Interview
Mario Skender
Mario Skender was born in 1985 in Osijek, Croatia. Since early childhood, his main interest has been drawing and art in general.
Mario doesn’t limit himself in the choice of techniques and styles. His work is mainly explores freedom, state of consciousness, spirituality, and creativity.
Mario is currently a professional tattoo artist. He owns a tattoo studio and art gallery on the main square in Osijek.
He is the father of two girls, who often participate in the creation of his works. Mario is actively involved in the urban scene of his city and country.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“First of all, I’d like to greet and thank all the readers of this interview.
As a child, I loved to draw, paint, and express myself creatively. I started my artistic journey as a street-graffiti artist. Even though I’ve grown up, I still live in the urban street culture style of graffiti, extreme sports, and tattoos.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“When I first started creating, I didn’t have any message. I simply explored and expressed my own creativity. At the time, the most important thing for me was being original.
Lately, the most common theme of my work has been the improvement of society in any way, either through criticism or through a positive message. I also try to show the graffiti style in my work as well.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I mainly follow the world’s top galleries, the most famous art events, and the most successful artists. I try to recognize the quality and the message they send.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“Of late, I’ve been meticulously planning all my work in advance. But I’ve a lot of works that were pure improvisation and self-exploration.”
“The message that I send through my art is very important to me, and I try to send it in the simplest possible way.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
“I experiment and research a lot. I’ve used almost all techniques and materials available, as I don’t want to limit myself, both in terms of style and technique. As I’ve matured as an artist, I’ve stayed true to the style and messages I’ve developed.
I love oils on canvas, but spray cans are still my favorite tool for expression.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art and creative expression have helped mold me into the person I am. My artistic development is closely related to my personal development. Art, for me, is LIFE.”
What is your favorite artwork and why?
“Unfortunately, I can’t single out my favorite work. But if I had to pick, I’d probably choose my more recent creations. They send a very clear and important message for the whole of society.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I haven’t participated in exhibitions before. I’ve always created exclusively for myself, and I’ve never really thought about an artistic career. But after a lot of high-quality and original works, I realized that I should do everything in my power to leave a legacy for my country, city and family, because I truly consider myself an artist. The only thing left is to be recognized by the society, which I’ve started actively working on.”
Website: www.marioskender.com
Instagram: @marioskender85
