My parents were art-lovers and they often took me on visits to exhibitions when I was a child. My father occasionally painted to relax, and my uncle to release his feelings. My mother modelled in clay for several years. My parents as well as my school art-lessons encouraged my strong creativity. In the critical phases of my youth and early adulthood, I found  consolation and new confidence through artistic activity.

I find works by other artists very inspiring. But also being alone helps meo get "strange ideas". In problematic life situations, I need creative artistic activity to find myself and to achieve new clarity.

A brief history of artistically designed lamps would have to include Isamu Noguchi’s paper- covered modernist orbs, Philippe Starck’s many postmodern witticisms, and the cute metal cow head that stood by my bedside when I was a teenager. Anna Schmidt’s “Funky Mary” glows somewhere in between them all. Originally just a floor lamp with a fussy wooden base and a cream silk shade trimmed in black velvet, the device was utterly transformed by Schmidt’s addition of organza and chicken wire. The shade became a swishy ladies’ skirt, complete with legs hanging below and a bustier-wearing torso above. Other creations by Schmidt reimagine the lamp shade with slightly less bawdiness but an equal understanding of its inherent possibilities. Magazine pages, hand-knit wool, painted fabric and variously deconstructed and reconstructed found shades abound; light is used both in its presence and in its absence; even the metal frame that holds it all together invisibly becomes a striking element. A perfect reading light these are not—but then, with the advent of e-readers, we no longer really need lamps just for lighting up the printed page.“

Artistic creation is a vital necessity for me because it keeps me alive. I'm fascinated by light in all variations and need the art to express this fascination. In art, my creativity finds its outlet.

Again and again I find that especially young people fall in love with my "Irrelichter". Often they know the standard lamps of the 40s to 70s from their grandparents and are fascinated by the alienation that I bring to them.