Interviews with First Year Students: Jessie

“My name is Jessie, I come from Melbourne, Australia. I am in the Graphic studio (Art and Image | Graphics) and I do a lot of oil paintings and I am sure that will expand in the next few years. I've been in Vienna since the start of October, so that's two weeks or three weeks. And I am very awkward in front of the camera.”

Luiza: Why did you decide on Vienna? 

Jessie: I thought Vienna sounded cool. It's a very different place to Australia. I saw that you didn't need a certain level of German to get in, but you required the B1 test after two semesters, which really appealed to me because I want to learn German. I still don't have the C1 level, which is what you needed for other schools that I was looking at. So I liked that aspect. I've always wanted to do art school in Europe, in German, preferably because I have been learning it on and off for the last few years.

Luiza: When you chose to apply, what did you expect to find? 

Jessie: Going more in-depth with painting. It's a long course, there's lots of time to explore in quite a historic school. I studied in Melbourne at an art school there. But mostly during the pandemic, two years of it were remote on Zoom. I wanted to get a proper art school experience so that's why I came here.

Luiza: What did you expect and what did you find?

Jessie: Even better than expected, I would say. I love the fact that the studio is open 24 hours a day. And that there's a life drawing every day of the week, people are friendly. I like that you don't need to stay in your year level or department. I like the freedom of it. My bachelor's degree is in drawing and printmaking, which is interesting now that I'm in a graphic class. I was in lockdown, so I didn't do any printmaking through that degree. But hopefully, now I can. 

Luiza: How is it for your lectures? Because you didn't have any physical contact with the printmaking in Melbourne? So now it's the first time you're using the tools? 

Jessie: Pretty much, yeah. 

Luiza: So how was this contact with the lab introduction from the professors? How did it feel? 

Jessie: Well, it's exciting. I haven't started doing any printmaking yet because all of the classes were very full very quickly, you know, the introductory classes. 

Luiza: Do you think it would be nice if someone was guiding new people through in how and where to sign in, etc, ..? 

Jessie: I like the freedom, but it seems like there are people to guide you through if you seek that out, which is great.

Luiza: Did someone tell you about the Academy before you applied or did you just find it?

Jessie: I had a friend who did Erasmus here, but I think I mostly found it through just googling it. I was able to apply fully online which was useful from Australia.

Luiza: How was the application process for you? 

Jessie: It was kind of interesting because the interview was late at night because of the time zone. I guess I didn't have much expectation. I made the portfolio with a lot of paintings that I did in art school in Australia and I was excited to hear that I got in.

Luiza: Do you have any tips for someone who is preparing for the application process? 

Jessie: Just show lots of work, place your best work at the start of the portfolio, so you can grab their attention. Interviews are nerve-wracking, so try to just relax, they're talking to you because they like your work. I thought it went awfully, next year I will apply again. I was devastated, I thought I learned something and be more relaxed next time.

Luiza: How was the process of settling in Vienna? 

Jessie: I'm living in a WG of two, so just with one housemate. And I was really lucky because, I realized that I had met this guy in Berlin last year at a gig, through a friend of a friend and just saw on Instagram that he had a room free a week or two weeks before I came here. I feel very lucky with how that's unfolded with this. It's in the 16th district, close to Yppenplatz, seems like a good location.

Luiza: Is there anything you find tricky about the city?

Jessie: Mostly, I spent the first two weeks just completely visa focused, trying to run around and get the things and all the paperwort that I needed, just administration.

Luiza: Do you have any tips for people who have never done this before? 

Jessie: It's just going to feel terrible. Don't take it to heart, it's designed to be difficult. It's the hardest thing I've ever done.

Luiza: Are you working and studying? 

Jessie: I will be, but I need the residence permit to work, so I'm waiting for this.

Luiza: What you want to do as a part-time job?

Jessie: To work in a cafe, try and take my Melbourne barista over to Vienna, and, it's the best way to train German. 

Luiza: What do you think about Viennese food? It is different. Australia is refreshing, veggie and yeah, no sausages. Yeah, some sausages, but not as much.

Jessie: I am vegetarian, so I haven't had the proper Austrian food. I had like "Spätzle". It is heavy, but nice.

Luiza: How do you feel about nature? Like how is it different for you?

Jessie: It's so different. Australia's got this unique flora and fauna, so all the trees are different, and all the birds sound different. That's a massive thing, just like hearing different bird calls. I'm looking forward to learning about more about the different plants and trees.