earlier this month we interviewed alex brewer, better known as HENSE about his work. since then he has been working on some sculptures, which he has just sent us pictures of. the untitled works see the artist exploring the use of irregular wooden forms and cinder blocks combined with his signature vivid colors and spontaneous markings.

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_02
untitled, 2014
acrylic and spray paint on concrete block
dimensions variable
fay gold gallery

 

 

 

DB: how would you describe your work to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
AB: I describe my public works as contemporary public art and my paintings as contemporary painting. I’m interested in the relationships of elements, shapes and colors and how they interact with each other. mark making is a form of expression that I like to focus on as well. I think a lot about context and where the work will be seen.

 

recently I’ve been working on cutting large shapes out of wood and painting them. I’ll then play with the way they can interact with each other spatially in an environment. all of my works are nonrepresentational and purely abstract. I’m putting focus on the process and use a spontaneous act of painting. I never like to plan out my work. I’ll create preliminary images to get ideas from, but I like to explore things while I’m creating the work.

 

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_03

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_04

 

        

 

 

DB: what areas of your work are you hoping to explore in 2014?
AB: I’m looking to expand my vocabulary as a visual artist into the realm of creating installations that are spatially interactive. i’d also like to continue to push contemporary painting and what that can be. I’m focused on pushing myself as well as the viewer. there are endless possibilities within painting and mark making as well as public art. I’m also looking to continue to broaden my work and projects internationally. traveling and seeing new things is an important component to my work. I find that the city, people and experience can influence the work. I enjoy days in my studio as well, but the experience of travel is always a fun part of my work.

 

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_06
untitled, 2014
acrylic and spray paint on wood
dimensions variable

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_07
untitled, 2014
acrylic and spray paint on wood
dimensions variable

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_08
untitled, 2014
acrylic and spray paint on wood
dimensions variable

 

 

 

hense_sculptures_05
untitled, 2014
acrylic and spray paint on wood
dimensions variable

 

 

 

DB: what compels you to create art and what other compulsions do you have?
AB: I’ve realized that creating is really important to my happiness. I have an instinct to put paint on a surface, doodle, draw shapes or make marks. I feel like I don’t know what else I would have been other than an artist. at times, there’s also a child that comes out in me when I’m working and I see such genius in a child’s marks or drawings. the pure freedom I experience while I work is unmatchable with any other thing in life. I think it makes me feel like I’m alive. other compulsions I have would be interacting with like minded people, eating good food and being with my wife and dogs.

 

 

read our interview with HENSE here »