Welcome to our latest interview, where we delve into the imaginative world of Domenic Bahmann, a visionary artist whose work captivates and challenges the viewer. Based in Canberra, Australia, Domenic's journey in Art transcends traditional boundaries, blending daydreams with reality and offering a fresh perspective on the mundane.
Bahmann's artistic direction is fueled by his belief that Art exists in everything, and this outlook guides his thematic choices. Random observations and spontaneous moments become the seeds for his creativity. His process involves giving himself time and space for these insights to flourish, ultimately leading them to evolve into the compelling pieces we see.
Exploring abstract concepts and emotions is at the core of Bahmann's work. He likens his idea generation to daydreams, where spontaneous visions guide his creative process. His method involves jotting down these fleeting thoughts, allowing them to mature over time. This gestation period lets him revisit and refine his ideas, achieving clarity and a distinct style.
Urban culture and street Art also play a significant role in shaping Bahmann's artistic narrative. He finds inspiration in the unexpectedness of Urban Art and its ability to break the monotony of everyday life. This influence is evident in his work, where he remixes iconic or historic Art pieces with a unique twist.
Color and form are crucial elements in Bahmann's Art. He meticulously plans his pieces, often taking days or weeks to ponder over initial sketches. He studies other artists' works, deriving inspiration while staying true to his instincts.
Personal experiences deeply influence Bahmann's Art. His work 'T-Rex on Trailerp'ople'sed during the pandemic and 'Friends,' a piece resonating with many for its portrayal of social connections, testify to his reflective approach.
Scaling up ideas into large-scale works is another aspect of Bahmann's expertise. He finds inspiration in everyday activities like walking or meeting friends, using powerful visual "metaphors to make a statement. An example is his piece 'Friends,' which juxtaposes the concept of social connections with medicine, "creating a profound visual metaphor.
Bahmann's engagement with the Art community, especially in Canberra, fuels his creativity. His journey from Germany to Australia and his early days sharing work on platforms like Flickr highlight the evolution of Art in the digital age. Social media, while beneficial in sharing Art, also presents challenges, pushing artists to adapt to its pace.
Lastly, Bahmann discusses the challenges in the creative process, like dealing with self-doubt and the pressure to conform to social media trends. Looking forward, he expresses excitement about exploring public Art spaces and nature, aiming to transform his miniature installations into more significant, more immersive experiences.
Join us as we explore the vibrant, thought-provoking world of Domenic Bahmann, an artist whose work reflects his unique perspective and invites us to find Art in the everyday.
Unique Artistic Vision
Your work is distinguished by its unique vision. What drives your artistic direction, and how do you decide on the themes for each piece?
For me art can be found in almost everything, and everything could potentially turned into art. What I have noticed is that any random observations can lead to great insights and ideas. The more I give myself the time and opportunities for these moments, the more likely I will have something I can consider using for a future project.
Exploration of Abstract Concepts
Many of your pieces explore abstract concepts and emotions. Could you share your approach to translating these intangible ideas into visual Art?
Most of my ideas are spontaneous and from daydream-like situations. It is hard to explain how and why, similar to dreams at night. My mind sometimes seems to give me a random creative brief that I try to turn into an image. I usually write down my ideas and how I could visualize them. I need to leave enough time between the initial idea and the actual creation of the artwork. Sometimes, it is better to come back to the initial idea and change it up a bit. This gives me often more clarity about a suitable style. I also like creating something spontaneous that I came up with only minutes or hours before.
Influence of Urban Culture
Urban culture and street Art influences are evident in your work. How do these elements shape your artistic narrative?
I like the idea of embedding unusual things in common everyday situations. Urban Art and Street Art have taught me how to break free from the usual daily life in a surprising way. Urban Art is often an unexpected element that draws people's attention. We are constantly surrounded by sameness and repetitiveness, especially in urban or suburban environments. Seeing street artists break that boredom by creating unexpected artwork is exciting. I also like the idea of remixing iconic or historic Art pieces and building my version.
