In preparation for his upcoming print release with Spoke Art, Henrik Aa. Uldalen sat down with Alex Ziv from Exhibition.ism Magazine to discuss his work, inspirations and the new print. Read more below!
1. When did you learn you wanted to become an artist?
The thought of being an artist has been on and off since I was very young. It wasn’t until I first tried oil painting some 7 years ago, that I really decided to actually do this. Before that I was planning to be fine art teacher in elementary school.
2. Who are some influences and inspirations for you today?
These days I get a huge amount of inspirations from movies and music. Anything that can put me in the mood that I want to express for myself goes. I also get inspired by other artists working with the visual, but the list is never ending. Old masters, contemporary representiative artists, photographers, digital concept art, anything.
3. Your paintings depict figures floating in semi-contemplative euphoric spaces that seem to have been captured just as the transcending experience occurs, can you tell us a little about these moments depicted?
This print release, “Floating”, is of a moment like you describe, but other paintings are not necessarily captured in that moment. It all depends on what I want to express.
4. Some of your paintings retain a minimal mental aesthetic, while others contain dream-like surreal backgrounds recognizable from real life, how do you choose to include a recognizable background or not in your paintings?
Even though I work fairly organized with painting, this part of the process is very loose. Sometimes I want to talk about something concrete, and go out and actively seeks for something that captures that feeling, but most of times I just want to find a new and better way to express something I’ve expressed before. Most of the things I want to express are abstract feelings, and if I come over something that captures me visually, then I’ll try it.
5. You recently moved from Oslo to Spain, how does Spain compare? How has the transition been?
The transition has been very good, and I’m happy I moved. The reason was mostly to just put myself out there, and stir things up a bit. A search for high emotions, either it’s bad or good. I also don’t mind the warm weather and tapas.
6. Your paintings seem to reflect a color palette seen in the northern regions of Europe (cooler hues of blues and grey), do you feel your move to Spain may influence your color choices?
I honestly don’t think it will. Right now, the color palette I use is for me the perfect language to describe what I want. But you never know, I’m always in search of better ways, and maybe I’ll try something new out, and find myself in a new direction. I always try out new colors and ways to describe for instance skin tones, but the warmer colors has still not captured me as the cool does.
7. The figures you choose to paint seem to be people that may be found in everyday life, who are they and how do you choose them?
It all varies from painting to painting. Before I mostly painted close friends, because of the obvious practical reasons. But I’m getting better at asking random people that has something captivating about their appearance. But of course, it’s not always as easy to convince them that I’m not a creep pretending to paint, but a creep that actually paint.
8. What is your perfect working environment for you? Some dream projects you’ve always wanted to execute?
I think that I work best in the company of others. I don’t need a lot of social stimulation, but just having people around me, not necessarily even talking. But just having life there. So the most difficult part of moving, is that I now paint by myself in my apartment. Which I’m not used to.
I have always wanted to find a good studio in NYC, or perhaps Brooklyn, with other artists just around the area. I think it’s a doable dream.
9. Your new print with Spoke Art is based on the painting “Floating”, why have you chosen this painting above all the others?
This painting has always struck something in me. Not that I get moved by my own work, but visually I think it’s one of the stronger pieces I’ve done, even though I think I could have done a lot of things better technically. I should probably have put it up as a print a long time ago.
10. What’s next for you? Any big exhibits coming up?
I have recently found new representation in NYC, Arcadia Fine Arts, so I will contribute to a few group shows there this coming fall. And in January next year I will have a show in Thinkspace, LA, together with the amazing painter Seamus Conely. Followed up by a show in Rook and Raven, London.
= T.H.C.
x6 
x2
