"If you're going to do something, do it properly"

When we arrive at the Escher Bridderhaus on this sunny afternoon, it is unusually quiet, though that may simply be because the working day is already over. The only person still pottering about is Eric Schumacher, who is currently working on a new piece and looks up briefly before immersing himself in his world once more.

Just then, our interviewee, Simone Decker, arrives on her bike, and with her comes Bridderhaus manager Remo Bei, who brings us coffee and sparkling water with a broad smile. A little later, after the conversation we've had in the garden of the Bridderhaus, we move on to the nearby Konschthal, where Sam Erpelding is giving a much-acclaimed performance this evening. When it comes to art and culture, Esch does indeed seem to be catching up more and more with the capital.

Simone Decker is a woman who doesn't make a big fuss about herself. Anyone expecting to meet an artist who philosophises about inspiration, genius or the art world is bound to be disappointed. The artist, who has also enjoyed success abroad, is extremely modest and prefers to talk about her work, about materials, about spaces. About what is already there. "I usually take whatever I happen to find on site, " she will say later.