has a studio that would make even professed ‘un-creative’ types eat a large
bowl of lime green jelly. At the moment he’s producing an artwork for the
launch of the new Melbourne Polytechnic, and we were lucky enough to get
some work in progress pictures of said studio, and some exclusive words from
the man himself.
A bit of background on Melbourne Polytechnic: located on the site of the
former Swinburne University Prahran Campus, Melbourne Polytechnic is a hub for creative industries training and will be offering around 80 programs ranging from vocational certificates, diplomas and advanced
diplomas and a growing selection of higher education programs.
We recently approached DEAMS to work on an art-piece for the
launch of the new campus, to be hung in the foyer of the Visual Arts
building. In the brainstorming phase of the project, DEAMS worked with students
Tayla Broekman and Shawn Lu (from NMIT – Melbourne Polytechnic’s parent
institute) to map out the newest DEAMS Original©.
The dude seems like a complete dude, and is full of sage/zen advice both art
related and in general. If you don’t leave this url at least 500% more chilled
you’re not doing it properly. Take it away, DEAMS:
Tell us about the kind of work you do?
I work as a graphic designer, art director, interior designer, painter, graffiti
artist and DJ. It is difficult to generalise when describing my work because it
is so diverse but I would say that all my work conveys a sense of balance. In
terms of aesthetics I feel there is a kind of Zen consideration when it comes to
composition and decision-making, I like to allow for spontaneity and freedom,
in harmony with deep thinking and careful research. This process can be
applied to all my work whether it is approaching a large-scale wall, a canvas
in the studio or the design of a business card.
How did you become an artist and how long have you been
doing it?
I feel like everyone has the potential to become an artist, it’s in our nature
to create. It’s like learning a language, learning to communicate ideas and
emotions visually or audibly except that not everyone speaks the same
language. I’ve been creating since I could hold a brush or a pen; my mother
was very encouraging in all forms of creative expression whether it is music,
art or philosophical discourse. Art, design and music are all I have ever known,
most of my working life I have been practicing within these disciplines
and I hope to continue to do so.
Where does the inspiration for your work come from?
The majority of my work is inspired by music, philosophy and spiritual
realisations. My friends and family inspire me a lot. I find the world over
stimulating sometimes and although I love what people are producing I’m
more interested in their ideas and their approach to life. You don’t always get
that from the Internet, but it often comes from a real connection or one on one
conversation.
What are some of your influences, in terms of style?
Bauhaus design movement, Viennese design, Karel Martens, surrealist
movement, Graffuturism movement, Miro, Kandinsky, Gleeson, Turner,
Rothko, the list goes on.
How important do you think it is for an artist to have an
identifiable style or voice?
Every artist has a voice but they might not have yet learned to sing yet. This
comes down to training and self-reflection. This question brings us back
to learning the language of visual communication. In regards to having an
identifiable style, I think this isn’t something one should look for but through
research, experimentation and intuition a style will inevitably emerge if you
stick with it long enough.
Can you describe the ‘creative process’ behind the work?
Music, mood, energy, colour, don’t think, paint/dance, review, imagine,
render, remove, activate, detach, meditate, geometry, review, share,
conversation, learning, next work.
How’s the Australian street art scene going? Any changes in
recent times?
I find the term street art is often misused and can limit the scope of work being
explored in today’s art scene. Art that exists on the streets is to me street
art, art that exists on a canvas in a gallery is contemporary art. My roots are
in graffiti, the act of painting letters on walls, often without consent. This is a
foundation that encouraged me to break the rules of standard practices. I am
heading toward a more cross-disciplinary practice that involves people outside
the realms of street art and graffiti but maintains some of its core principles; a
practice that is more unified and focuses on pushing boundaries. I feel there is
growing interest in pursuing these directions within the Melbourne scene.
What advice would you give for young artists looking to get
involved?
Make connections, talk to the artists that inspire you. We are lucky enough
to be able to communicate directly with people in this day and age, make the
most of these tools to build relationships, gain wisdom and find direction. Find
a good mentor, let yourself change and develop freely, walk your own path
and don’t let dollar signs influence your decisions.
For more on DEAMS‘ work head to www.vivideams.com, Swoop and Melodie and the AWOL Crew Facebook.
For more information on Melbourne Polytechnic courses please phone 03 9269 1900 or visit melbournepolytechnic.edu.au.
Shot By: Dean Sunshine of Land of Sunshine + Liz McLeish of Street Smith
