THE WORK OF SEBASTIAN HOLMER - NEWS AND OTHER STUFF.

Interview @ AB19, exclusive painting

2010-04-18T13:29:00.007+02:00

Since AB19.it got closed down by their agency, my interview incl. some images won't be released. The painting made for their first edition of the magazine's relaunch can be seen below. So I'll publish the unedited and completely confusing interview here.

Von paintings & other images (WIP)

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How did you start to do this work? Why?
Hard to say basically. I graduated high school with art as a main subject back in 2002. Even before I always tried to paint, draw and take photographs, slightly realizing the true potential of working with computers in a creative way. I never did or do this for a living, it’s actually just my best way to clear up my mind. I studied art history at the university but always needed a valve to calm down again. Scientific research can be pretty dry every now and then. And changing the point of view from the one who listens to the one who talks (in this case: the one who tries to understand to the one who tries to create) adds a lot to the general understanding of art in general. I used to work completely digital since 2002, changing that recently (since 2 or 3 years maybe), trying to improve my painting stuff and having a haptic result in the end.

Which is the central concept of your inspiration?
I still think that (good) art is made up by imagination and intellect. My work is anything but spontaneous; I do a lot of research and studies before working on the actual image. It takes some time to finish a painting, also because I am kind of a slow worker without any deadlines. Of course everything is kind of a work in progress which constantly changes. I’d even doubt that the result is close to what I actually thought I’d do. I want to dedicate myself to “creative” topics, stuff you usually don’t expect or are used to. Call it surreal if you’d like to. But that’s mainly concerning the idea or the topic of the image itself – not being tied to reality like I am kinda helps in this case. When it comes to composition, choice of medium etc. I am pretty much conservative, trying to be geared to the old masters (what a blasphemic idea though). I like the principles of baroque composition for example, mainly because it’s really emotive and full of power and tension. So studying, adopting and transforming this into the 21st century is what I am trying to achieve. I constantly fail though (which is ok since life is about failing mostly anyway).

Why did you choose this style to do art?
What you’re seeing here mostly is mixed media, based on collaged photographs/photomanipulations which are painting with acryl mostly afterwards. I feel less limited and less intimidated when working completely digital at the beginning; I still it’s more easy for my kind of thinking, especially when it comes to changes etc. But I’ve always missed “real” textures, the rough and pastose look of a real painting. Using collages somehow fixes that issue, slightly giving the painting a tridimensional nature and so undercutting the real essence of a painting.

Words are necessary? Why?
Hmm. Necessary for the work of art? No. Necessary for the understanding of the work of art? Yes, to a certain degree. As an art historian I am used to deconstruct the (what people sometimes call the aura or the real magical essence) work of art right until where it gets totally uninteresting or at least loses the innocent power of manipulating its viewers. That’s why I am not the biggest fan of talking about my own images in detail. I believe in pictures being in general the most powerful way of communicating (I am sure most people will disagree now). They’re demanding, you hardly can “silently consume” images. The final step is always the completion by the viewer, that’s why it’s so interesting and thrilling. And that’s also why it’s so intense. Are words necessary in general? Unfortunately, yes – and hell I am so talented in perfectly saying what I am really thinking or trying to express.

Do you think that history is important for your creative process?
Definitely, yes. Occupying myself with history is what I am doing most of the time. The Presence is based on history, so why shouldn’t it affect the things I am currently dealing with, regardless whether it might be art or something completely different. History influences the choices you’re constantly doing. I hardly forget anything and whatever happened in the past guides my way of seeing things. And regarding my images in general, yes, (art) history is one of my main influences. When you talk, you hardly invent any new words either. It’s all about using what you know (and what you learned) to express yourself.

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the dream of any artist is a frame

2009-02-26T10:06:00.001+01:00

the dream of the artist is sold and now framed.

bluecanvas dot com

2009-02-15T12:32:00.000+01:00

Due to a friendly invite over at my account @ DA I decided to upload some images/paintings at bluecanvas dot com.

You might want to have a look at my profile.

SITE NEWS. HAHA.

2009-01-05T21:44:00.003+01:00

It's done. I've uploaded the entire update, I really hope it fits your needs and is still nice to look at.
In case anything doesn't work (which shouldn't), missing links (which shouldn't), oddly stuff on your browser (which shouldn't) or whatever (which shouldn't), please feel free to tell me so. I will instantly fix it.

Credits go to Torstein Honsi from highslide.com for this awesome gallery script.

site news

2009-01-04T17:17:00.001+01:00

So the general update is done, everything seems to be fixed and done, it's not uploaded yet though due to some copyright stuff I need to get fixed until the launch.
But expect the new and much more comfortable update soon.

vacation & site news

2008-12-29T11:11:00.002+01:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, the last couple of weeks were kinda hectic (merry christmas to all of you, also (in case I won't post until new year's eve) happy new year as well.

