Stefan Grolin interview
HUCK: Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Stefan Grolin: I was born and raised on the west coast of Sweden, Gothenburg, near the sea, which is important to me. I have always loved water in all forms. You can swim in it, dive in it - I like to freedive- and surf on it. I just love water!
How did you get into art?
My father was good at drawing, so since I was little I have always been drawing and painting. I have also worked as an illustrator among other things. Then, two years ago, I tried surfing and I was hooked. I started to paint waves and surfboards, but when I saw the painting The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusa, I felt inspired to put a surfer in it! So that was my first painting in the series ‘Famous art with a surf twist’.
What does surfing mean to you?
Well I am still a beginner, but it is so much fun and so beautiful to watch.
You're paintings are quite low-brow do you think artists take themselves too seriously sometimes?
Yes, I think some do, but why always be so serious? The whole world has to smile a lot more. So when you get some one smiling at your art, it’s good.
Your paintings have similarities with Banksy's Monet and Kinkade spoofs. Was he an inspiration?
No, I haven’t been familiar with his work for long. But when I was in London in October last year, I bought his Wall and Piece book and I loved it. He’s doing some really fun stencil graffiti and I can see that some of our paintings are similar. People have even asked me if I am Banksy!
How did you choose the paintings that you 'remix'?
I choose paintings that most people know and can relate to, so they can appreciate the changes I’ve made. I have turned some down because of their political connotations. I want to be politically neutral.
What other projects have you got going on at the moment?
I have some exhibitions coming up in Gothenburg around May next year and I’m starting to work on my next painting, which will be a Rembrandt called The Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicholaes Tulp. Aside from art, I am making a skimboard and will try to skim soon! The winter season here is stormy and hopefully we’ll get some waves, but it’s so cold!
Check out more of Stefan's work at defineart.com.
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