Interview
Mikkel Branth
Mikkel Branth is a Danish artist. He was born in 1978. All of his paintings are original unique acrylic paintings on canvas.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My entire life, I have been searching for a mental quiet place, I have been able to find it in nature, especially in the Ocean, where I dived to the bottom, holding my breath for as long as possible, I found freediving which was such a calm place for my mind, even though my body was struggling for air, the mind was able to control it, and every other thought just disappeared out of my mind. Holding my breath underwater actually let me to a spot in the Danish national team in freediving, where I have been competing in the World Championships several times. When I stopped competing, I needed a break from freediving, so naturally I searched for a new ‘quiet place.’ I tried playing with canvases and colors, never thinking that I could be creative - I had never been. But once again, my mind became quiet, I was able to be with the art, and just the art, be with the colors, the feelings and the entire process. It was supposed to be just my place, and not to invite anyone in there - but a very good friend of mine, kept saying that my art should out, touch people, make people smile etc. I was thinking about this for 6 months, and then decided to show the world my art - and that was the first step.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My art is always an expression of my current mood, if I am happy that is the energy I go with, if I’m in love, I will follow that energy etc. I have tried planning doing stuff, but it never feels right. I have to be totally free with my mind, no control from the outside that will make med stop and think, I need to feel every inch that I make on the canvas. I often feel that I am going to a blank canvas with a mind that is very full and busy, and then I empty my mind on the canvas. You can almost say it is my therapy room or my boxing ball.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“It is 99% improvisation, as mentioned before, planning does not work very well for me. Something I plan that I want to use some colors or create a certain background, but every time I plan too much; I end up with something completely different or need to start over again.”
Are there any art world trends you are following?
“No not really - but of course it is impossible not to see a lot of different artists on social media, and of course I get inspiration from a lot of them. I can find a video and think ‘that looks fun, i need to try something like that.’”
“My art is always an expression of my current mood.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I paint on canvas using acrylic paint most of the time, but I also use spray paint. Sometimes I use coal, sometimes I use crayons. In periods, I never use a brush, just scraping, splashing etc. - but then suddenly I change to maybe a huge brush, and fall in love with that for a period.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Since my art is an expression of my emotions, it means so much to me. A single piece is a reminder of that exact emotion and situation, maybe it is inspired by a person and then the art bring back memories with this person. An example of this could be the two paintings that I made 1 and 2 years after my cousin committed suicide - I was very close with him and of course it was extremely painful. But he was much more than that suicide, and the paintings reminds me of the memories, the travels, all the laughs etc.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“My favorite artwork is on my kitchen wall, it is an Russian lithography, actually it is very simple, black and white, very different from everything else I have and create. But this lithography has been hanging in my father's house as long as I can remember, and when he moved 10 years ago, he gave it to me. So, it has become my favorite artwork, because of the story, not so much what it looks like - and in that way art can create a whole new story, without the artist even knowing.”
Instagram: @by.mikkel
