© SVG-Bildk<strong>uns</strong>t, Bonn 2010 für Stephan Balkenhol ep: The angels chant the reason for Faust’s salvation: ‘Who strives always to the utmost, for him th<strong>er</strong>e is salvation.’ Isn’t it this v<strong>er</strong>y spirit, which is destroy<strong>in</strong>g nature? Shouldn’t we renounce Faust’s self-<strong>in</strong>dulgence <strong>in</strong> view of the catastrophes <strong>in</strong> Fukushima and the Gulf of Mexico? rs: Consi<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong><strong>in</strong>g the gigantic task of switch<strong>in</strong>g ov<strong>er</strong> to green en<strong>er</strong>gy, we’ll desp<strong>er</strong>ately need a c<strong>er</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> degree of immo<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong>ate self-confidence <strong>in</strong> or<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong> to trust t<strong>hat</strong> we’ll succeed. Only realists, who are also a touch crazy, can un<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong>take such huge tasks. ep: The Devil says to Faust: ‘Be your own judge.’ Whenev<strong>er</strong> man is left to his own devices, he can only briefly satisfy his need for love, security, mean<strong>in</strong>g, education etc via the ‘god of consum<strong>er</strong>ism.’ Addiction, restlessness, an <strong>in</strong>ability to love and depression – aren’t those the expression of a false un<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong>stand<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>in</strong>dividualism, a failed quest for mean<strong>in</strong>g, or boredom? RS: In this country, one of the problems is t<strong>hat</strong> many people are bored with themselves. They can’t stand be<strong>in</strong>g alone. They don’t knwow how to ent<strong>er</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> themselves – and resort to television and the Int<strong>er</strong>net. As a rule we aren’t <strong>in</strong>dividualistic enough, rath<strong>er</strong> than be<strong>in</strong>g too much so. We have not become <strong>in</strong>dividuals until the po<strong>in</strong>t t<strong>hat</strong> we are no long<strong>er</strong> afraid of fall<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to a black hole, when we are confronted with ourselves. Black holes aren’t just found <strong>in</strong> out<strong>er</strong> space. It has become a popular sport to avoid them. T<strong>hat</strong>’s the secret recipe of the ent<strong>er</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ment <strong>in</strong>dustry. Those <strong>in</strong> dang<strong>er</strong> of fall<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the black hole have to be ent<strong>er</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed. To ‘be yourself’ could give rise to panic. ep: In the end Faust and Mephistopheles beg<strong>in</strong> m<strong>er</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to one p<strong>er</strong>son, becom<strong>in</strong>g more and more similar to each oth<strong>er</strong>. Mr Safranski, you’ve written a book entitled Das Böse (lit. transl: Evil). Does the diff<strong>er</strong>ence between good and evil only exist <strong>in</strong> our heads, s<strong>in</strong>ce we dissociate t<strong>hat</strong> which is evil? rs: Reality is noth<strong>in</strong>g but chaos. Our rational thought tries to put it <strong>in</strong>to or<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong>. But it’s an or<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong> we’ve created. And it should also <strong>in</strong>clude our rational thought. We can only bid farewell to good and evil, if we bid farewell to rational thought. I’m not claim<strong>in</strong>g t<strong>hat</strong> attempts aren’t made to do t<strong>hat</strong> now and then. ep: Is Faust’s message t<strong>hat</strong> of self-discipl<strong>in</strong>e, <strong>in</strong> addition to the quest for mean<strong>in</strong>g? ‘Who wishes good, should first be good. Who wishes joy, should mollify his blood.’ Kant also stated: ‘Live your life as though your ev<strong>er</strong>y act w<strong>er</strong>e to become a univ<strong>er</strong>sal law.’ RS: Right. Stephan Balkenhol Ansichten <strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong> Skulptur sempre più auf dem Caesarforum, 2009 Ze<strong>d<strong>er</strong></strong>nholz/Cedar wood 570 x 280 x 100 cm salon 107
© SVG-Bildk<strong>uns</strong>t, Bonn 2010 für Stephan Balkenhol 108 salon