We are always attracted by what it’s strange, curious or linked to creativity; so we’ve discovered some nice remixes of movie posters made by this Swedish guy named Viktor. Therefore we thought: “why don’t we ask him how he gets his ideas?”
(cliccare in basso a destra nella galleria per vedere a tutto schermo | click the botton down on the right to go to fullscreen mode)
Tell us something about yourself
I’m a 28-year-old Swedish guy, who lives in Uppsala, Sweden. I work part time on a psychiatric clinic and at a cinema, and do graphic design when I’m free. I’ve started to get a few freelance jobs these days, but still nothing I can live on. The best thing though, about being a freelance artist, is that there are always new projects and ideas, I guess. It’s very important to me to see results, to be able to look back at something finished, and then move on the next project. I think that’s one of the reasons I first started with graphic design (about 2 years ago). First I wanted to make films, but the time from idea to finished product was way too long, and there are so many people that have to be involved. With graphic design, I can get an idea and then see the result just minutes after. That’s really satisfying.
When did all begin? I mean, when was the period in which you discovered to have such a talent and to think that your creations could interest someone?
You know, I never really thought I’d be sitting here doing an interview, when I started with graphic design as a hobby. At first, I was very hard on myself; now, I have really learned to let go and thinking about what to change. Now, I put stuff online as soon as the first draft is done, if I’m happy enough with it. You can always correct things later. The feedback I get really motivates me though, it gives me the fuel to do more stuff, so I guess it’s good. My philosophy is, the more stuff you make, the greater the chances are.
I have won a couple of Internet contests, which has really helped me to get more self confident, and rely on my own ideas. That’s one of the receipts of that someone else actually thinks my stuff is good, and even deserves to receive prizes. It’s also really nice to see that people write and blog about my work, that’s really a boost as well. And that people actually started buying my posters, is just a great feeling, it really gives me the motivation to continue working and develop my skills and ideas. I’m still learning though, still working out a personal expression, finding a way to bring my ideas to life, in the best possible way.
I’m honestly a bit surprised about how much publicity my pictogram posters have got, in lots of different countries. I am really grateful to all the people who have blogged about them and written to me. It’s just amazing. I just hope people will like my other works too! I guess I can’t make pictogram movie posters forever…
How do you have inspirations?
I want the viewer to look at the poster for a while, and then go “Aha, nice!”, and get a smile on their face. That’s it. If I can achieve that, I’m satisfied. I want to entertain and make clever stuff. I get inspired from lots of things, like just looking at lots of images and shapes, or listening to music while walking around or watching bad television at the same time, with no volume on. That can bring out the most creative and unintentional ideas, actually. I love staying up late at night, making posters or illustrations, when I feel inspired.
We just saw the pictogram movie posters. Have you got a passion for films? What kind of films?
I’ve always loved film and I’ve even studied film and film music. So, it’s like two of my greatest hobbies, graphic design and film, have merged into these series with custom movie posters, and now the pictogram versions. They’ve become my form of expression, a ventilation for my creativity, and it happens to be mostly movie posters. I like the idea of communicating something that many people already have a relation to, trying to be original and making something unexpected.
I don’t have a favorite genre, really, and I admire lots of different directors. I guess I like films that are made with a self-confident and uses the medium to it’s best, trying to achieve something new that has never been done before. One of those films are “Enter the void”, which I recently saw. That was really something I’ve never seen before, it didn’t resemble any other film that I’ve seen. This is one of those films that don’t try to be like another film, it relies on it’s own ideas and is made by someone with a vision. I can’t wait to see what the director Gaspar Noé comes up with next time.
Apart from movies, do you create other pictograms referring to some other subjects?
Yes, I do. I’m a daily visitor at "The Noun Project", which provides really great pictograms, for free. I’m a bit obsessed with pictograms at the moment, it just seems that I can’t get enough of these. When I heard that we were going to have a special course dedicated to pictograms at the design school, I almost wet my pants from excitement. One guy in class came up with the diagnosis ‘pictofile’. I can only agree with that label. I guess my love for this area, comes from my absent skills in free hand drawing. I love the idea of being able to take existing shapes and images, and remix them, making something new with it. When I think about it, most of my work are remixes of other pieces, whether it being film posters, pictograms or logotypes. There aren’t many 100% original images that I’ve made. Luckily, there are sites like The Noun Project and other free vector sites around, for guys like me.
Which are your creations you love most?
What a nice question. I think the ones I like most are the simplest ones. Like ‘Coffee and cigarettes’ for example. This is also one of my posters that has got the most attention, which also points out that we admire simple and clever images, that aren’t filled with lots of details and elements. It’s funny, I did this poster in 10-15 minutes maybe.
I’m also quite proud of ‘Time for Wine’. I’m a bit obsessed with negative space, always trying to find new shapes and meanings in existing objects. I read an interview with the great illustrator Noma Bar, in which he said that he constantly was looking at things, and the space between things rather than the objects themselves. I really recognized this way of looking at the stuff around you; this is something I do all the time.
Can you tell us if you have some idea for future pictograms or works in general?
I have an ongoing project, which is an ABC book, but I don’t want to release it until I have all the letters done. So far, I have about 10. I think it can be quite good. There will be a few pictogram illustrations in this one, but not entirely. I started it when I made some tasks for applying to a school, and one of the tasks was to make an ABC book. I hope to complete it this summer. I might even try to publish a real book of it, that would be awesome.
My current project, also ongoing, is remaking logos, and make them a little more honest. They can be found here.
I have lots and lots of ideas for all sorts of things, not just images, but film and music too. I have done some electronica tracks on my old Casiotone synthesizer, and I’d love to make something more with that. Some songs can be found on Myspace here. I also have plans to start a Kickstarter project, with some of my posters. That could be interesting.
Articoli correlati:
Pingback: Film in chiave minimal