Christoph Niemann

Subway conductor. That’s the alternate job renowned author and illustrator Christoph Niemann would choose for a day. It couldn’t be more fitting considering this clever artist’s latest book is  based on his Abstract City blog’s “The Boys and the Subway” entry in The New York Times. Other whimsical posts have featured everything from an illustrated diary of a flight from New York (his home for 11 years) to Berlin (his current location), to iconic New York symbols built out of the Legos that inspired another of his many books, Change your perspective on everyday life with the boundless imagination of Christoph Niemann and his 10 ANSWERS below.

1. How would you describe your work in three words?
If nobody understandsthejokeitisnotfunny.

2. Who is your creative role model?
Gustave Doré, Don Martin.

3. If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
Ideally: properly learn to play the piano.

More realistically: waste time on the Internet and wonder what I could get accomplished if I had yet another hour.

4. What place in the world most inspires you and why?
New York is still the most inspiring place in the world for me. I love the pace, the crowds, the attitude and the whiskey sours at Bemelman’s Bar.

5. If you could do a different job for a day what would it be and why?
Subway conductor. I would hope that it’s as wonderful as riding the subway, just much much cooler.

6. What is your favorite homemade gift to give?
Hand-bought red wine.

7. What is your favorite object in your home?
Our ping pong table.

8. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
“You will be surprised at how many problems can be solved through hard work”
(our teacher Heinz Edelmann said that in art school).

9. What websites do you use for inspiration?
Design Observer, Drawger, Zefrank, Economist, The Onion.

10. When do you consider a piece of your work complete?
That is one of the trickiest aspects of creative work.  If I am even remotely unsure (which is 90% of the time) I email it to my wife or to Nicholas Blechman, who’s my art director at large.