Erik Johansson
Artist website
Artist Biography
Being born in to a family on the countryside with ties to the art world, Erik Johansson found himself most comfortable with a pencil in-hand. Johansson's grandmother was an established painter, as is what is thought to be Erik's connection to his artistic abilities. Johansson started out with drawing, then quickly migrated to computers; they were absolutely fascinating devices to him. With the new realm of technology developing, Johansson began playing more and more video games, which resulted in an everlasting bond with technology. Once he reached the age of fifteen, he received his first digital camera, and toyed around with the photos on his computer; this created "something that you couldn't capture with the camera." [1] At the age of twenty (in 2005), he studied Computer Engineering in Gothenburg at Chalmers University of Technology, where his talent shone brightest in the field of retouching. With the publications of his first works online, and gaining worldwide views, he became a commissioned freelance artist, producing retouched realistic photography. In 2012 Johansson moved to Berlin, Germany, where he currently resides, and has participated in a TED conference, and Adobe MAX conference, while also working with Adobe, Google, and Microsoft. As an artist, Erik strives not to capture moments, but ideas.
Formal Analysis
Johansson's surrealist artwork not only portrays an aesthetic appeal, but also conveys the intricate and technical side of his complex retouched photographs. Being brought up in the countryside has greatly (subconsciously) affected his photography, in using the representations of landscapes and being so visually aware of the surrounding environment in the works he orchestrates. His confession that he is purely self-taught in both photography and retouch, only exemplifies his natural artistic abilities; and his knowledge in computer skills only strengthens his work. Being a self proclaimed photographer, he incorporates his own photographs in his retouched work, adding to the authenticity of his creations. Johansson's approach to his artwork is laid out in almost a four step process: first research, second photograph, third retouch, and four produce; it is this four step process that is applied to all of his retouch works.
Exhibitions, Commissions, and Blog Posts
Although much of Johansson's work is accessible for online viewing, a selection of his original works were once on display in the Swedish Museum of Photography in Stockholm, Sweden back in 2012. With the accessibility of digital media, Johansson's online publications of his work has allowed his artwork to be viewed on a global scale, and gain exposure. [2] In addition to his personal work, he is also a commissioned artist; one of his greatest works being "Skrapan Illusion". This piece was commissioned in the summer of 2012, where Johansson created an illusion regarding perspective for "Skrapan," (a shopping gallery in Stockholm, Sweden) giving the sensibility of peering over the edge from the top of the building. More recently, Johansson made a blog post regarding his 2014 Art piece "Landfall." [3] Here he speaks about the artwork in-depth, and allows his audience to see all the work that went in to creating the final piece.
Artwork
- Dreamwalking
- Leaving Home
- Landfall
- The Cover Up
- Let's Leave
- Drifting Away
- Diamond in the Rough
- Breaking Up
- Expecting Winter
- Groundbreaking
- Cut & Fold
- Set Them Free
- Angry Ants
- End of Line
- Cutting Light
- Electric Guitar
- Snow Cover
- Reverse Opposites
- Helping Fall
- Aqua Custodia
- Arms Break, Vases Don't
- Melting Point
- Fishy Island
- Stryktlig / Iron Man
References
- ↑ Quotation http://erikjohanssonphoto.com/about/faq-biography/
- ↑ Artwork http://erikjohanssonphoto.com/work/imagecats/personal/
- ↑ "Landfall" Article http://erikjohanssonphoto.com/blog/landfall-bts/
Wiki Authors
- Natalie Amoore