Use of Color and Form
Your use of color and form is quite striking. How do you balance these elements to convey the intended mood or message in your Art?
I try to visualize the result by making notes or sketches. It often takes a couple of days or weeks to review my initial ideas and decide how this artwork could come to life. I like to look at the great work of other artists and how they have approached a project similar to mine. I also try to listen to myself and figure out what feels right.Â
Some of my pieces do not have any concept or a deeper meaning. These are usually more experimental and spontaneous works. It is interesting to see how other people develop their interpretations. Social media has become a great playground, inviting artists to experiment and receive instant feedback for their Art.
Art as a Reflection of Personal Experiences
How much of your personal experiences and journey are reflected in your artwork? Is there a piece that is particularly close to your heart?
A couple of pieces represent special (good and bad) times in my life. For example‚ T-Rex on Trailer' was made when the pandemic hit, and all our plans were disrupted.Â
Particularly close to my heart is the piece ‚ 'Friends,' which has resonated with many people. I created this piece for a magazine article about social connections and their health benefits in 2015.
The Process Behind Large-Scale Works
Some of your pieces are large-scale works that demand attention. What is your process for scaling an idea into a larger-than-life piece?
It is next to impossible to predict the success and impact of an Art piece. I try to find powerful visual metaphors for my (commercial) illustrations. Going for a walk, a run, or meeting friends and family helps me unwind and gives me a better chance to come up with good ideas. What I found very helpful is combining or replacing two or more topics to create a surprising outcome. For example, my magazine illustration 'Friends': The article describes how social connections can be helpful and improve our health and well-being. I asked myself, what if friends would have a similar effect to medicine? The result was a pill package with its pills replaced by miniature friends.
Interaction with the Art Community
How do you engage with the broader Art community, and in what ways has this interaction influenced your work?
I like meeting with like-minded friends and artists here in Canberra and discussing our achievements and challenges over the past few months. When I started my first Art project about 11 years ago, I had recently moved from Germany to Australia. With social media becoming more Art and photography-oriented, I decided to develop my creative projects. I used to share my work with many other like-minded creatives, illustrators, and photographers on Flickr before Instagram became a widely used platform for creatives. The unwritten rule was to create something unique that resonates with a large audience. It used to be a funny, weird, or exciting mix of digital photography, illustration, cartoons, paintings, and drawings that led to an incredible pool of inspiration and experimentation, a new type of Pop Art.
Challenges in the Creative Process
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your creative process, and how do you overcome them?
Many of my drafts have never seen the light of day and probably never will. A certain degree of self-critical thinking about my work is important, similar to an editor in a publishing house. Conversely, being too strict with myself might mean that great work will never be shared publicly. Every creative has this inner voice that asks, "Is my work good enough?"
Art in the Digital Age
How has the digital age, especially platforms like Instagram, impacted how you create and share your Art?
The Digital Art and creativity world has influenced my style and how I think about ideas and concepts, mostly positively. Flickr and Instagram have allowed many creatives and artists to share their work without going through the hassle of the curation process of a traditional gallery. It has also become more accessible for fans and collectors to access new Art on social media. The problem with social media and commodifying Art could be that we perceive Art as flicking through TV channels instead of experiencing it in real life and in a slower, more connected way.
I have also noticed that many digital artists feel they must create Art more frequently to keep up with the required online engagement on Instagram or TikTok. Some artists might thrive in creating and sharing their work on a weekly or even daily basis, but others might feel pressured to keep up with the speed of social media. Perhaps we must think more about ourselves and our unique experiences and visions. Social media algorithms should not guide our tastes and behavior too much.Â
Future Artistic Endeavors
Are there any new artistic endeavors or collaborations you are excited about exploring?
I want to explore Art projects in nature or public Art spaces. Something special connects people when they can experience Art outdoors or in public spaces. I would like to see some of my miniature installations turned into a large-scale installation or a mural.Â