Thinkspace is excited to present Elegant Universe, featuring new work by Dutch artist Handiedan, opening on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Handiedan creates elaborate three-dimensional collage pieces from a cut and paste method of re-assemblage. Starting with the iconic imagery of the vintage pin-up girl, popularized in the 30’s, the artist creates complex images from a combination of pattern, figurative imagery, and symbol.
Thinkspace is excited to present Elegant Universe, featuring new work by Dutch artist Handiedan, opening on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Handiedan creates elaborate three-dimensional collage pieces from a cut and paste method of re-assemblage. Starting with the iconic imagery of the vintage pin-up girl, popularized in the 30’s, the artist creates complex images from a combination of pattern, figurative imagery, and symbol.
Her materials are culled from a vast array of printed cultural currency. Appropriating everything from postage stamps, and legal tender, to origami paper patterns, and historical sheet music motifs, the artist’s work is a combination of re-design and aggregation. Her multi-layered compositions transform found two dimensional imagery, literally re-imagining it in relief. Handiedan’s facility and skill in graphic design, illustration, and photography, is immediately visible in her complex works. Graphically sophisticated, their actual assemblage involves a highly detailed sculptural component. The artist incorporates wood and other materials to raise the surfaces and increase their dimensionality. At times the works feel like complex visual puzzles, with pattern and figurative elements interchangeably intermixed. The degree of complexity and depth is impressive. A pastiche of historical styles, the artist borrows from the Baroque to the Neo-Classical, and from the Victorian to the post-war eras. Handiedan explores beauty as a process of aggregation and re-construction, as she re-assembles the found into highly detailed compositions. The artist also incorporates subtle drawing elements - small tattoos, and seemingly haphazard ballpoint pen doodles - to remind us of her agency in the work’s making, and to strategically interrupt her artfully re-purposed illusions.
Internationally exhibited, Handiedan has shown extensively. Her work is currently part of a significant Museum survey show entitled: HEY! Modern Art & Pop Culture II at Musée La Halle Saint Pierre, in Paris, France.
Where are you living and working right now?
Living and working in Amsterdam.
Least favorite part of making art? And your favorite part...
My least favorite part would be deadlines and my most favorite part, seeing a collage piece coming to life bit by bit and how they evolve into a whole.
Favorite medium to work with?
Collage. Either digitally or by hand.
Last art show / exhibition you saw:
I'm honesty must say I haven't got around to seeing any shows during the past few months, because of creating new art myself. I did however join the opening reception of the “HEY! Modern Art & Pop Cultuere” exhibition at Musée La Halle St. Pierre in Paris, where four of my pieces are on view at the moment. Seeing this museum show in person really blew my mind!
If you could collaborate with one artist, living or dead, who would it be?
M.C. Escher. My oldtime inspiration. Collaborating with the graphic and illusional elements.
Artist(s) that inspire you?
Daniel Martin Diaz, Siscott, Hush, Jeff Soto, Brian Dettmer, Sylvia Ji, Lindsey Carr, Eduardo Recife, Greg “Craola” Simkins, Anton Corbijn... M.C. Escher, Picasso, George Braque, Eduardo Paolozzi, Alberto Giacometti...
What time of day are you most productive?
Actually the whole day. As long my email is turned off.
Currently listening to?
Mainly techno, House, and Chill House
How do you take your coffee?
Black Americano
Last meal?
Chicken curry
Last three places you have lived?
Sprang - Capelle, Breda and Amsterdam (All in the Netherlands)
Last time you traveled? To where?
Paris, in January
Website you're most ashamed that you visit daily?
Hmm... I guess I don’t have those kind of websites...
A quote that has stuck with you?
Love what you do and do what you love
The most trivial thing you know?
When one moves, time goes slower for the observer. And if one would like to age slower, one has to move into space due to differences in gravity and velocity. Go Einstein! Time dilation, spacetime.
High school GPA?
8 (European high school calculation)
Least artistic award you've received?
The only award I can think of is that I’ve won a book about dwarfs during a dwarf themed colouring competition when I was four years old.
Oddest job you've done to make rent?
Cheese sales at a supermarket
DIY, ask yourself a question we didn't and answer it.
Gloves... With or without fingers: Without!
Artist site: www.handiedan.com
“Elegant Universe”
Thinkspace Gallery
6 - 27 April