Exclusive Interview with Henrik Bakmann – Artist
NY Glam: Tell us a little about yourself and your career beginnings.
Bakmann: I come from Denmark and I work with many different types of art. I was just a little kid, when my grandfather introduced me to art, but it was only when I was 12-13 years old that I started drawing.
In my young days, however, it was not art that filled my time. I taught children and young people drama, which led to an education as a drama leader and later drama pedagogical art and culture communicator for children and young people.
I have also published two youth books.
I am also an educated media graphic artist, but I work with many different types of art and materials. For example, I have made – inspired by the North American coastal Indians – totem pictures of wood, I make mobiles, masks and pictures of plexiglass.
When computers came into the world, it opened my eyes to a new possibility of working with images. I chose to combine my creativity with the skills I had learned in my teacher training.
NY Glam: What projects are you currently working on?
Bakmann: Until now my work has been concentrated around our nature and wildlife, but currently I am experimenting with the abstract artform. Making abstract images is an attempt to explore and express ideas in a non-representational way, which I hope can give me greater freedom to experiment with colors, shapes and textures.
NY Glam: What art do you most identify with?
Bakmann: As a contemporary contemporary artist, I prefer not to be boxed in and identified with a certain style or genre of art, but instead to be open to different approaches and techniques. I am of the belief that as a contemporary artist you explore interdisciplinary areas and seek to create art that challenges conventional ideas and formats. In my pictures, which show the lovely nature and wildlife, which after all is a signal with a wagon pole that we must be careful what we do with our nature so as not to destroy our beautiful world, are built up in layers that are intended as an expression of the many layers that our beautiful world actually consists of. Like an onion, we are in the process of peeling more and more layers off, and if we are not careful, the damage becomes irreparable.
With my new experiment with abstract art, I hope to be able to connect contemporary art with our time and thus challenge conventional understandings of art and society.
NY Glam: What’s your favorite artwork?
Bakmann: Choosing a favorite artwork is a very personal and subjective decision, and there are no set rules for how to do it. Some people choose an image based on its aesthetic qualities, such as colors, shapes and textures, while others choose an image based on its emotional appeal or the story it tells. Some people also choose a picture based on their personal experiences. Just as there can be many approaches to what is one’s favorite image, there are also many attitudes to what art is. After all, art is a broad and complex idea that can be identified in many ways. Art is subjective and can be interpreted differently by different people… For me, choosing a favorite image is also an expression of where I stand right now. The artwork I’m most happy with today is not the same as last month and probably won’t be my favorite artwork next month either.
NY Glam: Tells us about some of your recent exhibitions. What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Bakmann: Until recently, I only exhibited abroad, as I was of the belief that this was where there would be the greatest interest in my work. It wasn’t entirely wrong either, because quite quickly I started to get a response, receive awards, be interviewed, etc. Breaking through in Denmark with my art is immediately more difficult. HI has experienced that galleries abroad are jumping for my art, while in Denmark they are very reluctant. But at the beginning of the year, I chose to participate in an art fair in Denmark for the first time in several years – outside the galleries, but on my own initiative, to get a feel for how the Danes would react to my artworks, and it was an experience … In one weekend I sold 31 artworks. 8 artworks went to an art collector and 23 artworks found a new home with different Danes. There were many comments, but what made the most impression was people’s interest in the process of creating the images. Most comments were that it was new and different.
NY Glam: What does “being creative” mean to you?
Bakmann: My work with art is characterized by a focus on creativity, often in an abstract and experimental exploration of the limits of traditional art forms. It involves unconventional techniques and can be inspired by a variety of sources, including nature, dreams and the subconscious.
Many of my graphic images are created by first taking pictures of various surfaces and patterns, which are then stored on the computer, where they are processed with various effects. I then create a model of how I think the image should look, and the individual parts are then assigned to the processed photos, which are put together into imaginative landscapes.
NY Glam: What are you trying to communicate with your art?
Bakmann: The message of my artwork is to celebrate the beauty of nature and hopefully make people realize that if you don’t do something now, the beautiful nature and wildlife will disappear. My goal is to create images that emphasize the value of an open and intact nature.
NY Glam: What role does the Artist have in Society?
Bakmann: I believe an artist’s role in society is to create works of art that reflect the culture and values of the society one lives in. This role evolves as technology advances and new forms of art are created.
NY Glam: What are your thoughts on being an artist in today’s world?
Bakmann: Being an artist in today’s world can be challenging due to the high level of competition, the changing demands of audiences, and the impact of technology on the art industry.
NY Glam: How has painting influenced your life?
Bakmann: Making pictures or acting has in a way always been a part of my life… Right from childhood I have loved going to art museums or getting out into nature and experiencing the countryside.
In my theater work, scenography has played a large part, and in my work as a teacher, it has been of great importance to me to convey art to my students.
Today I am so lucky that I can spend the whole day on my pictures and I am deeply grateful for all the fantastic comments I get on my work.
NY Glam: What art movement or artist would you say influences your work most?
Bakmann: When working with my art, I find inspiration from a variety of sources, including personal experiences, the work of other artists, current events, the environment, and the world around us.
NY Glam: What can we expect from you this year?
Bakmann: As I have only just started to “play” with the abstract artistic expression, it is not here that you should expect anything new from me in the next few years. I have many ideas for images within nature and wildlife, and as long as we don’t take it seriously that our world is bleeding and threatening our existence, my main focus will be on exhibiting more artworks about nature and wildlife.
NY Glam: Can you share with us three favorite things about your city/culture?
Bakmann: Certainly! Here are three interesting things about Danish culture:
1. Hygge: Danish people have a unique concept of “hygge”, which means creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. It involves enjoying simple pleasures, such as warm drinks, candles, and spending time with loved ones.
2. Cycling culture: Denmark is known for its cycling culture, with many people choosing to bike to work and school. This is due to the country’s excellent cycling infrastructure, which includes dedicated bike lanes and traffic signals.
3. Danish cuisine: Danish cuisine features many traditional dishes, such as smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), frikadeller (meatballs), and æbleskiver (pancake balls). The country is also known for its high quality dairy products, such as butter, cheese, and milk.
NY Glam: Where can everyone keep up with you to learn more? …social media…website
Bakmann: You can follow my artwork on https://www.instagram.com/bakmannartt/ and https://www.facebook.com/henrik.bakmann.9
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