Simen Langeland (1988) is a visual artist and illustrator with a degree in visual communication from the Bergen Academy of Art and Design. He has been a member of Tegnerforbundet since 2018. Whether Langeland draws on paper or on large wall surfaces, his detailed, colorful and whimsically executed drawings invite closer inspection. Mythological scenes, legends and historical references mingle with current affairs such as the refugee crisis, ocean pollution and social media. Langeland's lush drawings tell a story that is both recognizable and alien, and you are literally drawn right in. Simen Langeland lives and works in Bergen. More information can be found on Simen Langeland's website.
TF: Can you tell us a little about your artistic work?
SL: My artistic work consists primarily of drawings, watercolor paintings and combinations of these forms of expression. My production is consistently detailed, stylized and has a meaningful content.
TF: How do you use drawing in your work? Tell us a little about your work process!
SL: Drawing is an important part of my work process and I always start the process behind the watercolors with pencil drawing, whether it is preparation for a watercolor or just a simple sketch. The nerve and distinctiveness of my artwork comes from the line in the drawings. The process starts with me drawing / sketching fantasies on paper, then follows processing and coloring of the motif with watercolor paint.
TF: What inspires you? Do you work from a theme?
SL: I am inspired by literature, film, philosophy and the news picture, and in my recent works of art I often try to capture important trends from the present through drawing. The refugee crisis was a concrete trigger for a series of works of art on the theme of emigration. This photo series also contains references to mythology and history.
TF: What are you currently working on?
SL: I am currently working on a series of works of art based on my hometown Bergen. The pictures are based on specific places in the city, but I let my own memories and fantasies characterize the motifs. The works function as windows into a surreal world, where family places are inhabited by fantasy scenes. This series will be exhibited in Bergen no earlier than the summer of 2019.
TF: What does drawing mean for you / your work?
SL: My drawing style gives the visual arts distinctiveness and exciting shapes, drawing is an important foundation in my motifs. It can be very informal and easy to pick up pen and paper and start a drawing process.
TF: Tell us a little about your work in Tegnerforbundet's sales department!
SL: My work in Tegnerforbundet is a combination of watercolor and ink drawing. The motifs can be described as surrealistic building structures. They depict an imaginative, strange and absurd world where buildings, people and animals are mixed together. In the work "Owl Structure", the main motif, a mixture of a house and a bird, is experienced as much as a living animal as a construction and building mass.
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Available works by Simen Langeland in Tegnerforbundet's sales department and online store here .
