bring beauty, hope and love to life through her art.
Carmen Rieger - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
FLUIDISM is the most important moment in her artistic career. It represents the essence of who she is. It is all about fluidity—everything flows. Fluidity is inherent to human beings and is present in both our biological composition and the structure of the society in which we are all immersed. It embodies a powerful communication system with its own language and infinite modes of expression. It reflects a reality that discovers and refines its nature in the liquid state of things. Humanity is immersed in it, carried away by the continuous flow of eternal becoming.
FLUIDISM is the concept through which she expresses her artistic creed in works of art inspired by the existence of a complex substance with extraordinary properties and qualities—WATER.
WATER is a unique and indestructible substance.
WATER is the basis of life, growth, and change.
WATER has the ability to regenerate continually.
WATER soothes and heals.
WATER shows understanding and sensitivity.
WATER is an accomplished artist.
WATER is the most important element on the planet. It can be found in 70% of our Earth and in the same proportion in the bodies of humans, animals, and plants—sometimes even in a larger quantity.
She has chosen to use the seven colours of the rainbow, along with the shades resulting from their combinations, in all of her artworks.
BEST FRIENDS, color pencils, 30x21 cm, 2024 © Carmen Rieger
INTERVIEW
First of all, tell us a bit about your background. How did your background in industrial and furniture design influence your artistic journey?
Through the study of industrial design, I received an aesthetic education that helped me understand form and adapt it to the functional needs of objects.
I learned to give freedom to shapes, to transform everyday objects into something ingenious and attractive, with elegant or funny forms that create a good mood and comfort. In this discipline, functionality and aesthetics must coexist in perfect harmony, which also shaped my artistic approach. My experience as a designer helped me develop a special sensitivity to how lines, volumes, and spaces interact with each other.
During this period, I approached nature with even greater interest, which is an inexhaustible source of forms, adaptability, and functionality. I am fascinated by the visual effects, solutions, and colours found in the heart of nature. I have noticed that vivid, very intense colours always give more personality to even the banalest shapes. I learned to respect nature and to search for this genetic connection with it.
When we are in contact with nature, we are happier and healthier. Everything is written in our genes; it is the code of life that we carry inside us and that we must follow.
I noticed that water, in its endless journey of transformation, is a living testimony to the infinite connection between all life on Earth, from rain, rivers, oceans, and clouds to plants, animals, and people. Water is a witness to the interconnection and interdependence of all living beings. WATER is a precious and sacred gift.
This structured vision, combined with the freedom of artistic expression, led to the creation of IRIS-Fluidism – a style thatorganically blends the essence of nature with the precision of a well-defined creative process.
What inspired you to create and define your style, Fluidism?
IRIS-Fluidism emerged as a response to my desire to capture the essence of movement and perpetual transformation in nature. The inspiration came from the study of fluids – particularly water – and their fascinating ability to adapt and create ephemeral yet perfect and unique forms. The movement of fluids is a metaphor for life itself, a continuous process of becoming and interconnection. I felt the need to express this beauty and translate it into art. Through IRIS-Fluidism, I sought to capture this dynamic, translating it into a visual language that resonates both aesthetically and conceptually.
ALPHA FEMALE, color pencils, 30x21cm, 2025 © Carmen Rieger
Why is water such an important theme in your work?
Water is the foundation of life, a universal presence that transcends the boundaries between the kingdoms of nature and the dimensions of existence. In my art, it is more than an element of inspiration – it is a symbol of unity, regeneration, and the support of natural balance. Water has a memory, a rhythm, and an expression of its own, and every ripple or reflection it creates becomes a visual story.
Furthermore, water is not only a physical element but also a spiritual one, a source of purification and regeneration. Through my works, I aim to convey respect and admiration for this fundamental element.
Can you describe your creative process when working with fluid forms?
My creative process is a balance between control and spontaneity, between intention and freedom of expression. First, I analyze the dynamics of fluids in motion – whether it is a portrait, a landscape, or an animal. Then, I visualize the composition and choose a colour palette inspired by the natural spectrum of the rainbow. I apply the colour in a way that allows the lines and shapes to develop organically, like an extension of the natural movement of water. This technique keeps my work vibrant, dynamic, and full of energy.
I always start a sketch with the subject I want to draw, and then I modify it several times until I reach a point where I feel I have said everything I wanted and I am satisfied with the final result. In the case of a portrait, for instance, each line must be placed very precisely. Any change, no matter how small, to the base lines may completely ruin the expression of the person in the portrait. All my artworks are complex and highly organized constructions made of fluid, organic forms. This stage of my creative process is, for me, both the most interesting and the most difficult. The next step is transferring the sketch (usually done in an A4 format) to a very large canvas. This step is crucial in its importance and extremelycomplicated. Any slight variation when scaling up the drawing can distort, change, and completely ruin a portrait. Every detail must be drawn with the utmost precision. The final step is applying the colours. I use acrylics, which I apply with a brush, in bands of varying widths, lengths, and shapes. Colour is the element that provides visual unity and harmony to my works. I use the seven colours of the rainbow and the shades obtained by combining them.
