Patti Smith called him a “soulmate” and someone who “carried a coat of art above an innocent heart.” Elfriede Jelinek described him as “one of the greatest artists that ever lived.” Christoph Schlingensief died in August 2010. His work as a film, theater, and opera director, actor, author, visual artist, TV entertainer, political activist, and teacher is still remembered today.
Schlingensief always considered talking about his work an essential part of his wide-ranging activities, and commented repeatedly and extensively on his innumerable projects in interviews and conversations. His wife and colleague Aino Laberenz has compiled a selection of these conversations, which instantly bring back to life Schlingensief’s unique understanding of creative work and the most important stages of his artistic biography, among them his films, his productions of Wagner in Bayreuth, and his initiative “Opera Village Africa.”
Even after his passing, he continues to inspire with his persistency and energy: "He was like a fire that kept on burning beneath the ground." (Rüdiger Schaper, ZEIT)
"His [Christoph Schlingensief's] eloquence stands out from these contributions to newspapers and magazines, even now. The extent of his self-reflection is fascinating." – Der Tagesspiegel
