Adriean mixes the rough and tumble with clean modern imagery from the 40s and 50s, creating bold new pictures reflecting on days past. His arrangements are refreshing, and I can't wait to see more of his handmade collages!
Adriean Koleric
www.thinkitem.com
Edmonton, Canada
Describe your work in 10 words or less.
On a mission to devour worlds one by one.
What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
I prefer to use a combination of magazine from the early 40's to mid 50's, modern day design publications and children's construction paper.
How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
I've been doing collage off and on since childhood, but finally got serious about it a few years ago when I had collaborated with a couple of Artists on a piece of furniture I had designed called the 'Monster' Lamp. It was a simple form that allowed anyone to customize it as they saw fit. One of those people that I had approached, Chad Kouri, was a brilliant collage Artist from Chicago that I just happened upon. Working with him essentially got the collage bug back in me. From there I began to phase out my furniture design work and focused all my attention on collage. Starting with digital, then gradually returning back to handmade which is where I am right now.
Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
I wish. I pay the bills drafting at an Architectural Millwork Shop by day and hit the cutting board in the evenings. It's actually nice to have that break to clear my head and get back at it with a fresh approach. Plus having your fellow employees not knowing what you do after hours adds that extra bit for me.
Do you have any formal art training?
My only form of post-secondary education is Interior Design Technology. Everything I've done creatively (Furniture Design, collage, painting, etc.) has been self-taught.
Explain your favourite techniques.
I like to spend a lot of time focusing on the backdrop surface before moving onto the collage components themselves. I work mostly on plywood which allows me to layer paint in an aggressive manner to the point where it's got the vibe of a wall surface you'd come across in the street. Weathered, scratched up, abused, etc. It just adds that extra bit of interest for the viewer, especially in person.
Describe your favourite piece ever created.
I'm close. I'll let you know when I get there!
What other artists do you admire?
Off the top of my head i'd throw out Jeff Soto, Buff Monster, The Sucklord, Jason Atomic, Bigfoot One, Dr.Lakra, Chad Kouri, Mario Wagner, Motomichi Nakamura and Steve Seeley. Really digging his stuff right now. He always has these little brush strokes of all the colours he used in his paintings off to the corner like a tag. Inspiring work.
Thanks Adriean!
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One thing I don't enjoy of the medium of collage is that with its massification a number of repeated and repeatable formulae have been introduced as successful style trade marks, and experimentation is difficult to find, as difficult as to maintain an equilibrium between attractive form and conceptually unruly formlessness.The work of Adrien has struck me as a very good solution to the problem! In it, one can recognize certain trends in visuality (the object-head body, the heavily textured backgrounds), that have been fortunatelly refreshed, and there are still enough new and unexpected elements to add the pleasure of surprise and analysis.It is well composed, but not predictable. The work takes risks, and it speaks of someone doing it to have fun and experiment, and not to impress others with "style". Very good!