In his work, Stichler deals with the location of people in complex systems.

This is a shortcut of an Interview made for the Blog of "Der Freitag" weekly newspaper in June 2022

2~ When does art become art?
It’s the moment when the piece becomes something its own, onto itself. When the piece begins to separate itself from me and begins to breath, and to breath itself to life for that matter. The question is difficult to provide a definitive answer to. I would define the entirety of the artist’s process as art. The observations one makes, the collecting of impressions, the scribbles, outlining the original notion, sketching this perception, preparing the canvas, mixing the colour, and making the first strokes,... finally. The art process differentiates itself from the regular preparations one makes for ordinary tasks in a very fundamental way; the goal remains undefined and is purposefully left open, unspecified.
The need or desire to locate one meaning within a piece of art is an unending tug-a-war. The question of meaning, worse even - that of definitive meaning, is often a major topic when someone has the feeling that they cannot judge the art without an instruction manual. The audience must allow themselves to journey into the piece, without prior knowledge of where this will lead, or which thoughts and feelings might appear. This could be haunting. One must want this, and be courageous.

12~ What has been the most flattering reaction to your work?
This was possibly when a mysterious allure was attributed to my paintings. It was said that there was an attraction, a pull to revisit my paintings, an indescribable force that left one wondering where the exact source emanated from.
In terms of my sculptures, being award for my mirrored bat was flattering. This also secured me the opportunity to design the main stage of the Pforzheim Theatre, which was just remarkable.

27~ Why art?
Infusing art into your daily life is a way to expand your thoughts and your spectrum of feelings. This is just as valid for someone creating art as well as for someone ‘simply’ enjoying art, and is of utmost importance.
Art can disrupt and break us out of structures and ruts. It can encourage our spontaneity, and can envision utopias. All of these, in turn, bring about new conceptualisations. These are not bound by common sense, but they playfully wander through possibilities and give them voice.

33~ Don’t touch it! Must art be appreciated from a distance?
One can’t generalize with such a statement! Art touches people on multiple levels and depths. Each painting is a window through which we can gaze when we so desire. When we feel art, we are touched by art, and it has touched us in a very real way, although without the actual physical contact.


42~ What is meant by an internal necessity compelling one to create?
Firstly, we can never have everything under control. There are things in my life which are frustratingly challenging, which will undoubtably lead in uncomfortable directions. Despite anything that may happen, I am persistent. Even if I lose the thread, I attempt to locate it and to pick back up where it was lost. If this does not happen and I can’t make it happen, I just have to make a fresh start.
Painting can present serious challenges, challenges which reveal boundaries, demand concrete decisions be made, and definitive actions be taken. There is a proverbial battery with its positive and negative poles, and my motions are the flow of energy between. This is what is meant by absolutely having to do something: internal necessity.