Malin Neumann Illustrator and Filmmaker from Hamburg
Malin Neumann, born in 1995, finished her bachelor’s degree in design at the MSD Münster in 2019. She received the award for best final project for her work "Waldwesen" (‘Woodland Creatures’): a picture book about the protection of woodlands, which was published by Bohem. In 2023 she completed her master’s degree in illustration at the HAW Hamburg with an animated film about water shortage. She is currently touring festivals with this film. She published her first picture book in 2018, at the beginning of her bachelor’s degree. It is called ‘Pardon Bonbons’. She has been working as a freelance illustrator and animator ever since.
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Illustration from "Trolle, Wichtel, Pixies und WALDWESEN aus aller Welt", published 2020 by Bohem
What brought you to the arts?
As far as I can remember art and creative expression has always been a part of my life. As a child I used to draw a lot and would come up with stories with my brother. Back then — just as today — I was imaginative and a dreamer. For example, I remember that I used to disappear into my room, listening to audiobooks for hours. There I would draw the fantastical stories that I was listening to. In some way I still do that today. Long story short I think that nothing really brought me to the arts, because they were always there. But unfortunately, there are a lot of things in our current world that over time lead us away from the arts, and they aren’t always taken seriously as a professional option. I've been really lucky that my parents always enabled me to experiment creatively and still encourage me on this path today.
Still Short Film "Mû"
How did you come to take part in Cornelia’s Artist in residence project?
My film brought me to Volterra! As it has brought me many places because I've been lucky enough that it has been shown at many International Film festivals, which I traveled to.
I heard about Cornelia’s program through my master’s at the HAW Hamburg and already knew a few of the participants. But the competition had taken place before my time there. My professor sent the short film I made for my master’s in 2023 to Cornelia, who then invited me to Italy.
Waldwesen Yowie
How did you like your time in Volterra? Did you find inspiration there?
My stays at Fraggina were really special experiences. I don’t think I know another place like it! ‘Inspiring’ really says it all. For example, all the opportunities there made me excited to try out new techniques: there's a great studio with all the materials, a kiln for firing ceramics and at Mulinaccio there will soon be a purpose-built animation studio. During my master's degree I did a lot of purely digital drawing because it was much more practical for jobs and for animation. At Fraggina I fell in love with woodcuts — analog, work- and time intensive, the opposite of drawing on the iPad.
Living with Cornelia and the ever-changing guests was also really inspiring for me. I met a lot of great role models who gave me courage and confidence that such an unconventional creative path can work out well. In addition, Tuscany gives you such an intense experience of nature — for me as a city person this is a special experience. It's humming and buzzing everywhere, and you can hear the geckos chatter. On top of that Fraggina sits on a hilltop which makes you feel a greater distance in the everyday. I think that these impressions helped me to see what’s essential. This provides beautiful clarity, and I think that’s a great foundation for creative work.
"Balkonien" (Staycation)
What did you take home with you?
A lot! I brought back my first woodcuts, a lot of inspiration, impressive memories and new friendships.
Fraggina really gave me a lovely sense of unity and belonging and helped me to see beyond my usual horizon. Daily life quickly pulls me back in at home, and then I try to remember this feeling.