I am currently working on a major site update, which mainly will affect the site's gallery system. That hopefully will improve the gallery navigation, including improved image information (also you can directly order prints or buy the original painting).
I guess it will be finished in 2 weeks or so (at the end of my vacation). But coding isn't really my kind of thing, so delays might be my friend.

Also I still own you the picture of the PRoject magazine CIRCUS edition.

project magazine

2008-12-09T18:45:00.004+01:00

the guys over project magazine sent me 2 copies of the 2nd issue "circus" where 4 paintings made by me had been published (incl. some interview/statement).
The english version is still not released yet, you can preview a (greek) pdf-copy at their website though.

I'll post pics this weekend. Also of the framed pictures of "the conversation".

the conversation (print edition)

2008-12-06T17:18:00.001+01:00

the print edition of "the conversation" is available here. Also, I have updated the picasa album (see the link below) with the finished print edition image.

The actual painting is currently in progress, expect some photographs soon.

painting & links

2008-12-03T17:58:00.003+01:00

I've created an album to show some paintings/images which are work in progress. currently, I am working on "The Conservation", still very WIP.

paintings & other images (WIP)

the award of the day goes to the library of the university of heidelberg, which now offers scans of very interesting art historical books (like cesare ripa's iconologia. wow.). I'd better link the english version of it.

oh and btw (update): Fallout 3.

interview, xbox and photos

2008-11-12T16:01:00.003+01:00

small update. I've got a job interview tomorrow; that's why I haven't uploaded any other photographs yet. I changed the gamercard from my xbox though, mygamercard now offers their new NXE design (yes, I like. just like I (hopefully) enjoy the new dashboard).

btw: Marionette. good old times.

freising

2008-11-09T19:49:00.001+01:00

a couple of photographs from Freising, Germany. Will add more later that week, especially some stuff from the museum.

Freising

nhl

2008-11-03T19:34:00.002+01:00

EA SPORTS World: haha

Nice house & feature

2008-10-29T15:51:00.003+01:00

In case you were wondering what I do besides photographing & studying art historical monuments etc, you can have a look here.

Italy (housing)

The people over AL featured "the clown", thank you for that.

(don't buy fable II. I did. maybe an article later.)

magazine, al

2008-10-16T16:06:00.004+02:00

Finally the guys over at PROJECT MAGAZINE managed to release their 2nd issue called "circus" (which is an absolutely fantastic one btw), incl. 4 paintings by myself (page 08 - 09). I wish they had been larger to get more details, but I'm happy with that as well. atm only the greek version is available, check back later for an english version and also for the printed issue (I'll post pictures here when it arrives).

also, Denis Olivier and his companions over at Art Limited honored me with a feature of "Cirque du Noir". I kinda like the people & concept over there, so you will see me posting stuff there every now and then.

More photographs

2008-10-04T16:04:00.002+02:00

three more pictures from Wörlitz; click the link below and wait for even more.

Wörlitz and random stuff

2008-10-03T15:48:00.004+02:00

I've returned from a trip to Wörlitz (eastern Germany), Dessau and Naumburg. Photographs will be constantly uploaded. You can have a look here (and later, chosen ones, on the site itself as well.)

Schloss Wörlitz etc.

Random stuff: Microsoft needed 8 days to repair (read: swap) my xbox due to a broken motherboard (no video signal) and a crappy dvd-drive. Finally some NHL'09 again. Also I got mail from Greece, the magazine with 4 paintings will be published in one (read: hopefully two) weeks.

MORE Photos

2008-08-30T17:51:00.000+02:00

The link below includes more photographs, more detailed information can be seen at DA.

random photographs

2008-08-27T22:58:00.001+02:00

I will constantly update photographs here, some will be published at the website as well.

Italy

END OF TOUR

2008-08-27T13:03:00.002+02:00

So we're back from Italy, 13 days, 3000km and 1300 photographs later. We kinda managed to do/visit all we had expected (Bergamo and San Gimingnano had to be ignored/not looked closely due to different circumstances).

I will upload photographs later, mainly to DA and some of them to the photography section of this site.

site update

2008-08-10T14:04:00.002+02:00

I kinda fixed the layout of the blog, at least that should be enough for now.

Although - and honestly I didn't do that for a couple of months now - I update the site's gallery with a couple of new images. The recent 4 ones will be published in the greek magazine PROJECT MAGAZINE in print & online. I'll keep you up with news about that.

The following 2 paintings are currently on hold (not for sale anymore that means): The Clown and The Dream of the Artist. You still can order prints via DeviantArt though.

Hello World.

2008-08-10T10:36:00.004+02:00

So basically we're on our way to Italy, travelling through different cities (Como, Milano, Bergamo, Verona, Mantova, Pavia, Perugia, Parma, Vada, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Florence, Fiesole, Assisi, Bologna, Padua, Vicenza). For that, I'll set up some stupid blog which also works as a news-reader for the site itself.

But then, I still have to edit stuff. And I really don't get it; so that's why you have to excuse that crappy layout and hope for the fact that I might have a clue some day to change/edit a couple of stuff.