You always use the seven colours of the rainbow. What significance do they hold for you?
From the beginning, I decided to use the seven colours of the rainbow and the shades obtained by combining them in my works. For me, these colours are states of happiness, and they have a strong connection with my inner feelings. When I paint, I experience a unique state of joy that transfers to the colours I use in my painting. It's a phenomenon that I can't control or explain. For me, these colours convey joy and life force. They are a celebration of the diversity and natural beauty of life, an invitation to connection and to understanding the invisible bonds that unite us all.
Each colour reflects inner states and brings visual harmony to compositions, interacting with the themes of fluidity and life in a way that evokes a sense of well-being and connection with nature.
The choice to use them in all my works is an artistic and philosophical statement about the beauty of the universe in all its complexity.
FLUID CONNECTIONS, color pencils, 30x21cm, 2023 © Carmen Rieger
SELF-PORTRAIT, acrylic on canvas, 70x50cm, 2024 © Carmen Rieger
How do you see fluidity reflected in both nature and human life?
Everything flows. Fluidity is the fundamental principle of existence. In nature, everything is in constant motion – waters flow, the wind shapes the landscapes, clouds transform, and life itself is a process of continuous change. The same dynamic is reflected in the human experience: our emotions flow like rivers, our thoughts succeed one another like waves, and our relationships are in a constant state of metamorphosis. IRIS-Fluidism captures this ephemeral yet profound reality, giving it a visual expression that speaks of adaptation, connection, and transformation.
What emotions or messages do you hope people feel when they see your art?
My art is an invitation to contemplation and introspection. I hope that viewers will experience a sense of harmony, inner peace, and connection with the rhythms of nature. At the same time, I wish to inspire respect for the beauty and fragility of our ecosystem, especially for the vital resource that water represents. IRIS-Fluidism is not just an artistic style but alsoa message about interdependence, love, and the importance of living in balance with the world around us.
How has living in Austria for over two decades influenced your artistic vision?
Austria is a country of harmonious contrasts, where the impressive mountain landscapes blend with the beauty of its cities, full of culture and history. This diversity has had a strong impact on my artistic vision, strengthening my interest in the relationship between nature and humanity. The rivers, lakes, mountains, and forests of this country have provided me with an endless source of inspiration, and exposure to a vibrant artistic environment has helped me refine my technique and visual expression even further.
MODERN WOMAN, acrylic on canvas, 100x80cm, 2020 © Carmen Rieger
What has been the most defining moment in your artistic career so far?
There is a work of art from 2018 accompanied by a spectacular story. For many years, I have practised a ritual in which I say to the water daily, "Thank you," "I love you," and express my wishes. Through this ritual, I feel that I am activating my inner power and connecting to an energy that heals and purifies me.
On April 10, 2018 (my birthday!), I was playing in the kitchen with water and flour. The resulting image was so different that I couldn't compare it to anything I had ever experienced before. It resembled a very fragmented human face.
I took a photo of this image. In the following days and weeks, I began to stare at the photo for hours. It obsessed and fascinated me at the same time. I couldn't get it out of my mind, and I couldn't find peace. I desperately tried to find an explanation. Why had the water suddenly changed the way it communicated with me? This obsession with the image in the photo shook something very, very powerful and deep within me.
In the following days and weeks, I created the first portrait inspired by that image, which I named "Modern Woman." It was the moment that activated the latent volcano within me. It helped me "wake up." I understood the purpose of all the searches and experiments I had undertaken until then. Everything felt like a puzzle, where I instinctively knew the place of each piece. All the pieces harmonized, fitting together perfectly. This "awakening" was the most important and emotional moment of my life. In honour of this "Fluid Intelligence" — WATER, which has marked and influenced my entire life and evolution, I named my new style IRIS-FLUIDISM.
This was the defining moment in the emergence of IRIS-Fluidism. It was the essence of many years of experimentation, of a "personal dialogue" with water, that unique moment which marked the transition to a new phase. I became aware of something I had carried with me all along. This experience represented a personal and artistic revelation, a way to express my vision of the world through a unique visual language. IRIS-Fluidism is not just an aesthetic, but also a philosophy of life, a way of understanding the interconnectedness and continuous flow of existence. Through this style, I was able to define an authentic artistic identity.
And lastly, what new projects or directions are you exploring in your art?
I am always in search of new ways to express the fluidity and dynamics of water. I explore interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly in the fields of physics and philosophy, to bring IRIS-Fluidism into an even more complex dimension. The future of my art will continue to be defined by exploration, innovation, and, above all, by the celebration of the natural beauty of fluidity.
Artist’s Talk
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.
