Simon Hafele
Artist statement
My art should captivate the viewer so that they can get lost in the vast horizons of the present. What triggers me to create a painting are the emotions I want to pass on, which is also why people might identify with my works. Instead of letting myself or my art down on the spectrum of political or elite thoughts, I want the viewer to find truth when decoding my works. The layers I aim at are way above that and deal with consciousness and the highest off all. LOVE
Biography
Surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Austrian Alps Simon Hafele was born in 1985 in the western part of Tyrol where he found inspiration in the picturesque beauty of the fundamental elements of nature. As a child he couldn’t keep his hands off crayons, a passion which he continued to pursue while attending Elbigenalp, a carving school with a 4 year duration. There he could explore his artistic pathway, causing Simon to seal his own fate—he would follow the calling of his soul and devote his life to art. After having travelled to India, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand and Laos for longer periods of time, Simon brought back the kind of inspiration, which would turn out to be vital for his evolving. Numerous experiments with different types of colours and light preceded his unique style—a visual language that translates the in-between, the transcendental experience of (yet) unexisting worlds into intriguing paintings with bright and often fluorescent colours, leaving behind an unmistakable trace of recognition. In 2015 »Vision Scientist« was born, a project dedicated to creating huge ceiling designs for festivals, and soon there were bookings lining up from the most famous Psytrance festivals in the world, like »Antaris Project« in Berlin—Germany or »ReSPect Festival« in Brazil. Simons »Visionary Psychedelic Art« is a practice, where the artist reveals his soul and shares his insights of a nonmundane reality. In Simons paintings the vivid colours reflect the artists desire for colourfulness in all aspects of life, which he then transforms into an invitation for the viewer to access alternate realms and otherworldly dimensions. The conundrum of his breath-taking work reveals itself by surrendering to feeling: like in life—love, the mother of all emotions— is all spectators need to decode the overwhelming sceneries in Simons paintings. His works consume the viewer, offering a tender relationship between artwork and spectator, where they can lose themselves, wander in multiverses and simultaneously float back to the present moment, only to find more pathways down to the essence of life: truth.
What’s your background?
The first sparks of what would later turn out to be my destiny were ignited during my early childhood. As soon as I was capable of holding crayons, I couldn’t keep my hands off them. It always felt natural to me; painting for me always was like a home I could take with me, wherever I went, no matter what difficulties I faced in life: painting was my safe place. Especially during rough times, I realized the transformational power that art provided for me, which kept me from doubting my inner artistic self. The hardships I had to go through and the ones still to come are a source of inspiration—a well of the transcendental, which needs to be cultivated by the artist. For me creating is something that is connected and intertwined with personal growth. Therefore, I try to incorporate only the true form of myself—my inner being with all the experiences that lead to every necessary brushstroke, resulting in an aesthetic translation of my journey through life.
What does it mean to you to win the Collectors Art Prize?
Being awarded the Collectors Art Prize is something I feel immensely grateful for. Of course, I’m beyond happy that the hard work I put in my art is being noticed and complimented in such a beautiful way. The honor that comes with it, fuels my motivation to continue the path that I find myself on. At the same time, I feel a sense of responsibility to further push my practice in creating impactful art. I can’t wait for what is yet to come!
What do you think is the role of art in the world today?
Art has always been there to inspire people and I think that hasn't changed to this day. Personally, I've never been a friend of art as a means of solely "processing personal problems". I'm concerned with completely different, sometimes even contradictory feelings in art. In my eyes, art should serve to find oneself, but towards the positive, raising awareness towards the thought of love. At least that is my approach in my creative work. I'm not only concerned with what I feel while painting, but also with what the viewer feels. Art is an unspoken language, yet it not only nurtures communication, but it is also a vehicle of communication itself. I prefer art that appeals to me in a positive way. Yes, maybe it even stimulates the mind to learn how to fly with the unspoken, which is not heard but felt.
What would it be if you could change one thing about the art world?
Technique as an evaluative element is something I really miss in the canon of contemporary art. My paintings can be read as a sort of counter draft to this tendency, with which I try to bring back the appreciation of the usage of technique. At the same time, I think that mere expression is not enough. What is needed is a rethink, a new paradigm to fight the high-performance society created by capitalism, which in fact is responsible for the decay of what I believe are important elements by art.
What are your most significant professional achievements?
Of course, success is always subjective in perception of the beholder. The greatest success for me is that through my passion, something I love from the bottom of my heart, I can shape my life the way I imagine it. This is a freedom that only a few know or are allowed to live. And for me, being the creator of my own life, guided by my deepest soul’s callings and my heart’s desires is the most valuable aspect of my life.
It fills me with pure joy knowing that there is an audience with whom I can share my journey. I'm so grateful that my paintings have already been exhibited in Madrid, Monaco and Tokyo. In the near future I will be awarded the Italian art prize "Premio internazionale Leonardo da Vinci" by the "Fondazione Effeto Arte". The award ceremony will be held in the Museo Nazionale della Scienzia e della Technologia in Milan. It is now my 10th international award. And a solo exhibition at the Artifact Gallery in New York is planned for the end of the year.
What do you wish to tell viewers about your work that might not come out explicitly? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork?
I like to refer to my artistic practice as »Visionary Psychedelic Art«, where I—following the ancient Greek meaning of the term »psychedelic«—reveal my soul and share my insights of a non mundane reality. In my paintings the vivid colors reflect my desire for colorfulness in all aspects of life, which I then transform into an invitation for the viewer to access alternate realms and otherworldly dimensions. I create my paintings as sort of a visual language that translates the in-between, the transcendental experience of (yet) unexisting worlds. Capturing the sequence of a moment and translating it by using my unique aesthetics, resulting in paintings where beauty and complexity at first sight seem to compete effortlessly with one another. When daring another glance, the viewer realizes there is no competition, there is only unity.
What advice would you give to the upcoming generation of artists?
We live in eventful times. AI is still in its infancy but is already having a major impact on what creative people do and will continue to push even deeper into the realm of creativity, affecting important aspects that are also related to inspiration. I would wish that future generations of artists would also have artists who work exclusively with human attributes–with passion, sweat and tears and all the emotions that are at the very core of being human, which AI does not know anything about. I don't despise digital progress, but I do care about the human aspect of creativity, and I hope that the digital revolution doesn't change that aspect too much. Perhaps it would be good advice to not let the AI-generated visions influence you too much in the future and to not forget being human in the digital revolution.
In what direction would you like to see your career go in the next five years?
Well, if I have a choice there is just one smart direction: straight forward and this also resonates with what I demand of myself. So, there’s nowhere else to go anyway. I will continue to create, and the rest will follow. I've never actually thought in terms of career or success, at least that's not the motivating force behind my work. Ultimately, success and a career are just by-products of passion and diligence. I learned, if you are devoted to the things you love, everything always turns out fine. So, wherever I picture myself in the future, it is just fine.
Country Austria
Website www.psypixart.com
