Interview with Dana Ingesson
Dana Ingesson | Sweden
Dana Ingesson works primarily in watercolor, creating otherworldly scenes that blend figuration and abstraction. Her chosen medium acts almost like a language. The marks that cover the paper she paints on seems reminiscent of Chinese ideograms—an impression that is reinforced by the minimalism of her pallet, which only uses black, white, and sometimes a single additional color. This lends her works the haunted character possessing them. Every details seems complicit in some untranslatable narrative, spelled out in color and space as opposed to being represented for the discursive powers of the understanding.
Free floating dreams
Contemporary Art Station: Tell us about how you got started. When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
From childhood I was aware I wanted to be an artist. Already then it was easy for me to express forms and colors which become to a story.
CAS : What is your process like, from initial idea to the creation of the piece? Do you usually develop the idea for a project before you find the "canvas", or vice versa?
I paint all time in my head. After I transfer that to paper or canvas. When painting, I use all my senses: my intellect, emotions, intuition and the so called “reptile sense”.
Never ending dreams
CAS : What do you love most about your creative process?
Freedom to tell my story.
CAS : What role does art and the artist play in the broader social conversation today?
To express feelings and make reflections about what's going around in society. Even nature is a big part of what I want to show in my art.
Last but not least, I want my visitors to make their own interpretations of my art. I want them to feel the art being the mystery of life, a soul’s journey in pictures.
CAS : Name a few of your favourite artists and influences.
Marc Chagall. Cy Twombly. Jackson Pollock. Miro . I love this artists but I want to walk my own way.
The night´s_allure
CAS : What is the best advice you received as an artist?
Just what I mentioned before . To go my own way. I never use brushes. When I create watercolor, oil and acrylic I do it just with palette knife.
CAS : When did you discover your voice as an artist?
When I start exhibit and found that my visitors was touched of my art and could read my art.
CAS : What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to find their own?
Find your own style and go on with that.
Thank you Dana!
