Transient Visions: Jan Baumgartner
Welcome to Transient Artist Spotlights, where we dig into the creativity and passion of artists participating in Transient Visions, our ongoing Dynamic NFT exhibition. The exhibition illuminates the unique 1/1 artworks made using our dynamic NFT technology, representing a diverse mix of established and budding artists. In these interviews, we learn more about the inspiration and processes behind their digital art. Stay tuned as we continue to explore these fascinating artists in our series.
Link to “blinded by shadow”: https://superrare.com/0xe8add153184b50bb0f06de6d6ab8e0a7f977f4d6/blinded-by-shadow-1
Q: Who is Jan Baumgartner?
A: I am a visual artist who likes to work at the edge of perception.
Q: You’ve studied architecture and also trained as a wood-turner. How have these different disciplines influenced your artistic approach and style?
A: I think that both the training as a wood-turner and the study of architecture have enabled me to learn a lot in the field of perception of form and space. Architecture has also shown me probably the most important component, the human being and his influence on space.
Q: Your minimalist approach to composition is striking, featuring only the essential elements. How do you decide what is essential in your work, and what is the process behind stripping an image back to these core elements?
A: My approach to art always leads me back to the same elements. space, light, and color. For me, these elements are a means of communicating my thoughts, moments, forms, or even feelings. What is essential is what the viewer of a work brings with him/her.
Q: Your work is deeply rooted in the fundamentals of space, light, and vivid colors. Could you discuss your journey as an artist and how these elements became central to your aesthetic?
A: A story I don’t often share, but which nevertheless contributed a great deal to my artistic journey, is that I had epilepsy as a child and also as a teenager. This led to severe seizures and impairments in my health & perception. The private and therapeutic exposure to colors was a means that stimulated me a lot. Even though I had no direct connection to art at that time, it became clear to me early on that color has a great influence on me and my personality. Years later, during my training as a wood-turner and my studies in architecture, I discovered my preference for combining exciting shapes with emotionally charged colors.
Q: Your artistic expression often references our past. Could you discuss a piece where this historical reference was particularly important, and why?
A: I am a great admirer of the minimalists of 1960; their artistic vision and courage can still be felt and found today. Artists like Herrera, Lewitt, Stella, Kelly, Martin, and many others defined a genre and tried to force the viewer to interact. Everything with the least amount of means to evoke a maximum of interaction and reflection. This is exactly where my artistic field of tension is; between the man and the work of art. Reduced to the edge of perception.
Q: Your piece for “Transient Visions” is a unique play of time and light, acting as a digital reinterpretation of a sundial. Can you elaborate more on the inspiration behind this concept and how you incorporated the interactive time element? How do you hope viewers will engage with your art through this immersive experience?
A: The concept is about consciously expanding my own perception. Space, light, and color are supplemented with an irrevocable medium, namely time. In our fast-paced world, which is characterized by everyday noise, the constant of time is one that we often perceive unconsciously. Time is what we all have or not, but who deals with time in a concrete way? Time is a beautiful constant on which we string the pearls of memory like on a necklace, but when do we ever take a step back and really look at the necklace, including the memories? Only when we take the time and deal with it are we able to reflect on the past and the present. The artwork invites us to do this by showing us the rough time like a sundial and clearly decelerates our perception of time.
Q: Your dynamic piece integrates the concept of time in a unique way. How does the element of time play into your broader artistic practice, and how do you envision experimenting with it in the future?
A: For me personally, the confrontation with time was a very important one. Besides the imaginary & mysterious level, the technological component was an exciting experience for me. In order to explore my own limits, I have to be willing to go unconventional ways. Web3 is exactly the right place for that.
Q: With the rapidly evolving art world, especially the rise of digital and NFT art, where do you see yourself in this landscape?
A: Of course, I stand for a certain art movement and do my part to fight for digital art beyond the web3, nevertheless we are all in the same boat here. Especially in the last months of the bear market, you can feel the determination and the will of the community. Only together we can create the future we want to live in.
Q: How do you think your architectural background and minimalist approach contribute to this digital era?
A: We are in a time in which we can decisively shape tomorrow. For my part, besides establishing the genre of minimalism, I also try to inspire people about web3 in a very simple way. I talk to friends and art enthusiasts about the future and try to find out in dialogue what our common future can look like.
Q: Please share anything upcoming that you’re excited about!
A: I am very excited to mark another step of my artistic journey with our joint drop; exploring our own boundaries is what drives us after all. Besides working on some new works and an animated collection, a physical event with a gallery is planned towards the end of the year. I am really looking forward to it. Updates on this will follow.
