We are excited to welcome in Dutch artist Handiedan for her debut release! With a masterful mix of collage the intricate detail of found materials and iconic sultry pin up girls has found Handiedan showing in galleries and with public murals around the world. She join us this holiday season for her debut 1xRUN release Parallax. We caught up with the storied collage artist to discuss her debut RUN, available in an oversized hand-embellished/collage edition, unique silver and blue aluminum edition and hyper detailed paper edition, read on for more from Handiedan…
1x: Tell us a little bit about Parallax, anything immediate you would like us to highlight about this image?
Handiedan: Parallax symbolizes the different optical view or impression a person can have. Optical differences, and the differentiation thereof. A small change, can make a huge difference. Also called The parallax effect. Optical illusion and there is more that meets the eye. A periscopic view of the circle of life with the inner and outer challenges we all face.
1x: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Handiedan: The original collage was part of the Trifecta show. For that show I created 5 larger sized hand cut collages. This was a new challenge for me in size and in detail. The result is an in depth overview of the type of artwork I’ve created throughout the years and more, but with the main subject as described earlier.
1x: When was this piece drawn and created?
Handiedan: I did this piece back in early 2015 over the span of about 2 months.
1x: Tell us a little bit about your process, how did the idea and execution came about for this piece?
Handiedan:
First, I digitally create the design, a computer collage and imagery manipulation. Bringing classic pin-up body parts together with ornamental components from currencies, sheet music and my own cartoon pen drawings. Then I rebuild these digital designs into multi-layered hand-cut collages with a distinctive three-dimensional quality.
1x: Where do you find your materials?
Handiedan: I’m always collecting. By coincidence on the streets, or with a purpose at flea markets. Sometimes even fans send me material.
1x: How did the influence of collage come into your work?
Handiedan:
In the beginning when social media started to rise, browsing creative images and artists became much easier. I really got inspired to start designing myself in this way. Collaging was where the fine line between digital and analog faded. Fusing these two worlds always fascinated me.
1x: Describe this series in one gut reaction word.
Handiedan: Inside-outside.
1x: What was your first piece?
Handiedan: Pin Up Tree.
1x: For those not familiar with your work, give us a brief introduction…
Handiedan: I am a female mixed media collage artist, age 34. Born and bred Dutchy and currently living and working in Amsterdam. I first started creating work full time as an artist in 2002 and began my current style in 2007.
1x: Do you start with sketching or studies to build a base or is it largely improvised?
Handiedan: Only a really rough pen sketch, that helps me stick with my main idea during the creating process. From there on I’m creating in a flow and let the design “arise by it self.”
1x:Where do you find your materials?
Handiedan: I’m always collecting. By coincidence on there streets, or with a purpose on flea markets, or sometimes even fans send me material.
1x: I would also love to touch on some of your large scale works, how do murals/large public pieces fit in with your works and is that something you want to keep doing?
Handiedan: Bringing my pieces outdoors is not just an enlargement, but an extension of my art. It nourishes my investigation of the way tiny details and subjects are able to fuse within a larger design. At first sight, my work is very graphic, symmetrical, with a clear and centered main subject. But after a closer look, you find the busyness of the work with all its tiny details.
It’s interesting to see how these tiny items become man-size and create a whole new interaction with the observer. Also, if you look at the mural projects and how I execute them: It’s not about just pasting paper on a wall. I want to integrate and fuse the image with the building. The building has to suit the image and vice versa. They correspond and become one. It’s like my original collages, Every piece has its corresponding frame. A fusion of artwork and frame.
And of course, a very important reason is that art outdoors, reaches people who aren’t always in the position to go to a gallery, or where the priority or interest isn’t per se art.
A new discussion, a new interaction with all different kind of people.
1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Handiedan: At the moment I’m working on new pieces for the upcoming group show called ‘XX a Moment in Time’ at Saatchi Gallery in London, curated by Yasha Young and Olly Walker Show will run from February 3rd thru March 6th.
1x: Where else can people find you?
Handiedan: Website – Instagram + Facebook + Twitter + Pinterest @Handiedan
-1xRUN