Victor Hsieh
{Check out Hsieh's works first}
Interview by George McGrath
The absolute art of Victor Hsieh encourages spectators to explore
dazzling new worlds. In his trademark fashion, principal elements of
nature and technology become unified in the most delightful way.
Hsieh's fantastic imagery is varied in form, multi-layered in space,
engaging in intricacy, lyrical in line and emphasized by his masterful
knowledge of color. Exhibiting last month in Long Island and Chelsea,
now in Midtown, and SoHo next month, the 21-year-old Californian
invades
New York. The following interview with the artist was conducted at the
artist's exhibit at the Republic National Bank of New York (99 Park Avenue).
GM: What are these things you paint?
VH: My children. They are what it is you make of them, just as
life is
what you make of it.
GM: I read some of your statements on particular worksÂ…
VH: Personal interpretations, but each piece is digested
differently
through different eyes.
GM: How do you come up with these ideas?
VH: The ideas come to me.
GM: There's geometry in your compositions.
VH: Aced it. I'm attracted to coherence in placement and overall
unity.
GM: Your color schemes are complex yet so harmonious. How do
you decide
where to place every color?
VH: It's all premeditated. My brain is a database of specified
visual
concepts which patiently await to be placed on canvas. Not only color
placement is preconceived, but all physical data of any given
image.
GM: Why do you paint?
VH: It's a bare necessity.
GM: What do you think of painting's current state?
VH: For decades skeptics have said it's dead and now more than
ever. For
the most part, they're right. Though reiteration is common, there is
new wind being broken. Sure painting isn't the main focus, but this factor
simply heightens its personal intimacy and value. The visual arts (as a
whole) are dying. Now it's up to us to save it.
GM: Well what's it like to be 21 and responsible for
inventing a new
style of art?
VH: Hey I'm just following my beliefs.
GM: How many paintings have you made?
VH: Lost count long ago. There must be thousands in
existence.
GM: Why do you use acrylic over oil?
VH: It's the paint of today. Acrylic has its distinct
characteristics and can also be
used in the manner of watercolor or oil. It's more durable and
permanent. Oil's great too. Sometimes I'll use both of them in
one piece or use non-traditional mixed mediums, but generally I'll keep
acrylic in focus.
GM: What's wrong with being a painter?
VH: Cadmiums stink it takes so long to make a satisfying
painting.
GM: You consider yourself an accomplished artist?
VH: So what if I've shown. Sharing personal vision is the moral
responsibility of being a creator. The work has a life of its own,
interacting with humans. It introduces fresh perspectives, innumerable
ways of thinking, and provides gateways to enchanting places. My
priority is to fulfill particular personal ideas. In that sense, yes,
to
a degree. Yet there are many forthcoming miracles. I don't consider
myself an artist.
GM: You also make music with the guitar and drums. Which do
you prefer?
VH: I go through phases of using one more frequently than the
other. The
guitar is great for intricate harmonies, but with fusion influences I'm
also able to capture that through percussion. The guitar is more
tactile
whereas the drums are a full-body experience. It depends upon the
circumstance and which phase I'm going through.
GM: What musical equipment do you use?
VH: An eight-piece Pearl with Sabians, Remo heads, double bass,
roto-toms, a splash and two chinas. Ibanez and Paul Reed Smith axes
with
Peavey, Fender and Boogie tube amps.
GM: How do music and art compare?
VH: They go hand-in-hand and feed off one another. Some people
see my
visual art as music. Sure my musical activities have an influence, but
that's just one of the many things.
GM: Why is there a dream-like quality to your work?
VH: It's what I dream of.
GM: But then some parts of your paintings and drawings look
like a
computer made them!
VH: People often say that, but it's solely handcrafted
precision.
GM: Who is your favorite philosopher?
VH: They all have a handful of good ideas; abiding by just one
narrows
your outlook. My system of belief mixes Kant, Socrates and
Aristotle.
GM: Have you ever tried drinking 30 Budweisers and vomiting
on a police
officer?
VH: No, don't consume alcoholic beverages. I treat officials
with utmost respect.
The painter skated to his hotel room at the Hampshire Ambassador
to work on some drawings and went
to Italy
a couple months later.
