Nico Hensel was born in 1977 in southern Germany. His works are characterized by the specific examination of material and representation techniques. Craft and digital mix to create a new expression. "I'm definitely a visual junkie, always looking for new artistic inspiration in the form of views, patterns, materials and processes. I see something, change it, add something or create something new."
How did you get into art?
For as long as I can remember she has played a big role in my life. As a child, my parents always "draged" me to exhibitions by Degas, Monet, Chagall, Spitzweg, etc. In addition, my father liked church windows, which is why I "had to" look at the splendor of churches such as the Cathedral of Reims or Notre Dame in France as a small boy. My mother used to draw a lot with charcoal and my father carved witch masks on the side. My grandfather painted many landscapes in oil as he was a passionate alpine climber. I was always interested in art and architecture, tried out old cameras and at some point just started on my own.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
For someone seeing my work for the first time, I'm trying to incorporate my knowledge of multiple communication using the golden ratio, color, etc. that I learned in my design studies into a unique visual aesthetic of my views on art transform. I try to create or photograph compositions and images that represent new stylistic devices.
When it comes to a favorite piece of art I've created, honestly, I don't have one. I think it's because I have more interests than time in this life. As an example: I almost never cook the same recipe, I rarely bake the same bread, I always try to develop recipes differently. I own 70 cookbooks and have never cooked a recipe from it as it is written there. I never buy the same clothes twice, I have 17 different glasses, no two are the same. I constantly question everything, including myself, in order to possibly come across new topics.
I'm definitely a visual junky, always looking for new artistic inspiration in the form of views, patterns, materials and processes. I see something, change it, add something or create something new. I'm constantly on the hunt and scanning my surroundings, and I'm addicted to change, and I'm also constantly trying to change my ideas. I'm currently trying to shoot water-acrylic mixes with my kids' plastic water guns.
As a graphic designer and photographer with an above-average sensitivity to everything I see, my brain is in scan mode 24 hours a day.
How do you go about developing your work?
It's usually a mix of chance and experimentation. Since I am constantly trying to develop new things, to mix themes and materials, completely different and independent things often arise along the way.
Who or what influences you?
Music, often an expression of current emotional states and feelings and experiences in general. The Oceans images, for example, reflect a sense of a trip to the United States on a cloudy morning in Monterey, California in 1993.
In addition, I always try to transform materials and waste, which often results in new series.
So the current situation always influences me. Of course I always see something different in the mountains than in the big city, but I'm always influenced by my surroundings, the people, conversations... and above all by the innate urge to create something new and to find new visual expressions.
Make us curious. What is planned next?
Since I'm curious myself, I keep surprising myself and rarely know what's going to happen next. If you are interested in my visual journey, it is best to subscribe to my Instagram channel, which is always up to date.
