A voler essere critici ortodossi bisognerebbe parlar delle sue opere come “iperrealismo emotivo”.
A volersi abbandonare voluttuosamente al piacere nonchalant (disinvolto) di spettatori appassionati: la prima, istintiva e irrefrenabile definizione che la sua arte suscita è… “just wow!”
Mike Dargas, classe 1983, nato e tuttora abitante a Colonia, fotografa volti dipingendo, o anche dipinge ritratti fotografici: ferma il tempo in un istante eterno in cui immergersi, per esplorare la materia dolce che fluisce sui sensi. E li accarezza tutti, uno ad uno. Pura questione di wow-effect!
[ENGL.]
Upon an orthodox critical approach we should talk about his art pieces as “emotional hyperrealism”. Upon the voluptuous abandonment to the mellow pleasure as passionate viewers: the first, instinctive and irrepressible definition that his art raises will be… “just wow!” Mike Dargas, born in Cologne in 1983 and still living there, takes pictures of faces by painting, or even paints photographic portraits: he freezes time within an everlasting moment where you can plunge into, to explore the sweet material that flows on the senses. And caresses them all, one by one. It’s a pure wow-effect!
Aware of how wide and multitasking the experience of “wearing” the label “artist” is supposed to be: what’s your artistic identity? But first and foremost, what’s your real identity behind the artist?
I was an artist before I had an identity.
Tell us something about your “background”: when and how did you feel that art would have been your expressive way? What was your personal and educational path to achieve it?
I started paining as a child. Every time my friends were playing soccer, I was doing sketches, paintings or went to the museums on my own. I absorbed works of the Old Masters, like Caravaggio and others. Their brilliant techniques thrilled me and I tried to enhance my skills every day to become as good as them. I was obsessed. Even in my previous career as a tattoo artist I studied realistic figuration and did realistic portraits. I would describe myself as an autodidact that has studied art for a life time.
What kind of imagery and experiences do you draw the inspiration for your artworks from? Is there a boundary line between life and work, or it is so faint that you become part of your works too?
Every day is filled with inspiration. Sometimes it´s just a glimpse of something that strikes my eye and turns into an idea for my paintings. So, of course my works somehow are connected with what surrounds me. At the same time it reflects the inner attitude or development of an artist.
Your artworks are characterized by intense portraits, so charged with realism that they seem to titillate all our senses: who are these “protagonists” and what significance or tales do you commit to them? What visions are held into your artworks?
I think my work has different layers that each viewer sees differently. Some might just see beautiful women, some might see an erotic motif and others might see a deeper meaning. In the end it is more about what a work moves within the viewer, not what I had on my mind while paining it. I am thankful that people want to see my art, that´s by far the greatest reward of all.
If I say “imitation of life” (the theme of this Hachi Mag issue n.d.r.): what comes into your mind?
My paintings are a snapshot, an imitation of life, holding on to something I find interesting. I think it is very human to try capturing beautiful moments.
