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Who’d have thought so – Facebook is not about socializing only: the more you keep an eye out for art, the more interesting positions you can discover. Thus I got to know a young Danish artist who brought some artists to my attention whose work is worth a closer look:

Michael á Grømma: God is in the house, Acryl + Mixed Media, 100 x 100 cm, 2007 © Michael á Grømma

Michael á Grømma, actually a graphic designer,  has found his way to painting only last year when he came back from a trip to California. These experiences there flew into his works. The paintings are collages of prints of skyline photos taken in California, mostly San Francisco.

In Februay, Grømma has his first solo exhibition coming up at Gallerie Rasmus, one of Denmark’s major galleries, in Kopenhagen.

I will report more about his work soon and I’m glad Michael consented to an email interview. (The interview is published now – read on here.)

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Kristian Vodder Svensson: Untitled, Acryl on Canvas, 100 x 200 cm

Kristian Vodder Svensson, another young Danish artist. Also represented by Gallerie Rasmus.

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Ivan Andersen: The shadow out of time, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2007

Ivan Andersen (*1968) is a central figure within a new generation of Danish figurative painters. His motifs are often taken from the most common and tedious surroundings of modern Danish daily life. He captures experiences of parking lots, standard houses, living rooms, apartment houses and hot-dog stands and mixes them with surfaces and structures in the paintings which force the viewer to perceive the objects in a new and different way, which can seem very humoristic and frightening at the same time. Ivan Andersen graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2005. The same year he received the prestigious “Lille Søndergaard-Grant” (quoted Galleri Bo Bjerggaard).

I’m pleased to introduce you another artist / architect and am glad that he found the time to answer some questions!

Soavina Ramaroson (*1977) is a young architect and artist from Madagascar, residing in Paris.

Being a graduate architect, Ramaroson works as both architect and artist.His wish to improve the human conditions made him choose the profession of architecture.

During his studies, he had to do a study about urbanism which led him to the underprivileged quarters of Antananarivo, the Malgasy city where he was born. Here, he shot his photo series “vis-à-vie” which, according to Ramaroson, shows the simplicity and pragmatism, the smile and hospitality of Madagascar – a very impressive portrait.

To find out more about “vis-à-vie” and to view some photos, please go to the artist’s website.

Ramaroson has already taken part in several exhibitions, with a special focus on young + contemporary African art, in France, Germany, Africa, and Japan (for an overview please read on here).

I’m free, 80 x 120 cm, 2008

Presently his works can be seen at the “Spot on…Bamako” exhibitions at the IFA Galleries in Berlin (24.10.2008 – 11.01.2009) and Stuttgart (30. Jan. to 21. Mar. 2009).

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Why does an architect become artist?

Well… the right question can be « how does an artist become an architect »

But actually, I don’t consider myself as an artist or an architect, even if the diploma says that I’m DPLG (« Diplomé Par Le Gouvernement », graduate by the government).

Let’s says, I’m looking for a way… just trying to be…

How does architecture and your studies of architecture influence your artistical work?

I can say that my studies, or architecture make my work be realistic (opposite of abstract).
But, the main thing is that I use the same method when I want to create: the idea, then the drawing and finally the object…

And the other way round: does your art influence your architectural work?

Yes, I work like an architect, in a big company… Let’s say beginner, I didn’t make my proof yet. So I can not answer this question

You mostly photograph, but do you also work with other mediums or techniques? Drawing, collage, …..?

I didn’t find my way yet, so I work with what I can catch with my hands…

How did you find your medium(s)?

By luck…

What are your ambitions with your works?

I feel a need to create things I see beautiful, with sense, with messages.

How do you choose your motifs?

Let’s say, they find me…

Do you include a political / social critical connotation in your works? What is your aim?

I think I’ve been fed of everything around me, images, politic, thought… that I need to interprete and show it my way… I guess, it’s called critics… Aim? to start a dialogue.

Who / What are your role models? Who / What influenced your work?

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Since your work also deals with urban situations: What do you think about the recent urban developments?

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What – in your opinion – is characteristic of your work and your working method?

I’m too young to answer…