Digital Collages and Drawings by Mathis Rekowski

Mathis Rekowski produces complicated, digital collages and uninhibited drawings,  bursting at the seems with bizarre characters and dripping with colours. With so much exploding on to the page, I was eager to hear where it all comes from. Luckily, Mathis was kind enough to answer a few questions about his work for Ape on the Moon.

What was your inspiration for your recent work, Circus?

Animals & kids. Which isn’t that much of a difference sometimes.

The print you produced for Pick Me Up is very intricate with lots of small imagery, could you tell us a little about the concept behind these elements?

Basically, I was only trying to put as much life into the skull as possible. Also a bit of danger, voodoo and weirdness. So I was really free to do whatever I wanted as long as it is lively enough.

What tools and materials do you use when you produce work such as these and others like them?

Mostly I work digital. I draw some stuff analog and scan it later, but most of the work is done with photoshop.

How would you describe the development that’s taken place between the work you show in the archive section of your site and your recent projects?

Not too much of a change. I tried some simple stuff with the World Cup Illos, but then again went back to the collages, since that is something I love to do. I put more time in each piece, which ended up in even more detailed works.

I got more used to working in parallel on different pictures, which really helps, since you can go back and forth with one artwork and get deeper into it.

In terms of art and design, what do you have planned for the upcoming year?

Go more analog. I want to work on canvas again. Second thing will be photography. I am planning a series of pictures that I have in mind and that need to be done with a camera instead of a pencil. Also, I’d love to do some animated stuff again.

I’m looking forward to it! Thanks, Mathis!

© Mathis Rekowski, 2011.