10 Questions with Evaldas Gulbinas

Evaldas Gulbinas – born in Lithuania, currently live and work in London, UK. Back in Lithuania, Evaldas finished two art schools. Afterward, he moved to London, UK, where Evaldas graduated from West Thames College in Foundation of Art and Design and the University of Westminster with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art- Mixed Media. At the moment, Evaldas Gulbinas is studying Master's degree in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art at the University of the Arts London. As well, during the academic studies, he is successfully working through different tattoo parlors. At the moment, during Covid 19 outbreak is working and researching the materials he can use it at the moment to create art. Interesting by using any materials that appropriate the concept of today's ironic image of lockdown in London, England.

www.evaldasgulbinas.co.uk | @efka_tattooart

Portrait of the artist | Photo taken by Fredi Mecaj

ARTIST STATEMENT

"Making art through sculpture, drawings, tattoos, paintings, installations, digital drawings, and mixed media- is an energetic experience in life. Work is inspired by a mixture of ideas, which naturally comes from daily life. Coming visions to the head play a big part in creation. Exploring ideas such as depression, confusion, cuteness, happiness, tragedy, anxiety, love. Most artwork presents humor and ironic situations. Inspiration comes from different types of music, movies, and other artists. Creating own world through the practice of different materials- usually, trying to finish the body of work to look visually in clean and aesthetic view. Often, it uses multiple ideas to inject into the simple structure of work. Observing contemporary moment- to create and use materials, which fit the surrounding atmosphere. The artwork's purpose is to see how the audience reacts to it if they communicate the idea hidden in the art piece's structure.

Interested in making tattoos because it gives technical and contextual skills. Specializing in traditional, dot work, abstract, cubism, color, blackwork, oriental, blackwork, and fine line tattoos. Likely, mixing styles into one. Usually, style replicates many ideas, which are contextualized in different types of emotions and moods. By making tattoos is a pleasure to meet new people with their own stories and communications. Usually, given more imaginative creation to the artwork- to explore the idea in the own way. Tattooing prevents the techniques, such as communication, language from tattooing into art. As well, it processes it from tattooing to art too. Often, observing the idea from surroundings and replicates it into the object.

I am interested in the relationship between ideas and materials. About" how can it work together." Sometimes, it uses random materials, which can be found anywhere- to progress in skills simulated by the environment—likely, reflecting people, animals, nature, and city life concepts to the art. Emotions play a big part in creation. Interesting in making sculpture, because it gives the satisfaction of full creation to the body of work. Deep in painting and drawing- using to express my creativity and to talk to the viewer. Doing installations and mixed media work- gives the opportunity to create, push boundaries, show visibility to the audience. The installation, which is observing the environment- is a goal. Usually, the practice of work is situated with contemporary time. It presents-the idea of today's societies or cultural problems."

INTERVIEW

You are a painter and tattoo artist, could you tell us a little more about your background?

Yes, I am a painter and tattoo artist. My background could be a mix of tattoo art/ street art and fine art/ academic art studies. In my past, when I started art schools at the age of 11 years old, I also was a skateboarder, where I saw graffiti art everywhere. I guess it reflects my passion for tattooing from street art. I always have been painting- it allows me to relax. I had a gap in academic art studies before I have finished two art schools in Lithuania. After, I moved to London, UK. In this gap, I've started tattooing and had tattoo apprenticeships. Afterward, I was just mixing tattooing and academic art studies in London, Uk. By working professionally as a tattoo artist in tattoo parlors, I've finished Foundation in Art and Design at West Thames College and afterward achieved a bachelor's degree in Fine art Mixed media in the University of Westminster, London, Uk. Currently, I am studying Masters's in Fine art at the University of the Arts London and working in two tattoo parlors. I always have been painting, drawing, tattooing, making installations, sculptures, mixed media work.

Are there any differences between your work as a painter and your work as a tattoo artist?

Yes, it is a difference. In tattooing, most of the time, doing the type of tattoos that people want. Tattooing is more craft than art. It is a more stressful job. In tattooing, you can't make mistakes. In this job, you get tired a lot, but it gives euphoria to me after every tattoo I have done, knowing that person is going to wear my created art piece for the rest of the life. Tattooing is a hard lifestyle, but you get full life satisfaction from it, as well.

Work as a painter is more relax than tattooing. Usually, I paint what I want; it is a more artistic art form. There are no such rules for making mistakes, except your own rules combined with the artwork. In doing painting, you can almost get lost in your own world. But it is possible to understand that tattooing and painting are connected, as both are a form of art. Otherwise, painting- skills can progress onto tattooing. And doing tattooing- skills can be involved in painting. You just need to understand how it works.

Humor and irony seem to be two key concepts of your work. How do you incorporate them in your work, and how do you use them to convey messages?

