Beastman Debuts With Future Origins

1xRUN Thru Interview
Future Origins Series by Beastman

1xRun: Tell us a little bit about these 3 pieces, are they still for sale?
Beastman: These three pieces were part of my most recent body of work and solo exhibition titled ‘Future Origins’, they were exhibited and sold at Backwoods Gallery in Melbourne in May 2014.

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1xRun: Were these pieces part of a recent theme, series or show that you had?
Beastman: The ‘Future Origins’ exhibition was a further extension of my on going body of work, a new visual aesthetic and narrative universe, a continued exploration of a futuristic vision. The works depict a latent cosmical ecosystem of hope and survival, a world inhabited by new lifeforms whose supernatural origins are suggested through concentric symmetry, repetition and vibrant details.

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1xRUN: What materials did you use to create this piece?
Beastman: Acrylic, ink and satin varnish on 60cm x 60cm mounted plywood panels.

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1xRun: When were these pieces created?
Beastman: The paintings were created in January/February 2014, all three paintings were painted at the same time, almost as if they were actually one piece, which is why I wanted to release them as prints together in a set.

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1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about…
Beastman: These paintings generate themselves organically out of geometry. They start with the same measured grid layout, then the shapes, lines and forms all get worked out of the measurements. Then different aspects are repeated, mirrored or alternated across all three works. The main core of each painting is developed in the initial pencil sketch up stage of the artwork, then other details are refined well into the actual painting, which is a patient process of layering acrylic paint followed by ink outlines, then more final acrylic details.

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1xRun: How long did these pieces each take?
Beastman: I spent about 6 weeks creating these 3 paintings together.

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1xRun: What is unique about each of these pieces?
Beastman: There are so many elements that are essentially the same about these 3 pieces, they are birthed from the same measured format, feature the same colors, repetitive patterns, lines and angles… But the images resulting from the creative process are most definitely quite unique, they each portray their own lifeforms, their own energy and their own sense of balance.

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1xRun: Why should people buy one of these prints?
Beastman: These prints will breath new life and energy into your space. Also I rarely release prints that are reproductions of paintings, usually my print editions are new and unique images created digitally. So this print set is actually quite different for me.

1xRun: Describe these three pieces in one gut reaction word.
Beastman: Cosmic.

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1xRun: When did you first start making art?
Beastman: I grew up in the suburbs of Sydney, I was a kid completely obsessed with and immersed in skateboarding. I grew up experimenting with drawing, painting, film making, photography and design from a young age, then after high school I studied graphic design. It wasn’t until I was about 25 that I began to create some artwork I thought was different and at that point began to get involved in exhibiting my work locally in Sydney. Then it all just went from there really, I’m now 34 and never thought I would be supporting my own family from my art.

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1xRun: What was your first piece?
Beastman: My first painting I can remember was of a random tropical fish on cardboard when I was about 6 years old. My friends mum liked it and paid me $5 for it, I think that was my first real introduction and encouragement into the commercial art world.

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1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?
Beastman: Most of the art I was exposed to at a young age was the art affiliated with skate culture, and the graffiti I would see whilst out skating the streets. Some of the artists that I enjoyed back then and still do today are Ed Templeton, Evan Hecox, Don Pendleton, Jim Houser, Mark Gonzales, Barry McGee etc. As a kid I was also exposed to the random art my dad was into, a bit of fantasy, science fiction and surrealist stuff, artists like MC Escher, Boris Vallejo, HR Giger, Frank Frazetta and Jim Warren.

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1xRun: What artists inspire you now?
Beastman: There are so many great artists out there producing amazing work at the moment, I am going to take this opportunity to name drop some of my local pacific based friends who are currently doing great things around the world – Vans The Omega, Askew, Numskull, Trent Whitehead, Mark Whalen, Luke Taaffe, Phibs, Rone, Sofles, Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Reka, Yok, Roach, Fintan Magee, and Twoone.

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1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work?
Beastman: Music has always been a big part of my creative process, I have been heavily into lots of different styles of music since I was a kid. These days I am listening to electronic music more than anything else – Plaid, Clark, Aphex Twin, Bibio, Tycho, Muziq, Luke Vibert, Autechre etc – But on any given day you may also find me listening to some of my favorites – Hot Water Music, Neurosis, Breach, Coerce, Liars, Mogwai, Fugazi, Sufjan Stevens, The Loved Ones… could go on forever.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
Beastman: I have been so lucky to have collaborated with some amazing artists already, and am always open to more collaborations in the future. I love the process of meshing my work together with someone else, its always a challenge I really enjoy and often produces really interesting results. If I could collaborate with any living artist at the moment it would be Dalek, always loved his work and I am really enjoying his recent mural works.

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1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Beastman: MC Escher – would love to witness the process of his mind.

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought?
Beastman: I think it would have been a painting by my friend Trent Whitehead, I swapped him for one of my paintings in a group exhibition we did together.

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1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Beastman: A limited edition print by Sat One.

1xRun: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Beastman: The next few months will consist mainly of just mural projects around Australia and some commission works, so it should be a fun summer here in Australia! My next exhibition will be in collaboration with my good friend Vans The Omega in Western Australia with Form Gallery. Then after that a solo exhibition in Hong Kong with Above Second Gallery in July.

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1xRun: Where can we find you?
Beastman: WebsiteFacebook –  TwitterInstagram @bradeastman

-1xRUN