Starting off this week with Shaun Gribouski and his interview with Artition.
Shaun seems to be fascinated by humans and urban lifestyle in our modern society. He draws with charcoal and pastel and paints with acrylic in a fascinating way. Creating shadow and light is one of his greatest talents and certainly his brand-mark in the works.
Artition: How would you describe your work/art/style?
SG: I view my art as a cross between expressionism and realism, created by fusing passion with technical calculation. My work usually focuses on people or some aspect of human society because I believe that they are the most powerful and interesting subjects. Humanity, from its beauty to its brutality, is one thing that any viewer will relate to.
Artition: What or who inspires you?
SG: My greatest artistic inspiration is Hip-Hop music. The best Hip-Hop is to me the epitome of that fusion of emotion with the technical. Aside from that, humanity is my inspiration. I draw inspiration from vast and varied sources, some of which directly translate into my art, while others fuel the emotion that drives me to create. A quick list of a few of these many diverse sources: strong and beautiful women, the AK-47, Rio de Janeiro, the legacy of slavery, the Boston Celtics. As you can see, there is little overt connection between all of these things.
Artition: Is there a message you want to communicate with your art?
SG: It can be debilitating to art when the artist focuses too much on the message because it often sacrifices quality in an attempt to say something specific. I might have some idea in mind as I’m making art, but my energy is directed at the process of creation. If a message comes through, so be it, but people can take whatever they want from it. All I hope to communicate is the passion that went into making it, because there is an interconnectedness of all people, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, or any of the other lines we divide ourselves along. I’m not saying that in a “peace on earth”-type way, just that raw feelings are pretty much the same. Anger is anger and joy is joy, regardless of how disparate the triggers of such feelings are.
Artition: How do you like artition and what would you like to be added or changed?
SG: I like that it is designed in an attractive and unpretentious manner and that it is user-friendly. It is excellent as is and at the present time, I don’t see anything that warrants change.
Artition: Who would you like to change life with for one day?
SG: It sounds a bit cliché, but I’ve never wanted to be anyone else.
Artition: Who is your favourite artist?
SG: My favorite artist is Nasir Jones. He is not a visual artist, but I’ve never felt more moved and inspired by anyone else’s work than I have by his. Nas excels in every aspect of his art. He has every unteachable quality that an artist could ever want. For me personally, his album Illmatic is the single greatest piece of art ever made.
Visit Shaun Gribouski’s profile on Artition
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