The beginning of a problem from stephen hiam on Vimeo.
“A work of art is only of interest, in my opinion, when it is an immediate and direct projection of what is happening in the depth of a person’s being… …It is my belief that only in this ‘Art Brut’ can we find the natural and normal processes of artistic creation in their pure and elementary state.” Jean Dubuffet”
I don’t usually start features with quotes, and I rarely use quotes from an artist other then the featured artist. I will make this exception today. Times have changed when we are referencing Dubuffet to describe art that has been influenced by graffiti.
When I first saw the work of Berlin Based artist Stephen Hiam I immediately thought of this quote. Sometimes the Sublime and immediacy of creating a painting in such a direct and minimal matter as Stephen paints you are only left with feelings, rather than words. Describing emotion is easier said than done. Stephen’s work invokes just that, an emotional and direct reaction. Love it or hate it you are involved immediately with the painting. Some of the greatest work will always leave you in this state of contemplation. It is this process and introspection that today’s artists are also faced with. When talking to Hiam you are able to see this contemplation taking place. It is an exciting time to see our contemporary artists taking our culture into new territories and continue traditions of our masters, albeit conceptual. Stephen Hiam’s paintings are a force, that leaves contemplation with a sublime landscape of personal emotion. Where process soothes and enables the artist to fulfill a minimal aesthetic. The ability for the process to become an extension of the work is where I see Hiam’s ability to walk away from his paintings knowing they are finished. We hope to delve more into the work and process of Stephen’s work. Till then enjoy these pictures. We leave you with a quote from the artist.
GF
“I don’t like paintings of doe eyed girls and fluffy animals, I find life stark. Maybe thats why i like graffiti so much as a kid, the pure violence and destruction.”
Stephen Hiam
