1xRUN Thru Interview
Endangered Species by Malt & Mark Penxa
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this collection of work, anything immediate you would like to highlight?
Malt: What started off as a 2 dimensional painting turned into 3 dimensional sculptures. For instance the rhino initially lived in a 2 dimensional world, but it over time evolved to take on a 3 dimensional form.
1xRun: What materials were used to create these pieces?
Mark Penxa: Whatever we could find really. When we first started we played around with a lot of different papers to see which felt the best to us.
1xRun: When was this series drawn and created?
Mark Penxa: We started in July of last year. I think that’s when we first met and talked about collaborating together. It wasn’t until last month that we finished the sculpture pieces. Even after the public showing this idea just kept on growing.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Malt: Mark and I did a pop up show in December last year. The first go, we both poured in all our energy into creating the work and by the deadline we both felt like we had many more ideas to explore. So enter the “Endangered Species” series.
1xRun: How long did each of these piece take?
Malt: For me, Some of the sculpture pieces took a little longer than others. I usually paint flat, so some of the larger ones were more of a challenge. Working around the angles of the piece with the line work.
Mark Penxa: Some came to be quicker than others but, almost a year to work out the entire thought. I think we made over a hundred pieces all together, both on paper and the sculptures. It wasn’t until after we hung the show that we were both standing around looking at a pile of paintings that there just wasn’t any room for and we both started laughing, we didn’t realize how much we had made. We just kept going and going for months.
1xRun: What is unique about this collection of work?
Malt: It’s not every day that two artist can collaborate on artwork with their variations in art styles and have them blend together as if the work came from one hand.
Mark Penxa: For me, it is our styles and how they play off of each other. We are more similar in our work than I originally realized. Our application and the way we work is completely different but, it was really interesting to watch it sort of melt together and become one piece instead of two artists’ clashing on a piece of paper. I think that you can see us working it out and learning about each other on these pieces and I really like that about them. It’s all right there.
1xRun: Describe this collection in one gut reaction word.
Malt: Extinct.
Mark Penxa: Balanced.
1xRun: You two have collaborated quite a bit, tell us about that. how did you two meet and how long have you been working together?
Mark Penxa: Malt and I came up together in the same circles, playing in bands and through skateboarding. It wasn’t until after a group show that we were both a part of that we sort of realized: “Hey, why aren’t we friends? Why aren’t we making things together?” We met up pretty soon after that.
1xRun: What aspects of each other’s work are you most drawn to?
Malt: Marks ability to have structure through free flowing lines and his vast range of mediums through his imagery. Plus his art just rules!
Mark Penxa: I am insanely jealous of Malt’s line work. It is always beautiful and very intimidating.
1xRun: You are both staying busy, what are your plans for the spring and summer?
Malt: I have a few mural projects in the works. Also doing another series of laser wood cuts with you guys and a 4 person show at Janice Charach galley in August.
Mark Penxa: I’m retreating back under my rock to do graphics for Stereo Skateboards and get some larger paintings finished for a solo show later this Summer.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Malt: Website – Facebook – Instagram@malt1ski
Mark Penxa: Website – Instagram @markpenxa
-1xRUN