Bezmiar
Magician by Bezmiar
Interview by Ellen De
Continuing our series of interviews conceived by photographer & Lab Mag writer Ellen De for the edition FORM vol.1., meet artist, designer and illustrator BEZMIAR. Go behind the curtain and find out how his ideas are formed as he gives a rare insight into his craft.
Artist, Designer & Illustrator Bezmiar
ELLEN DE: Tell us about your childhood and what drew you to art.
BEZMIAR I was born in Gdańsk, a coastal city in Poland, into a family closely connected to the academic and artistic worlds. Art has been a part of my life from an early age, and I spent lots of time browsing through art books, admiring classical paintings. Unlike many creators I know, I didn’t draw much as a child. I was more interested in exploring new things, which led me to express my creativity through making numerous, though impractical, objects, installations, sculptures, and collages. My artistic focus became more defined when a computer appeared in our home. That’s when I started using its capabilities to express myself. Professionally, I have been working in art and design for over 16 years.
ED Tell us about your creative process.
BEZMIAR My creative process always begins with a single thought. I spend a long time focusing solely on the concept and don’t start creating until I’m certain that the vision I have is clear and well-defined. The idea has always been the most important element of the creative process for me. This is why I’ve loved medieval and Renaissance art, where form served as a vessel for the idea rather than being the object of focus itself. Once I have a refined idea, I sit down to create and don’t get up until I’m finished.
The Edge of Time by Bezmiar
ED Is there a specific piece where you explored the relationship between form and content in a unique way?
BEZMIAR Yes! In 2017, I wrote a book covering the fundamentals of descriptive geometry. My goal was to create a publication that could explain this fascinating subject to someone like me—a person without a background in the sciences.
Struktura by Bezmiar
To achieve this, I developed illustrations based on technical drawings and graphs, showcasing various concepts of geometry. Additionally, I wrote a story that personifies dimensions as living beings.
ED What has been one of your biggest challenges in art, and how did you overcome it?
BEZMIAR Every piece I create is my greatest challenge. I dislike repeating myself and avoid getting too close to others' work in my own creations. I want to follow my own path, crafting things that are entirely mine and truly unique. As a result, each new piece becomes increasingly difficult to create.
Caregiver by Bezmiar
ED What are you most proud of?
This is probably the most difficult question. I try to keep my pride in check, but if I had to choose, it would probably be the solo exhibition I created last year.
ED Is there something in your process or work that might surprise viewers?
BEZMIAR Perhaps the fact that I never prepare sketches for the works I create. As I mentioned earlier, by focusing on the idea, the creative process itself becomes an exercise in problem-solving.
Exhibition Image courtesy of the artist Bezimar
ED Is there something in your process or work that might surprise viewers?
BEZMIAR Perhaps the fact that I never prepare sketches for the works I create. As I mentioned earlier, by focusing on the idea, the creative process itself becomes an exercise in problem-solving.
ED What influences, within or outside the art world, have recently impacted your work?
BEZMIAR I strive to incorporate every experience into my work. That’s why I create multimedia pieces that include animation, narration, and music. I often draw inspiration from the world of cinema, but I also deeply appreciate the clarity of expression found in poster art.
Moondancer by Bezmiar
ED Is there a particular environment or moment that you find especially inspiring?
BEZMIAR I mainly work at night, when I’m slightly tired, and the world doesn’t distract me.
ED Are there any upcoming projects that excite you? What are you currently working on?
BEZMIAR The thing I’m most excited about right now is the prospect of creating a music video for a hardcore punk band I’ve been listening to for years, who reached out to me with a request for collaboration. Additionally, I’m working on a project that combines coding and art, alongside my friend.
ED How has your experience been collaborating with other artists or working on collective projects? Do you prefer collaboration or independent work?
BEZMIAR I usually prefer to work solo. I’m very selective when it comes to working in a collective. There has to be a chemistry between me and the person I’d be collaborating with. A divergence of visions demotivates me and discourages me from creating. We might disagree on every detail, but we must be heading in the same direction.
ED You mentioned daydreaming as a major part of your creative process. Could you share how you transition from abstract ideas into concrete designs or visuals?
BEZMIAR Everything starts with a thought. I try to focus on it, imagine it in different configurations, push it beyond the boundaries where it normally exists, and envision parallel realities where similar things could take place. And when an unexpected connection flashes in my mind, that’s when I sit down to figure out how to show it.
43 by Bezmiar
ED How do your dual backgrounds in design and psychology influence the way you approach projects or understand your audience?
BEZMIAR My background in psychology allows me to approach creation in an analytical way, while my experience in design enables me to maintain control over the entire process. As for understanding the audience, well, that’s a different story ;)
ED How does your work challenge viewers to see the world from different perspectives or encourage empathy?
BEZMIAR The main struggle I face is the battle for the audience's attention. When I create, I try to build the atmosphere slowly, not in a forceful or aggressive way. Nowadays, we are used to quick messages, but I try to keep the viewer engaged for longer than those 8 seconds of attention span.
Lover by Bezmiar
ED You described success as making an impact on someone. Is there a particular instance where you felt your art deeply resonated with someone, and how did that experience affect you?
BEZMIAR I really enjoy the moment when people see a part of themselves in my work. In this way, I feel a connection with others more than in any other way.
ED What's the best advice you’ve ever received, and what’s the worst?
BEZMIAR The best advice I ever received was from my father when I was still in high school: "If you don't know how to do something, find the mechanism behind it and break it."
And the worst advice was probably, "You could draw something happy!"
ED What motto do you live by?
BEZMIAR “If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.”
Black and White by Bezmiar
BEZMIAR is featured in FORM vol.I.
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