Anselm Glück: Award-winning writer

“I was just at the paint dealer. It was a surprising and great joy” when he found out about his award, says Anselm Glück (73) in an interview with OÖN. Fine art is the Linz native’s second passion, who began an apprenticeship as a druggist, studied commercial art for four semesters at the Linz Art University (now the Art University) and two semesters of sinology and anthropology. He knows “a few hundred Chinese characters.” “You write them in a certain order, over and over again when I practiced a new character. That brought me back to doodling and drawing.”

His path to literature led through a home in Ostend, Belgium, where the quiet child was asked to greet guests with a speech. He learned everything by heart. Which is why, to this day, he doesn’t read his works but reads them from memory or rather performs them. His awards include the H. C. Artmann Prize (2016) as well as the Oskar Pastior Prize for experimental literature (2016). Also the Oö. He was honored to receive the State Culture Prize for Literature in 1996. Since 1977, his works have been published by renowned publishers such as the Graz literary publisher Droschl and the Jung und Jung publishing house. He also wrote plays, such as “within the freezing point”, commissioned for the Cultural Capital of Graz in 2003.

“If it’s quiet, I’m happy”

Although he has lived in Vienna since 1978, his ties to Linz are still close. “My wife and adult son live here,” which is why he makes the trip every two weeks. He loves the peace and quiet in his Viennese studio. “Even though it’s so quiet most of the time, I still have ear plugs from before,” when a neighbor was enthusiastic about techno music. “That was unbearable,” he says. And that he was in the Vienna Konzerthaus the day before: “A wonderful experience, with Schönberg songs and a wonderful piece by Beat Furrer.”

What inspires him? “When it’s quiet, I’m happy, but of course I like leafing through illustrated books, visiting galleries or a museum.” Where does happiness lie for Anselm Glück? “There are so many types of happiness. Receiving the prize is one. And I’m happy that I’ve been able to spend my life as undisturbed as I want for so long, with painting and writing.”