Kristian Adam

(Canada)

SP: HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN SURREALISM?

KRISTIAN: Mystery attracts me and motivates curiosity and self-exploration. When I became serious about my art I initially went through a period where I struggled with my own creative ability simply because I became incredibly demanding of it. It hadn’t been exercised with intention or intensity before. When I realized my dreams were a powerful source of creative and primal thought I began to focus more energy on understanding and remembering them.

SP: WHAT MEDIUMS YOU PRESENTLY WORK IN?

KRISTIAN: I work in a variety of mediums. For me, oils are the romantic choice when capturing the subtlety of light. They are always a pleasure to use.

SP: WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON PRESENTLY?

KRISTIAN: I am working on the concepts for my next solo exhibit called ‘Dead Rose Red’. I am also working on a large collection of paintings for two ambitious book collaborations, March of the Fat Babies and Rupert Greenwood, written by Michael Sasi. He is very eccentric. He wears hats made of whale blubber and toothpicks, and drives a new muscle car every week.

SP: WHERE DO YOU PAINT?
KRISTIAN: Anywhere. My James Bond easel is quite magical, fully retractable and extremely fashionable. It goes where I go. My studio space is definitely efficient, but painting on location is more inspiring.

SP: DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE/PAINTING PROCESS

KRISTIAN: I work with abstract shape, concentrate on composition, then build upon those shapes. Sometimes I start with a title that helps stimulate thought. It's all very suggestive. I allow my mind to wander naturally. The construction process is usually quite mysterious.

SP: WHAT ARE YOUR PREFERRED SUBJECTS?
KRISTIAN: I work from experience and memory because I feel it creates a dimension unique to me. If I struggle with the physics of an object, i.e.: lighting, I will at last resort, examine it, possibly paint a specific study of it, but then go back to the original concept and create a unique instance of that object using what I learnt in its dissection. Anatomy and biology of things interest’s me.

SP: WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY WITH ART?
KRISTIAN: My mother was an artist so I think she instilled a love of art in me when I was young. She says I used to watch her paint, and I would draw on her walls and mirrors with lipstick because she wouldn’t let me use her oils. My family has always supported my artistic decisions through all levels of experimentation. Support equals growth. I’m thankful they were respectful of my desire and passion.

SP: HAVE YOU HAD A RECENT SHOW OR ONE UPCOMING?

KRISTIAN: My last show was ‘Heartworks.’ It was the largest body of work I've ever created for one show (24 oil paintings). I painted 16 hours a day for 3 months to complete it. I drank in excess of 300 Slurpies to get through it. Quite scary really. My next solo exhibit will be ‘Dead Rose Red.’ My subject matter and symbolism are becoming more complex, so it will take much longer to complete this show. I will be exhibiting work at the Canadian Embassy in Japan in 2008.

question from previously featured artist Mary Carter:
HAVE YOU ALWAYS PAINTED IN A SURREALIST WAY? WERE THERE TIMES WHEN YOU PAINTED IN, FOR INSTANCE, AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR ABSTRACT WAY?

KRISTIAN: I like to explore all mediums and artistic styles. Over the years I’ve settled on a combination of techniques that have solidified into something unique to me. I admire the early surrealists but much of my own work contains rational metaphors and meaningful symbols which exclude it from being classified as ‘true’ surrealism.

Click here to contact Kristian as well as viewing his up to date portfolio.

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