Madeleine Gross
Monday, February 19, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Monday, October 16, 2017
Interview with Dawid Paweł Lewandowski
q)Please introduce yourself.
a)Dawid Paweł Lewandowski –artist, photographer, collage
maker from Poland.
q) Where do you
live and work?
a)I live in Toruń. I’ve came
here 5 years ago when I’ve started my studies in Polish Literature. Already I’m
making Master Degree in New Media Arts at Faculty of Fine Arts (Nicolaus
Copernicus University).
q) How would you
describe your work to someone who has never seen it?
a)I’m always ready to show it
on my phone. It’s “visual art”, you need to see it to feel it.
q) How did you
start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?
a)I’ve always feel different.
When other boys were playing football I was in home drawing, painting or
writing. Then, when I was fifteen, it goes to the passion of photography and it
stays like this in next ten years. When I start to appearing with a camera and
putting pictures to the internet I realize that lots of people I knew found
that “Oh, he’s not just a regular weirdo, he’s an artist”... and I feel
that they really appreciate this.
q) What are your
favorite art materials and why?
a)As I said, my main medium
is photography but since some years I’m making a manual collages too so I’m
using a lot of things like wax, pins, paper, fire, plants or even
bubblegum. It starts when I was studying photography – in one of my
project I’ve decided to go farther then just take a picture, so I used old
wedding photographs to create something more like collage or objects. And my
graduate project was a cycle of collages when I’ve made a deconstruction of my
face.
q) What’s your
main subject in art?
a)I’ve always been inspired
by the people. That’s why my main object in photography was a portrait.
Everyone has his/her unusual story that can inspires you. I’m focused on all
aspects of the humanity – in their physical, psychological, sexual spheres.
I’ve made some political works but now it’s not my theme. I think art should be
more than political fights of the parties.
q) Describe a
typical day of art making for you.
a)Well, I’m not making art
everyday. It’s a very intimate and personal thing to me. Sometimes very
spontaneous, sometimes I’m thinking about one work for month or longer. For
example, this work with a bubblegum... I was preparing to one simple gest for
nearly two months! Sometimes a video, which I am making too, is easier to made.
q) Do you have
goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as
an artist?
a)Every young artist want to
be known, sell good and makes exhibitions in best museums in the world. And
it’s normal and good. There’s nothing wrong in dreaming big.
q) What
contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?
a)I feel very attracted to
works by Robert Mapplethorpe and Duane Michals – for me masters of photography.
Michals was my greatest inspiration when I was studying photography.
q) Do you enjoy
selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?
a)It’s always great when
someone is interested in your works. I’m very attached to my artworks but
it’s easier to me, because my main medium is photography, so if I’m
selling or giving my works to someone it’s a numerous print. In my work it’s
hard to tell what’s original – sometimes even my collages are very ephemeral.
Like my last ones with the flowers or stones.
q) Is music
important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?
a)Yes, it is. I can tell that
I’m afraid of silence and I need some calm music even when I’m sleeping,
especially when I’m alone. I’m in love with music by Patrick Wolf – he’s genius
for me and a real artist! Now I fell in love with new album by Hurts titled
“Desire”. Oh, and I can’t wait to new music by Charlotte Gainsbourg.
q) Books?
a)Last book I’ve read is
„Foucault w Warszawie” (eng. Foucault in Warsaw). It’s a reportage by Remigiusz
Ryziński about short episode in philosopher Michel Foucault’s life when he was
living in Warsaw and working on his PhD.
q) Do you have any
projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?
a)I can’t wait for
Homosurrealism exhibition in London this October. It’s actually my first
exhibition in other country so I’m very excited. Hope it’s not the last one.
q) Do you follow
contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you
prefer?
a) I’m checking art
especially on Instagram – it’s the greatest thing to check what’s new. Everyday
thousands of artists are posting some new stuff, everyday you can find
something interesting and inspiring. Maybe even I’m a little addicted to this
app.
q) What do you do
(or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?
a)Usually when I’m not
creating and when I’m not at my University I love to watch movies. I’m a big
fan of Aranofsky, von Trier but sometimes I need to chill with some Netflix
series. Also, I’m a culture blogger on Instagram. You can find me as
@panodplastyki (eng. Art teacher).
q) Any advice for
aspiring artists?
a)I still consider myself as
a aspiring one, so I will said “Keep doing it and don’t be afraid to show it.
