Meet Alaric Hobbs
Interview by Crist Espiritu.
Artworks by Alaric Hobbs.
How did you first get into art?
I was 5. I ran up to my Dad after school being excited having learnt about an artist who cut his ear with a knife, as far as I can remember art has always been a forefront of my life. It was after drawing Crash Bandicoot, I was 9 and I remember showing my friends and everyone said how good it was. That’s when I realized art was definitely for me.
Tell us about your artistic development. What would you say were the things that influenced your art early on?
Personally, I find art so tedious from before Post Impressionism. I would say that my development evolves from what I believe in. I can’t stand there and get very much from a painting. I need to move around, get involved somehow. Artwork has to heighten my senses in more ways than one. I’m obsessed with facts, therefore, with my art, I want to not only create something visually appealing but mentally engaging too.
“I ran up to my Dad after school being excited having learnt about an artist who cut his ear with a knife”
Have you always drawn in this geometric style or have you gone through several phases before arriving at your current style?
I’ve always been able to draw, except people. I started drawing in this style over 3 years ago now. I was flicking through previous work recently and considering I know very little about illustration, it’s pretty cool to see that my style has developed greatly over this time period. That’s rewarding.
When did you start getting heavily into geometry? Why geometry? What is the most fascinating thing about it that is reflected in your art?
I studied Contemporary Crafts at Falmouth University in England, and my practice was sculpture. I was always annoyed at myself for never getting my work ‘perfect’. During my final year, I was researching the origins of oil, and it originates from geometric plankton, not dinosaurs, as we all believe. I was fascinated by this and started to realize that geometry kept appearing in my work subconsciously. What I absolutely love is how geometry is particularly found within nature, something so organic, yet follows rigid forms. What’s also fascinating is that if you research enough you can find it in almost anything. My art reflects this with how I’m influenced by; geometry, symbolism, myths, spirituality, facts and natural phenomena.
Do you have a favorite piece? If so what is it and what is it about?
Right now, I’m a bit obsessed with an Anglo-Saxon symbol called ‘Web Of Wyrd’. I’m interested in language and migration, and, as an Englishman living here in Berlin, I find the English/German connection pleasing. The symbol itself combines every Runic letter and meant for Anglo-Saxons’ fate or personal destiny. A combination I believe in. What’s even cooler is that the word ‘weird’ we use today also originates from this symbol.
“I’m obsessed with facts, therefore, with my art, I want to not only create something visually appealing but mentally engaging too.”
What would you say is art’s most important role in today’s society?
Good question. I was discussing with a friend recently about how I felt guilty, and slightly selfish for pursuing my dream of living from my art. She made a valid point. She said’ “ imagine if you woke up in a shite mood and then saw a lovely piece of artwork you owned, that would instantly lift your mood.” It made me realize that, by appreciating something that makes you more positive, it, in turn, puts you into the world a more positive person and to me, that cannot be a bad thing.
” It made me realize that, by appreciating something that makes you more positive, it, in turn, puts you into the world a more positive person and to me, that cannot be a bad thing.”
Lately I’ve been thinking about how social media and the internet have affected people’s interaction with art. I mean, a long time a go people have to go to certain places, or buy certain mags to see artworks. Nowadays, art floods our newsfeed. How do you think this over exposure affected the way people view art?
Thinking about it, I see this over-exposure an important happening. It is really great to see another movement of arts and crafts, where the creator is not only making what they love but being rewarded with it at the same time. This over-exposure not only helps the small businesses, but, also highlights how someone might feel about where a certain product comes from, whereas, before, they might have felt it was out of their price range or it was something they didn’t know enough about. That and it highlights people’s need to become more individual, particularly with the world’s rising population.
Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share with our readers?
At the end of the Summer, I’m exhibiting a solo show at Cell63, here in Berlin.
Where do you think art is headed?
I see the art world finally becoming more accepting of the large umbrella it covers. I’m intrigued for the future. I believe science is going to have a large impact on art, be it, display, artwork or exhibitions. There are going to be so many more possibilities. Imagine uses of a hologram for example. Pretty exciting, I would say!
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