At this time, I use humor and irony concepts in my art because I express my feelings about today's covid 19 outbreak, which doesn't make any sense for me. As before, I've planned everything to this time, when I study and work. Now tattoo studios and Universities are closed in London, Uk. I study online at this moment. I create art from any materials I find. It became from depression to humor and irony. I reflect humor and ironic concepts to my art because I want to keep myself positive and happy. I believe art keeps me alive and strong, and I can go through anything, doing it. I incorporate a humoristic character into my drawing- it could present me being mad at this time. It's like creating the own persona, which is traveling through the chaos. The irony concept reflects the disappointment of today's moment due to a virus outbreak. Usually, " Humor and Irony' concepts and motifs are used as ideas to express into paintings, drawings, tattoo art, digital drawings, installations, and mixed media work and use imagination to create a character, ideas into artwork and making new possibilities of creation. It just comes to my head naturally to convey the ironic and humor concepts into artwork, which connects material and idea.

You have a very eclectic production; what themes do you pursue?

I pursue themes of chaos. At this moment, I think my all creativity reflects the chaos by using different types of materials and ideas. I am willing to create one idea or concept, which can change my art's vision. At this moment, I am focusing on an iconic illustrative character, which is going through chaos, irony, and humoristic time, by switching the ideas in life.

What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

I pay attention to the aesthetic, clean view of the artwork. My art has to look clean and nice to me, which I like. As well, I pay attention to the detail and ideas of chaos and irony in my work. I am interested in the relationship between materials and ideas, how they work together and what I like and don't. I have big attention to ideas and visions, which is naturally coming to my head every day and conveying into the material to make art, which I like.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration to create art comes from everywhere- the music I listen to, the places I go, the exhibitions I go to, what kind of people I talk to, and the food I eat. I think my brains are observing everything that I do and replicate through visions I get. A big part of inspiration plays the bad situations I get to. It allows me to think and get more ideas and concepts to play with. I think it's important to fail in life because you won't feel the glory without it. I think these all emotions keep me driving to create art. The power of brainstorming ideas gives me to create new art that I haven't seen before. My inspirations take a big part of nature, city life, animals, problems, technology, and humanity.

Can you tell our readers what experience of your life is reflected in your works of art?

A big experience in my life was when I started tattooing, which was reflected in my art. When I started tattooing, I began to understand better about art and loved it more. I understood that art is always with my life to the end. When I started tattooing, I began to communicate with the people more and understood better about myself.

Another life experience was when I was studying and tattooing at the same time. I started academic studies after a big break. I was studying Foundation in Art and Design at West Thames College in London, Uk. At this time, I was super busy. I had almost no free days in a week. Tattooing and studying took me down a lot as a person. At the end of the studies, I went to a tattoo studio, where I worked, and then I went back to college to finish the course. The course leader told me that I have fully finished the course with good grades. I was dry out of everything. I went back to the tube station. When I got on the train, I started to go mad. I went home. On this day I couldn't work anymore. It was too much information. After I couldn't sleep for two days. I was totally dried out of everything. After, I couldn't speak or communicate with others. My parents called the ambulance, and I got to a mental hospital where I spent one month. From the medication, I have seen lots of illusions in the hospital. I saw visions between hell and heaven.

In metal institutions, I have always been drawing till I got better. All this affected me a lot, and I understood that I had to carry on my academic studies through tattooing. I wasn't scared to carry on again, to study and work as a tattoo artist in studios. I understood that was a big risk, but I had to try my best. After I got to university, I successfully finished my bachelor's degree in fine art mixed media and was still working in tattooing. I think this affected my art a lot, as I got a more dedicated person. I was better with timing- to arrive in places on time. I understood that life needs a balance between art, tattooing, and normal life. It gave me the strength to move on whatever happens.

Another life experience was when I got a tattoo at a Festival called " Pirate camp ship," which was based in Lithuania's forest. This time was when the covid outbreak started. So I moved to Lithuania to tattoo and after I got to work in Festival. It was a nice experience to go primitive and go nuts. It was the psychedelic Festival, where I've seen the wild side of myself. I also did lots of tattoos which was fun a lot. I was inspired by nature.

Your recent works are connected to the UK lockdown and the COVID pandemic; what was one thing that you have realized about your art in the past year?

I realized that my work has a big part of the chaos. During the pandemic, which is causing chaos in the world- I realized that chaos is in my head or my world, which I am exploring through different media. I realized that I could make art from anything anywhere, as my work is based on mixed media. I understood better about my work, which is about " Chaos of humor and irony." Being in at the home, park, or in the studio, I realized that surround has an impact on your brains, which replicates your art. "Chaos" is my power to create.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future?

Currently, I am trying to explore the " Chaos" concept, technically, making sculptures from metal wire. I like crafts and arts. I want to merge them. I think making complex sculptures from just metal wire is interesting, as well, which is simulated and connected to my brains. These complicated constructions of the sculptures could explore the movement of chaos. I the future, I am thinking of creating art pieces from technology and using a projector and space. Sci-fi has a big impact on my work, so I want to explore through mixed media. My eyes like it to look at creative technologies. For the future, I am willing to carry on my MA studies at the University of the Arts London and visit and work in more tattoo studios, meet more people and be more active.

Make a wish for 2021. What would you like to achieve in the upcoming months?

I wish in 2021, the outbreak will stop and will be able to tattoo professionally in tattoo parlors. I want to finish my course in MA fine art at UAL. For upcoming months I want to create more different things and ideas. I want to start doing art through multimedia. I want to achieve the opportunity to connect with art dealers. I want to try new media of art to work with. I want to carry on my mission to explore my creativity to a bigger audience.

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