Interview: Marcel Heijnen [Vue Privee November Artist of the Month]
The Dutch born-Asia based photographer’s upcoming exhibition “The Residue Series” will showcase a collection of images exploring the temporary nature of our everyday surroundings. With urban decay as his focal point, Marcel Heijnen, Vue Privee November Artist of the Month shares the beauty of the fact that nothing lasts forever.
Your work revolves around the idea of impermanence.
For the past few years I’ve been studying Buddhism a fair bit and the one underlying principle that really speaks to me is the idea that everything is in continuous flux. ‘This too shall pass’ -“This” to me, is a fundamental truth in life and there’s enormous power in the realisation and acceptance of this.
Everything is a process, nothing will stay the same. Facing and accepting impermanence as a truth would force us to face our own demise and that’s something we don’t like doing. The one thing that’s certain in our life is that it’ll end sooner or later. It is something we know but do not want to know.
Most of us label the notion of impermanence as ‘sad’, but I think it can be hugely liberating. We like flowers, not despite the fact that they will wither but because they wither. Just as gold would not be valuable if it was abundant, life would not be precious if it would not end. If we would realize this more, we would live life more fully in each moment, rather than stressing ourselves out working for and worrying about the future.
Steve Jobs understood this very well: “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”
The acceptance of impermanence can teach us to how to live more fully, so I feel it’s time to get impermanence out of the closet.
Interview: Mydeadpony [Vue Privee October Artist of the Month]
In a normal world, fashion is just fashion. But for Belgian illustrator Raphaël Vicenzi aka Mydeadpony, fashion is one of the many elements that inspires his artwork. Beyond the glamour, the models and style, Mydeadpony translates its subjective beauty by marrying street art and graffiti to create an alternative statement against conventional fashion-inclined illustrations.
With his works showcased in top international design magazines like Illustration Now!, he has garnered worldwide attention with his hand-drawn, watercolor and digital techniques.
I had a chance to delve into the creative ingenuity of Vue Privée’s October Artist of the Month, as he shares about his art, life, and everything in between ahead of his month long gallery showcase.
Born and bred in Charleroi, Belgium. How has the rich history of your hometown influenced you as an artist?
Charleroi is in an old poor coal mining town. It definitely had an impact on me growing up because it’s an industrial town with steel factories, a lot of unemployment, and discarded coal mountains.
I guess that’s why I like gritty, urban dark works. At the same time, there is a beauty which is emerging beneath the concrete as nature retake its place amongst ruins and abandoned houses.
Interview: Burton Machen [Vue Privee September Artist of the Month]
New York and Los Angeles based street artist and photographer Burton Machen is probably what Charles Darwin would be if he hung out in the city ever so often.
Focusing on the evolution of street art, Burton creates pieces in his Urban Evolution series that purports an ever changing form within a given artwork. Exploring the theory that permanency does not exist in art, Burton opens his individual expression to be re-expressed by others. Leaving his works on the walls across the city, artists and surrounding elements gather to give the piece its defining touch, marrying individualism and collectivism into one.
I spoke to the down to earth artist as he unravels his notions and ideas of our urban landscape.
Welcome to Singapore Burton, how has things been since you’ve touched down so far?
It is my first time in Singapore and also my first time in Asia. I love it, Singapore has been great. I’ve been around a bit and have hit the high points, there’s definitely a lot to see in a week.
