Interview
Henrik Bakmann
Henrik Bakmann is an award-winning contemporary artist from Denmark. He has won a number of awards for his work, and has published two youth books.
Henrik is a trained media graphic artist who works with many different types of art and materials.
Inspired by the North American coastal Indians, he has made totem pictures of wood.
Henrik makes mobiles, masks and pictures of plexiglass.
What is your background and how did you start your journey?
“I was only a small child when my grandfather introduced me to art, as I followed his artistic work with oil paintings. However, I only really started drawing when I was 12 or 13 years old. I drew crazy faces, mostly abstract, but I wasn’t that enthusiastic about drawing. When computers came into the world, it opened my eyes to a new possibility of working with images.
In my younger days, however, it was not painting and drawing that filled my time. Instead, I taught drama to children and young people, which led to an education as a drama leader. I later moved on to drama pedagogical art and became a culture communicator for children and young people.
My artistic focus was on the scenography and the actors’ artistic expression and presentation. I chose to combine my creativity with the skills I’d learned in my teacher training course.”
What inspires you most?
“My inspiration comes from a variety of sources, including my personal experiences, the work of other artists, current events, the environment, and the world around me.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“As a contemporary artist, the message in my artwork is to celebrate the beauty of nature, and hopefully make people realize that if we don’t do something now, our beautiful nature and wildlife will disappear.”
“My pictures relate to the environment and nature. I would like to create images that emphasize the value of an open and intact nature.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is characterized by a focus on creativity, often in an abstract and experimental exploration of the limits of traditional art forms. It involves unconventional techniques, and can be inspired by a variety of sources, including nature, dreams and the subconscious.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I like many different forms of art, from Michael Heizer, to Rebecca Vincent, to Andy Warhol, and even new, unknown artists.”
What is your creative process like?
“My graphic images are created by processing photos of different surfaces and patterns, and putting them together into imaginative landscapes. The pictures thus become an expression of my feelings and dreams.
My desire is therefore to give wings to the imagination, to fly out to the people and give the outside world the opportunity to form their own imaginative dreams and experiences, and by so doing, make the art experience personal.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role is to create works of art that reflect the culture and values of the society they live in. This role evolves as technology advances and new forms of art are created. More and more artists—like myself—are using digital tools to create art, and we are also able to reach a wider audience through social media and other online platforms. As technology continues to evolve, digital artists will continue to find new ways to express themselves and their ideas.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve experienced incredible interest from many galleries in Istanbul, Turkey, and southern Europe. What I probably find most noteworthy is the support and interest I’ve received from art curator Salvatore Russo and art curator Francesco Russo, who’ve been able to see something extraordinary in my pictures. I’m also grateful to art curator Linus Cinnamoni, who has provided inspiring support.
I have won the following prizes and have had my work published as shown below:
Prizes
2023 - International Prize Donatello.
2022 - International Prize Paris.
- The best Modern and Contemporary Artists London Prize.
Publications
2023 - Art Magazineium Issue, 23.
- The World Art Guide 2023.
2022 - Art international Contemporary Magazine No. 4.
- Art international Contemporary Magazine No. 6.
- Segnalati London 2022.”
Instagram: @bakmannartt
Other: Facebook
