Interview with Magnus Lorvik

interviewed by Giorgio Vaselli on October 29, 2008

In his art, Mr. Lorvik attempts the bravest feat of all: plunging himself into abstract depths where anything can happen. He frees himself of all points of reference, and waits with patience, until his emotions take over to give him wings, allowing him to soar through the myriad of possibilites over the vista of abstraction. Like a photographer of four dimensions – and beyond – he takes pictures of this ever-evolving/moving landscape, his own inner self, to share them with the viewer with the clearest honesty. He wishes to show us glimpses of a world of feelings, assuming the viewer will be as receptive and sensitive to them as he is. In fact, each piece is highly rich in emotions, reflecting his own soul’s receptiveness and sensitivity to his surroundings. In his photo album, one may naturally look for a point of reference among the unique works. Some common element which is intangible but can be felt to be existent. “Vibrant colors”, “flowing compositions”, would be oversimplifications of all that his highly complex art is about. He manages to subconsciously form a cohesive style in spite/because of the freedom he enjoys.

His honesty and openness of his inner self, are also reflected by his attitude to his friends and his life – always giving, never taking. Like a true artist, he creates not for profit, but to give to the world of art, exchanging haphazardness for depth and genuine visual achievements.

How long have you been creating artwork?

I have been drawing as long as I can remember. I have created in different types of mixed media before, but never professionally. I have made some websites, created some logos and so on, for friends and small businesses without profit.

My digital art production started 15 years ago with my first meeting with Photoshop. I had a boost in creativity with Photoshop about five years ago, when I discovered several techniques by searching deeper into Photoshop’s endless possibilities and testing them out. Liquify is one of the tools I discovered in that time, and it became a vital part of my future productions.

What media/genre/style have you created in before, and for how long?

I have made different types of art all my life, and the genre has also been mixed throughout the timeline. I can’t remember when/what started, and none have really ended. I have projects in my head for all of the above, but have prioritized digital art and music production, for the last five or six years. Before this period, I drew more by hand. I may scan in some of them one day, and share them on deviantArt. I painted a lot with acrylics as well, and have some clay figures standing around. In art school, I had projects with textiles and other materials, but it has always been drawing and painting that I liked the most.

How much of what you know in art, did you study in school? Did you attend university to learn art?

I studied art for three years in a public art school, and I am educated as a web designer. However, I feel that it has given me a general knowledge about art history, and about techniques in traditional art, such as oils, textiles, clay modeling, pencil drawing etc. The web design education had given me nothing I did not already know. I think school has had some influence on me, but mostly a kind of fine-tuning of the skills I have learned from my mom, and other people I have drawn with, throughout the years.

When it comes to digital art, I see the difference of it and music like this: My music is inspired by different musicians like Simon Posford and the artists behind Entheogenic and Penta. In digital art, I have experimented with different techniques in Photoshop, over the years. It kind of developed itself through experimentation.

Did you have any major influence(s) which inspired you to begin creating?

My mother is and has been my greatest influence by far. She is a great artist, and I therefore grew up with art around me. I also remember when I was a kid, my grandfather drew me a picture of a man with a gun in his hand. First of all, I was surprised that he drew it in the first place, but it also gave me the full understanding that one can draw anything. This boosted my interest for drawing. I think I was four or five years old. As external influences, I have had very few known artists, at least not in a direct way. I get influenced by the people around me, nature and the way of life… And of course from time to time – love.

Do you like exploring other artists’ work? Who are your idols if any?

I love to explore other artists’ work. There are so many talented artists on deviantArt alone…

What qualities do you admire in an artwork?

I admire the artists who get what is pleasing to the eye or the intellect. Like in music I can listen to any genre and feel the way the artist(s) have expressed themselves. There are so many criteria that makes a piece good, that summing them up is meaningless to me. At the same time, it is not how much time you spend on a piece, or the attention to detail, that makes me like a work. But more like how much the artist has let the work develop itself. It has to be able to stand in its element by itself. Either occupying the space with beauty, drama, piece and so on. Or it has to challenge a general “norm” in some way and give the intellect a buzz. But art can also become too perfect… When a piece of art becomes so perfectly balanced and pleasing to the eye it is likely to become dull after a while, and loose its personality. So to say what is good and what is bad art, to me is not easy.

What does it mean for you to create? What motivates or inspires you?

My two main passions in life are music and art. Both traditional and digital. When creating, there is a flow of feelings that channel themselves through the medium. These feelings come from different experiences in life. Besides the obvious influence by my immediate surroundings, I feel that I have learned most of what I do through experimenting (definitely in digital art). The search for something undiscovered, is also an element that drives me towards creation. Creating is development. Motivation and inspiration comes mostly from the people I love and care about. And I would say, the women in my life have been the largest inspiration by far.

What do you wish to achieve in your work?

