PROFILE
Born in Germany in 1979. An artist based in Berlin. He incorporates everyday scenes, people, and words into his work from his own unique perspective. He is also known for his work that bridges the worlds of art and design, such as T-shirts and record covers, and has collaborated with various brands and companies, including *Comme des Garçons* and *Lufthansa*.
Instagram:@stefanmarx
Airplanes were a very familiar part of my life.
—I hear that during your recent visit to Japan, you stayed cooped up in your hotel the whole time, drawing pictures of airplanes.
Stephan: From the “ANA ROOM” at the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu, where I stayed, I could see the airport, and I drew many pictures while enjoying the view.
—Can you see airplanes from your room?
Stephan: That's right. I asked them, "That's exactly what I like about it." And I was also drawing pictures on the airport observation deck. I highly recommend it because anyone can go there.
—I hear you’ve been drawing pictures of airplanes for a long time.
Stephan: The starting point for my work is depicting everyday scenes. When I first visited Japan, I had a very long layover at the Vienna airport, so I spent my time there drawing pictures of the people there. That’s when I started drawing airplanes, too.
Stephan: When I really take a closer look, I realize there are many different types of airplanes, and their designs vary by airline. It might seem like a minor detail, but I’ve also become interested in flight routes. I’ve been captivated by this fascinating world, and I’ve remained a big fan of airplanes ever since.
—Hamburg, where you’re from, is also home to a factory for “Airbus,” an aerospace company on par with Boeing, isn’t it?
Stephan: That's right. I used to see test flights all the time in the city. So airplanes were something I was very familiar with.
—Do you still fly often?
Stephan: Thankfully, I’ve been getting more opportunities to travel to different places for work, and every time I go to the airport, I draw pictures of airplanes. I always leave home early so I have plenty of time. I even go out of my way to take connecting flights instead of direct ones (laughs).
—Do you like airports as well as airplanes?
Stephan: It depends on the location. Actually, there’s a specific airport that’s the best for drawing airplanes. It’s just my personal preference, though (laughs).
—That’s intriguing (lol).
Stephan: My favorites are JFK in New York, and Munich Airport and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam are also wonderful. And Haneda Airport is also one of my favorites. If I had to pick just one, though, it would be Frankfurt Airport—it’s the best because you can see the planes from all kinds of angles, and there are tables in the terminal where I can sit back, drink coffee, and take my time drawing. It’s like a studio to me (laughs).
