What does the word “kindness” really mean? And how can art promote kindness in life in its various forms? These questions have often occupied my thoughts since childhood. Throughout my upbringing, my mum always emphasised the importance of kindness as the key to everything. As she taught me, kindness extends beyond simple interactions with people and is woven into the fabric of everyday actions. While studying art, I was often criticised for my aesthetic’s gentle and delicate nature, characterised by soft, pastel colours and strokes intentionally devoid of harsh shadows. This aesthetic was a reflection of the emphasis on kindness instilled in me. Now that I’ve just turned 30, I’ve decided to interview two artists: Maximilian Attila Bartsch, a German photographer, and Michelle Freya, a Canadian poetess.

Simone Lorusso: Max, thank you for joining us today. Your photography has been described as minimalist, clear, and neutral. Can you tell us more about your background and what led you to develop your current stylistic approach?

Maximilian Attila Bartsch: As a child, I grew up in various cultures because my parents frequently moved to different countries for work. We were encouraged to integrate our unique backgrounds into our photographic work during my studies. This was challenging for me. Due to the constant relocations, I often felt disconnected. It was only after completing my studies that I stopped trying to incorporate the past into my work and embraced a clear, minimalist style—one that focuses solely on the present moment.

SL: Describe kindness in five words.

MAB: Selfless act from the heart.

SL: Your work is heavily portrait-centred. What draws you to portrait photography specifically?

MAB: The face is the part of the body that reveals the most about a person’s personality. A portrait captures the intimate connection between the photographer and the subject, reflecting the context of their interaction. For me, treating the person with kindness is essential to creating a compelling portrait.

SL: How do you navigate the balance between capturing an authentic moment and respecting a subject’s personal space?

MAB: I believe it’s crucial to accept yourself as you are and to be authentic. When you’re genuine, it builds trust with others. Once that trust is established, authentic moments occur naturally without encroaching on the other person’s personal space.

SL: As a child, I used to visit botanical gardens with my grandmother to admire the deeper beauty of plants—those moments are unforgettable. When you think of kindness, what place comes to mind for you and why?

MAB: I have friends who live at the foot of the Alps, and their kindness and zest for life, along with their beautiful home nestled in nature, make it a place I always enjoy visiting in my mind.

SL: How does your commitment to kindness extend to the way you interact with the environments and spaces you photograph?

MAB: I consider myself a friendly person. With kindness and an open approach, I’ve generally gained access to the places that interest me. It feels as if these spaces or surroundings are ready to be photographed by me.

SL: How do you see your work evolving in the future? Are there any new techniques or themes you are interested in exploring?

MAB: I aspire to work with greater freedom again, delving into intellectually challenging concepts. I’m also keen to explore more journalistic topics. Experimenting with both new and traditional techniques in visual expression excites me greatly, as it opens up new possibilities.

SL: Thank you, Max, for sharing your insights with us today. Your work is truly inspiring. Today, we have the opportunity to speak also with Michelle Freya, a poet born in the UK and raised in Canada. Her work is profoundly inspired by introspection and the conflict toward time. Michelle, what does poetry mean to you, and how did you come to embrace this art form?

Michelle Freya: Poetry is an inherent layer of language that allows me to express the world within my mind and have it join hands with my real-life experiences. It is a time capsule in which my memories become keepsakes, a space where my anxiety has the chance to heal. I embraced the art form around five years ago when I realised the world in my head would never leave me, even if it didn’t always appear logical or practical. Poetry was the key to embracing my emotional responses while also expanding my perspectives. Accepting the vulnerability of art that demands the artist’s openness is a conscious and continual practice, but it is one of the most profound gifts in my life.

SL: How do you define kindness?

MF: Kindness is the vital and wonderful entity within humankind that makes living worthwhile and wonderful. It is both the core of unconditional love and the impact of making someone’s day. The simplicity of complimenting a stranger or cooking a meal for your mother has the power to leave an unforgettable mark. Kindness is patience and compassion. It has always felt necessary to me that people can feel candid in my company and never have to shy away from the need to cry. Kindness is knowing that gentleness is a strength. It’s prioritising empathy before judgement.

SL: What themes resonate with you the most, and which ones do you feel compelled to express in your work?

MF: The themes that resonate with me the most are nostalgia and nature. I always find myself writing about the months and the feelings they bring upon me through how I view or approach them. I look to the seasons as a mirror reflecting my state of mind or use objects as a metaphor for sadness and joy. I feel compelled to express the pain that is the conflict within self or time passed but through a candour that is more ethereal or dreamlike than its actual form. I want to explore referencing intellectualised concepts more frequently in my written work, like incorporating various themes pulled from art and culture. I want to continue writing about love rather than total solitude.

SL: What if I asked you to write a poem about kindness?

MF: Here you are:

Hands that Swing Above The Sidewalk

Kindness is the internal thread of being.
Tender loop, resilient string
amidst the core of all.

External as spilled light
once laid upon the field of sharing,
expansive shimmer,
fluid as a stream.

We dip our toes in together and absorb our devotion to swim.
It has always been here,
natural as a bone.

Courtesy is the turned-in key,
the interlocking hands
swinging above the sidewalk.

Gesture is the goosebump to the hair that stands
once the heart has been affected by this dance,
vital to the experience of the soul.

Compassion is the kingpin of life.
I felt ourselves nearly forget that we are as wide as the wind
which moves the trees, always giving without question.

Perhaps because
spools unravel and scissors
snip away at things.

It is in
kindness that we float down a necessary river nonetheless,
never quite alone.

The hold, the handover, the humble hello, well darling, I would
like for you to have it.

June 19th, 2024, Michelle Freya

SL: Thank you very much, Michelle, for taking the time to talk with us.