For Simon Redekop, painting has been something of a pathway medium. The Vancouver-based artist now focusses almost entirely on creating video work – insanely surreal moving image pieces that barrage your senses in weird and brilliantly unexpected ways. We talked to Simon to find out a little more…
Hi Simon, describe what you do in your own words…
I create paintings, sculptures, videos and installations, often collaborating with other artists. Video is still a new medium for me and I began experimenting with it sometime in 2008. It is my primary medium and focus at this time.
Have you formally learnt how to make films?
As far as schooling goes, I completed a fine arts foundation year and then went on to do a three-year diploma in graphic design and illustration. I finished in 2000 and have self-directed the rest of my studies since. School was a good experience and I met some peers who had a big impact on my work and with whom I did many shows afterwards.
Are you still painting?
Currently I am just painting props and stuff to be used in video. However, I feel I have established painting as a beneficial part of my life. There is no other activity or process that I do that resembles or explores ideas in the same manner. Even though I do feel I approach video from a painter’s perspective and not from a photographic viewpoint, the process is just so different that I would not compare them. I usually have a few unfinished paintings in the house, some that I could have started a year ago. I like to look and contemplate but also explore time as a medium and am fascinated by how drastically my perception can change.
Where does the content of your work come from?
I’d say I draw from my imagination mostly, so it’s hard to say exactly where it all comes from. Anything can trigger an idea and it often seems quite random. I work in layers and constantly reassess, reconfigure and change throughout – the content is achieved through the process and workflow of the project. Overall I’d say I treat my work like experiments or investigations into the creative process.
How do you choose the right medium for the content?
The medium comes with the idea. I usually have an initial vision of the end result but allow the process to take over and redefine what I am doing. It is most enjoyable for me to work this way and seems to yield the results I’m most satisfied with.
What are you working on now?
I am extremely excited about visual effects and video compositing. I’ve been working on my first narrative live action/animation cartoon for the past four to five months. It’s the most labour-intensive and tedious project I have ever tried to do and is taxing all of my abilities. I’m collaborating with a bunch of good friends and the project has gone through some amazing transformations already. It also has many new technical challenges that I am learning as I go. I hope to complete it for the summer of 2012.
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Alex originally joined It’s Nice That as a designer but moved into editorial and oversaw the It’s Nice That magazine from Issue Six (July 2011) to Issue Eight (March 2012) before moving on that summer.