Sometimes you can met really great people who will like it. And it’s the best
feeling.”
q) Where can we
see more of your work online?
a)On my website dawidlewandowski.com,
Facebook: Dawid Pawel Lewandowski and Instagram: dplwndwsk.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Interview with LEONARD GRECO
q)Walk us through an intimate day in your life
a)I awaken to three ornery dogs ( and a husband who isn't at all ornery ) eager to play , pee and eat . From there it's usually to the gym
(or yoga) where I attempt some semblance of physical exertion (usually
failing as I am eager to get to work ). From there the dogs and I head to the
studio where I work until 9:30 or so, it's a full day , focused on making . My
husband David , who is a psychoanalyst , sees patients late into the evening,
this conveniently
allows me the time to be a hermit . We end the day having a late dinner and
reading a bit before calling it a night . All terribly dull and domestic but
the predictability of my routine allows me to focus upon my work.
q) Where did you grow up/where do you live now and how does that contribute to your art?
a) I grew up in a dreary suburb of New Jersey . It was an unhappy home, one of violence , poverty and abuse . When I left I strove to leave it behind, LA where I live now, is pretty much as far as I can go without jumping into the Pacific. The instability and the violence of my childhood certainly influences my work . An aim of my practice is to seek the sacred in all things , with tenderness and empathy . The despised and the abject ( queer concerns , animal rights etc.) are compelling inspirations.
q) What is your earliest memory that propelled you to create?
a) I mentioned how dreary my childhood home was but church was an escape . We were Roman Catholic, my father is Italian American , we went to an inner city church that was glorious. A 19th c. Gothic Revival pile . The art , the ritual , the music , were an aesthetic awakening.In my current studio practice I attempt to create a sense of immersive sacredness from those fond recollections.
q) Tell us a little bit about your creative process.
a)It's varied in its expression , it might be an oil painting, a relief print or something sewn . But all work starts from within , perhaps a passage from a poem or a familiar archetype. From there I "sketch" out the idea internally , until I can envision it fully . Only then do I put pencil to paper . Almost all of my work is fleshed out after internal imagining with rather meticulous renderings . It's a process, not a speedy one. Sometimes I bemoan not being more spontaneous, but I haven't that temperament I imagine .
q) How do you wish for your art to be perceived?
a) I'm not sure , it's all so new . I've only just started with a studio
practice devoted to personal expression about five years ago and hadn't
really factored how the work would be perceived .
What I would hope for is for the work to be viewed as sincere, for
that is what it is . I've seen a lot of work seemingly ripe with irony;
irony has never been my intention even when I handle familiar archetypes
unconventionally. All of my work comes from a true place , sometimes wry place
but always sincere.
q) What do your internal dialogues sound like?
a) I fear like that of a madman.
q) Do you feel that there are limitations to what you want to create?
a) Right now physical space , I'm reaching a limit to how large I can work
as my studio becomes increasingly crowded . I started the search for a new
space just this afternoon, so hopefully that will be resolved promptly. A more
difficult hindrance is psychological, I'm frequently riddled with self doubt
and self loathing , often that's an obstacle . The making silences the ugliness
from within . That and having thoughtful folks such as yourself taking the time
to look at the work .
q) Do you feel art is vital to survival and if so, why?
a) Without discovering the beauty of Greek vases ( from an old art book
hidden in my childhood attic ) my life would not have been worth living . I've
carried the torch for art and beauty all of my life ( and I still love Greek
vase paintings- who doesn't ?).
q) Describe a world without art.
a) I fear the callousness of our current political climate ( here in the States at least ) gives one a sense of the bleakness of a world without art . Art is made from a place of empathy , an attempt to capture the ineffable. For those driven by a lust for power and capital , it has little legitimacy or interest .
q) Tell us a secret, and obsession.
a) I'm not sure I have a secret , I'm pretty candid . As per obsessions I have many but at this stage of my life it's trying to make art .
q) Where
can people see more of your work on the internet?
q) Where can people see more of
your work on the internet?
a) My online
portfolio is www.leonardgreco.me , I also keep a studio
journal at www.boondocksbabylon.com, Instagram and Twitter
at leonardgrecoart ; and there is Facebook of course .