I think I will share a little story about an A3 print of “Omenised Old Roof” [link] … An Egyptian friend of mine works at a mountain resort here in Norway. One weekend a Lutheranian Christian group rented the whole hotel, and requested that no alcohol was to be served nor should there be played any music on the resort for their entire stay! At the end of the weekend these people were having a party. Curious about how these people partied, he joined them. The party consisted of people sitting in groups drinking coffee, while discussing how meaningless art is. And if there was any art with meaning, it should at least portray Jesus or other Biblical themes… Just my kind of people… My friend started a discussion. He asked if they could see the world evolve. People, technology, music, art and so on. Well, they said they agreed on parts of it, but art was not one of them. Then my friend showed them an “Omenised Old Roof” print and it got them occupied for some time. They started seeing things in the abstract image and shouted things they saw to each other. My friend had to grab it before it got torn in the end. I was stunned when my friend told me the story. I knew my pictures could let the mind wander and people always see different things in the abstracts. But a reaction like that was not expected. Way too many people are fully asleep in this world putting themselves in a comfort that closes their world down to work and consumption. If my picture got someone to think twice before complaining about their bed being too soft or food too warm, I’m glad.

I believe that art has evolved itself into something much more advanced, with the new technologies we all have become so dependent on. It is through digitalization that it has come to a level where the evolution of art itself is evolving. (In case of both music and other art forms.) The possibilities of creation have exploded. Not that I prefer one over the other, but in digital art I can for instance make a picture the size of an office building in a couple of hours on the computer, and a day or perhaps two to create physically, whilst it would take me weeks or months or even years, to paint it traditionally.

What are some criteria or standards you set for yourself?

One main thing is balance through color combinations and through the placement of the elements. If the balance in the picture is right, then the rest comes almost from itself. I try to do different styles/genre for each project I make. I havent really followed this rule to the point at DeviantArt but I allways try to make the piece I work with look complete.

What are your methods of learning? Is your development conscious?

I learn by doing… When exploring a technique, my main aim of the end result is to make it look “finished”.

Using liquify in Photoshop for instance, is dangerous. Since I easily recognise the tool myself in other artists’ work, I now try to disquise it. I would say that my development is conscious in that sense, but not always as intended. I believe we are here in this world to learn. I at least hope that I never lose the gift of learning. Like a piano-player, the musician’s fingers learn the notes. Not the head. It all becomes a part of you. This may sound weird regarding digital art. But it still comes down to knowing what to do at the right moment, or just as important what to leave out. You learn the most when you do it. Experience is the greatest treasure.

What qualities do you need to improve in your work?

I need to get a new computer in the near future to upscale the production rate, and getting higher the resolution in existing projects. I never feel that I have finished a project (a common problem I would guess for perfectionist artists). I have let the digital art side wait a while, since I have been concentrating on my music again, after letting it wait almost two years, because of digital art.

What are some of your own favorite pieces, and why are you satisfied with them?

The “Omenised Series” was one of my definite favorites to work with. It was a project that leaped in all directions, and was of the ones that I learned the most from. The techniques used there, are the ones I have had as a foundation for a lot of later projects. Singling out one that is THE favorite, is not easy, but “Omenised” [link] comes to mind. It is a calmer version of “Omenised 3″ [above], and they belong together, being the first two in the series. They both helped the project evolve into “Omenised – Old Roof” [link], which is an extremely low resolution version of the original version.

How does your work reach the public?

DeviantArt is, so to say, the only medium in which other people can see my art. The few prints I have made, I give out to friends and family members. I am showing some of the pictures on projector at parties from time to time. Other than that, I have played my own music on some small parties, and a couple of festivals in Norway.

How do you feel about being a member of our movement?

I am honored to be recognized for my art by someone who does not know me. That does not happen often. And being invited through it to a movement like yours, has never happened to me before. I was a bit curious in the beginning if you would follow through. You have so far proven to be very professional and that adds greatly to the honor. Many of the artists in this movement are some of the best I have ever seen. And the range of different styles and expressions are impressive and inspirational.

Do you create art full-time? What else do you do or enjoy doing?

Trying to make a living in one of the most expensive countries in the world (topped by Japan), is not easy when you are non-profit oriented … and making a living from art is almost impossible. I finally work full-time and that gives way less time to art in any form. Especially when art gives me the best feedback at night..

As I have mentioned, I am with a group of people in Oslo who arrange small parties for friends and friends’ friends. Forest parties are my favorite by far. Listening to heavy beats and stomping the night away with friends in the wild, under the moon, is a passion…

What are some of your plans for the future regarding your art/life?

Just a few days ago, I learned that I am actually having three pictures shown at the “Alternativmessen” at Vallhall in Oslo, on November 21-23. This is a large hall, filled with alternative-minded people showing their trade or aid in alternative medicine, healing, and so on. My first official exhibition. Other than that, I haven’t really thought about it. Even for this, is really my sister pushing me to do it. I love her! The three pictures that will be displayed are “Bond Fire Elves” [link], “Benja World – Dream Circle” [link], and “Glimpse of an Angle” [link].