INTERVIEW | Kaden Herbert
8 Questions with Kaden Herbert
Kaden Herbert, emergent American painter was born in 1999 in Waco, Texas in the United States
In his short time here, through his experiences, Kaden Herbert has grown keen to be aware of every situation He is in- more of a defense mechanism than anything. When Kaden became interested in art and created a few pieces, he realized that his observational ways transferred over tenfold. Kaden Herbert started not only analyzing his situation, but our's as a species. All of his thoughts started to become clear in the study and making of reality through paintings. Friends being addicted and dying from drugs, and the outdated views and ignorance that persists in his southern upbringing helped him use this acute sense of awareness to develop his findings. Not only from witnessing particular situations in our society but living very many of them. In turn, this changed Kaden's life in every way, and he soon became entirely dedicated to creating paintings. At nineteen years old, Kaden Herbert dropped out of college and became financially independent so that no authority could influence his work or decisions.
Kaden Herbert in his Studio.
Kaden Herbert had always admired art but never thought of being an artist until about a year and a half ago. At some point, while struggling to enjoy college, Kaden knew he had to do something different. Herbert grew a powerful attraction to the assertive language of painting. After making a few pieces, he realized portraying reality through physical images is his best way of study. Each work is a product of meticulous observation and breakdown of the present, which comes almost instinctively. Kaden Herbert was looking for means of progression for himself and the human race- being a part of the whole. This is where he finds such means and have the opportunity to share it in everything he creates. Kaden Herbert is now 20 years old, living in Waco, Texas, independently, working, and making art advocating for humanity's progress.
Interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj.
Kardashev Scale, Oil on canvas, 2020 Kaden Herbert©
The main concept of Kardashev Scale is to get across the fact that we are one as a people. Therefore any progress made by one should not be for that person's specific group but the species as a whole. The well known Virgo cluster and the chart of our local group show that although earth seems large to us, there are an infinite amount of places where we are not and one very small grain of sand where we are. Any difference we see in each other comes from a very limited perspective. The two people at a campfire bring in the comparison of our local astronomical group with what people seem to consider their local group (friends, family, city, etc.). The campfire represents one of man's first discoveries, the rocks the color of ancient cave walls. The notepad is the human race's constant state of evolution and study.
How would you define yourself as an artist?
In this early stage of being a painter, I am still experimenting with the different ways of making images with oil paint, and I’m unsure if I will ever make a painting that is not an experiment or study of some kind. Art has never failed to ask one unanswerable question after another. One thing within me that is and will remain consistent is my intent- to find the next most powerful way of creating an image, and use what I learn to portray the reality of mankind and society from a human and non-human perspective. I say non-human meaning unbiased: a view of reality completely disregarding the human ego and perspective. If my methods and thought processes were compared to that of an experimental scientist, I assume they would be very similar, but art always seems to ask the greatest questions before science.
How did you start making art?
Though I always respected and enjoyed interpreting art of all forms, I was 19 when I found a love for it- paintings in particular. I soon figured that if I received the paintings so strongly and efficiently, I would be able to produce them with the same qualities. I knew that there was so much more to making a good piece than technical skill, and hoped that could be in my favor. I think painting somehow caters to my primary instincts and cognition, so it became a streamlined form of experiment and study for me.
Coffee and Nicotine morning, Oil on canvas, 2019 Kaden Herbert©
Coffee and Nicotine Morning was made with the intent of excluding the need for a description or explanation of any concept. It’s purpose is to be an image- and nothing more. One that is representational of the feelings of unease, stress, and the overall discontentment with life that many humans seem to feel amidst these times. Rather than looking at the piece and then reading the meaning behind it, the viewer will look at the work and encounter feelings that are unique to them- thus understanding the painting without the use for a middleman.
How do you get ideas for each piece of art?
My ideas come from everywhere: poetry, music, photographs, history, animals, nothing. I find that everything in this life, human and non-human, can make a statement on people and their actions. Whatever the inspiration is, it comes in the form of an epiphany, some unveiling of a great truth. I then only hope to portray that as accurately and real as possible.
Do you have a role model that you’ve drawn inspiration from when designing your art?
Francis Bacon certainly captured reality in a way that had yet to be seen and matched. I have learned about him and looked at his paintings more than any other. Though there are so much information and documentation on him and his work, it is wrong to compare how much I have learned about him and what I have learned about, says Francisco Goya or El Greco. Any artist whose work I admire gets the same amount of study and admiration from me, whether it is made by a good friend or the great Francis Bacon.
Man alighting, Oil on canvas, 2020 Kaden Herbert©
Human kind coming down from itself appointed pedestal. A historic moment yet to come. Soon hopefully.
You’ve mentioned that your thoughts became clear in the study and making of reality through paintings. How do you integrate art into your life?
I would say art helped me integrate myself into life. Though I did get by the first 19 years without it, I always felt disconnected between my reality and the one that everyone else seemed to live in. Making paintings is what truly made me understand myself and the way I perceived the world around me. The way that art came into my life and I came into it was seamless: art is life and life is art. Therefore any progress made in art is the progress made in life. I don’t see any difference.
What do you hope that the public takes away from your work?
I want to bring people back to reality.
Hunting on a full stomach, Oil on canvas, 2020 Kaden Herbert©
Evil did not exist until man consciously committed certain acts.
What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future?
I am still in a very exploratory stage, both with the visual makeup of my paintings and the concepts behind them. I hope to find one new and more effective way of making an image and push it until I find another. I assume that I will always be evolving because change is constant and inevitable. Soon, I plan to move to a place with more artistic opportunities like New York or Chicago, either on my own or by attending an art school.
What other interests do you have outside of art?
I like to learn about anything that interests me or I feel is important- so whether it is a book, a film, or a YouTube video, I am always gathering information. Music has always held great value to me, so most times, I have a record spinning or a playlist playing- anything ranging from classical piano to rap. I also grew up the youngest of three brothers, so I enjoy any sport or competition. I like to keep my circle small and am selectively social, so most of my other interests are likely just as reclusive as painting.