Anger To Art – Nigel Stefani
It’s not unusual to turn to art when times are challenging. The practice of Art as Meditation can offer an effective way to transform feelings of despair or confusion into tangible, beautiful outpourings, which can otherwise be difficult to express.
The practice of Art as Meditation can offer an effective way to transform feelings of despair or confusion into tangible, beautiful outpourings, which can otherwise be difficult to express.
We spoke to Nigel Stefani, a contemporary artist who creates intricate, complex pencil drawings and portraits of subjects that have aroused his creativity. He sits with his subjects and through their dialogue is able to connect with the individual on a deep level and produce physical representations of their personality in an intimate drawing.
His drawings have included Mick Jagger, Andy Warhol, Michele Lamy, British actors Ben Whishaw and Sinead Matthews, model Andreja Pejic and fashion icon Virginia Bates to name a few.
He is no stranger to this purging process. His series ‘SPLIT’ manifested from a tumultuous time where he found a way to turn these extreme emotions into something beautiful which he is now sharing.
He explains…
“The word ‘SPLIT’ arose from a time that was incredibly traumatic and came about as I began looking at how to produce a drawing from that feeling, using a word or phrase as a starting point. I liked the idea of beginning with that emotion and attempting to create a piece of art from it. Using words rather than a specific object as such, I then began layering and pulling apart, literally splitting the image to convey the feelings I was having within each specific piece: the inside out on the open.”
“Part of the reason I create is to understand the world – both around but also, within me. These pieces are particularly personal as it was an unusually cathartic process to produce and to now, release them into the outside world for the first time.”
The pieces were drawn over the period of the last year and are just as valid today as we find ourselves collectively navigating through these unsettling times.
‘SPLIT’ will launch on May 30th #artistsupportpledge in support of artists and maker.
Artists Support Pledge, the ingenious brainchild of Matthew Burrows is an initiative to support artists who were at risk of losing their income due to COVID-19. It began as a personal response to the crisis and has since gained incredible momentum around the world. To date it has generated an estimated $20 million for artists and makers across the globe.
The ‘Split’ series is available at https://www.nigelstefani.com/mini-series.
Find out more at: @artistsupportpledge @nigelstefani
‘SPLIT’ MINI EDITION
Get Out
Archival Giclee print on 310gsm HAHNEMÜHLE
A5 (148 x 210mm)
Paper
Edition of 75
Death In The Most Common Places
Archival Giclee print on 310gsm HAHNEMÜHLE
A5 (148 x 210mm) Paper
Edition of 75
PPK
Archival Giclee print on 310gsm HAHNEMÜHLE
A5 (148 x 210mm)
Paper
Edition of 75