Erik Winkowski Sets Art in Motion with His Hodgepodge of Curiosities
Unlike his imaginary narrative for Pink Studio, the US-based artist doesn’t abandon his creations as he steps out to run errands. Instead, he brings them with him. Being a true modern-day flaneur, he captures what he sees as he walks. From the blue skies to clear puddles, he perceives the world to be more alive than ever despite its utter mundanity. And when he comes back to his studio, he translates his perceptions and imaginations into a menagerie of brushstrokes, newsreels, and trippy patterns.
“I want to create videos that feel like you could hold them in your hands,” Erik explains his art. To many, what he calls his “video sketchbook” is pure Jungian symbolism, transforming vintage footage and quotidian clips into a universe of actualized imaginations. Using cryptic imagery, spanning from trailing objects and scribbles to even morse codes and numbers, he makes ideas tangible by animating the byproducts of the unconscious mind, something that is completely personal and universal at once.
“Each video is like a stepping stone to a new idea. I suppose my favorite video is always the one I’m working on.”
Erik’s creations lie somewhere between trendy digital collages and contemporary art enjoyed with wine and cheese. In fact, there’s nothing quite like his work; the juxtaposition of captured reality throughout generations with modern technology brings out a new flair to the world of both abstract and collage art. And with this, this Instagram artist seems to be declaring a new wave of art.
However, this declaration comes with an anticipated resistance from the highbrow industry. “There will always be people who resist new technology and claim it isn’t art,” he expresses. But for Erik, he simply refuses to be confined. After going back and forth between painting and animation, he realized that he didn’t have to choose because the fusion of both makes his artistic identity so much more distinct. “I think of creativity like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets.”
At the same time, there is pressure to make art that is still relatable and easy to digest, especially in a platform like Instagram, where aesthetics are the main basis for substance. This doesn’t seem to be a problem for Erik, as he believes he can connect with his audience without having to surrender to their response. “People are smarter than you think. You don’t have to dumb your work down,” he says.
It’s all about balance with Erik’s artistry. From creating a perfect blend of animation and painting to catering to both the mainstream and the high art, he has molded a new movement that is exactly where he belongs. And as he brings the run-of-the-mill to life, making it as vivid as ever, we are introduced to his very own Pink Studio—the world.
In the midst of creating his daily sketchbook entries and experimenting with digital murals and larger displays, Erik chats with us about being an Instagram artist and redefining mixed-media art for this generation.
First up, in your own words, describe to us the art you make.
I create video collages by combining traditional art tools like paint, paper, and clay with digital tools like video cameras and animation software. The resulting work is often playful and experimental—somewhere between a GIF and a modern painting.
“People are smarter than you think—you don’t have to dumb your work down.”
How did your visual sketchbook start? And what made you start doing it?
I started the video sketchbook about a year and a half ago. I was in a creative rut, working at an agency and not making the work I wanted to. The pain of doing nothing became worse than the fear of taking a risk. So I committed to making a new video every day for a year. I started on May 16, 2018 and continued to May 16, 2019 without missing a day. At that time, my Instagram following went from 1,000 to over 100,000, and I started to get commissions for new video work. Since then I have quit my job and been able to make a living from my art.
How do you create your sketchbook pieces? Walk us through your creative process.
I usually start with some source material that I find interesting, like a video I took during a walk, or footage from an old newsreel—then I look for ways to intervene. It’s as if the video is sending out a call and it’s my job to respond. And then, working on the computer with After Effects, I’ll paint over it or cut it up and rearrange it in a new way. Occasionally I have the final image in mind but more often than not I have to keep working with it until something clicks—and then there’s that a-ha moment when the piece is finished.
“The pain of doing nothing became worse than the fear of taking a risk.”
What’s your favorite sketchbook entry? Why?
To be honest, as soon as I post a work I mentally move on to the next one. Certain posts, like May 28, 2019, represent a creative breakthrough, but then immediately I start looking for ways to push it into new territory. Each video is like a stepping stone to a new idea. I suppose my favorite video is always the one I’m working on.
You post at least three artworks in a week. How do you keep up with the discipline of posting regularly while maintaining your creativity?
I think of creativity like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets. I find when I’m posting regularly I’m also coming up with lots of other ideas for videos, but when I stop, things begin to atrophy. Daily practice has been the most important creative habit I’ve adopted.
Aside from your visual sketchbook, what else do you enjoy doing that we don’t know about?
I have a 7-foot-long skateboard that I ride alongside the Mississippi River, using a long pole to push me along. I’ll usually wear a wide straw hat, which makes me look like a gondolier. It’s quite a sight to see.
Originally published on Status Magazine
Written by Casey Eridio
Photos courtesy of Erik Winkowski
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