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Interview with GERARD RAATGEEP
q)please tell us a brief info about yourself.
a) My name is Gerard Raatgeep, 43 years young and born and raised in The Hague - The Netherlands.
I started creating as a kid and i was always busy with playing outside and
creating things and i still do that till this very moment.
q)Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you you first realized that you
wanted to be an artist?
a) I never saw myself as an artist but i was always creating, i had a lot of jobs
in the past (over 40,) but most of the time i was not feeling in the right place
on these jobs, after a few burn outs i started to work on myself to get
psychically and mentally stronger by reading self help books and eating better
food.
It's only since a few years that i know that i want to be an artist.
q)What are your tools?
a) For the selfie project i use fishing line, rope, tape and rubber bands or whatever i can use.
q)Who or what gives you inspiration?
a) Anything from daily life, psychology, music, art, people, and tv shows like "The
Mighty Boosh", "Tim & Eric" and especially the dutch tv series "Rembo en Rembo"
and "Theo en Thea".
q)Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?
a) I did a few short art courses but mostly is self-taught, i am originally a
pastry chef and did that for about a year.
q)How do you keep “fresh” within your industry?
a) I just do what i like, the best way to be happy and fresh :)..
q)What are some of your current projects?
a) I am working on a project together with Benadski and we are creating painting
robots, we are in the last phase of that project, you can see it on
http://squaintbots.net
The selfies with a twist project is still running and i am working on a website
with animations and music, you can see an small example on the front page of my
website http://rtgp.xyz.
q)Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?
a) For now i am most proud of the Squaintbots project because i am working on that
for more then a year, before that i have not so much patience.
q)Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have
yet to try?
a) I am really not looking to much forward for projects, most of the time the best
ideas come unexpected like a split second thought in my head, you must be very
conscious to notice them and do something with that thought.
q)What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
a) I meditate every day because that's giving me the needed rest in my thinking,
besides that i try to stepping out of my comfort zone to explore new things.
I am not smoking and also i am not drinking alcohol anymore because alcohol
makes me anxious and it takes away my energy and creativity, i allow myself to
drink but i choose not to do it and in that way it works for me the best..my
last drink was more than 16 months ago.
q)how do you spend most of your free time?
a) I like to go out in nature and making music on my keyboard/computer and i have
fun with adjusting and making my own clothes. Also i like to go out with my
metal detector, metal detecting is really a good way to calm your thoughts
besides finding nice things.
q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?
a) Wannes Goetschalckx is one of my favorite artists ("1 STORY" is my favorite
things ever, it's here: https://player.vimeo.com/video/81874481) and i like
Christeene, both music and performance, furthermore i am interested in technology with art.
with art and performance art/drag.
q)We really like some of your pictures, how can we get our hands on them? Do you
sell them? How?
a) Pictures will be available for sale within a few months from now, i will post a
message on my Flickr account when the time is there.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Interview with TAKAHIRO SHIMATSU
q)Please introduce
yourself and tell us something about yourself and
your
background.
a)I was born in Japan in 1975. I started drawing
when I was 18 years old by myself.
q) Talk about your art.
a)I draw human beings
based on my feelings. Particularly,I like to paint sad expressions. I do not
like to paint smiling faces. My painting is not that good, but I think it is
important to continue painting. I prefer painting momentarily to spending time.
q) What’s the central
theme of your work?***
a)The motif is
conversation with myself, and it describes feelings as an image
q) who, what inspires you
....
a)Various feelings. Joy,
sorrow, anger and so on.
q) books that you love….
a)Nothing particular.
q)music…artists….that you
love
a)Modigliani, Picasso,
and Rouault
q) What are you really
excited about right now?
a)When I paint a
picture that I really want to paint.
q)your current projects….
a)Nothing particular.
q)your future projects…
a)Nothing particular,
but I want to value to continue painting.
q)Where can people see
more of your work on the internet?
q) Final words?
a)Thank you for being interested in my art.
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