We interviewed Jason Engelbart in our publication “Abstracted” surrounding his artworks and his practice- especially surrounding the aspects of the Baroque period. Visit the publication here.
What aspects of the Baroque period and art do you find most inspiring and how do you bring these elements into your work?
I am particularly inspired by the opulence of these works, the subtle interplay of light and dark, their very specific colour compositions, and the sacred aura emanating from the overall appearance. Channelling the emotional and spiritual essence of these masterpieces and then bringing them into the present through my own abstract interpretation appeals to me.
How do you approach creating art which evokes strong emotional impacts and a ‘positive aura’?
From the very beginning, the creative process has been characterised by my personal inner attitude. The key to the highly emotional impact and positive aura of my art can be found in my spiritual exploration of life, including aspects such as mindfulness and gratitude.
Are there any specific techniques or themes you prioritise within your work other than Baroque?
It is the artist’s nature to search for new and original forms of expression. I remain excited to discover where my artistic journey will take me. For the moment, I continue to be inspired by the Baroque masterpieces.
My “LIQUID LIGHT” and “ABSTRACT POEMS” collections from previous work periods are on my website, jasonengelbart.de.
How has working on Baroque Passion changed your understanding of Baroque art and the symbolism and spiritualism within it?
In exploring the divine love inherent in us, I found the deepest symbolism for spirituality and an expressive sacred aura in the Baroque masterpieces. In particular, the ceiling frescoes in Baroque castles and churches had the strongest divine radiance for me in this respect. This guiding principle manifests in my neo-paintings in the form of a distinctly sacred aura.
What drew you to use a digital medium for your neo-paintings? How do these digital tools help your vision of creating art with a calming essence?
As an artist and designer, technology and its digital tools have always been central to my creative work. In terms of my digital paintings, working with Photoshop offers me precise control over the colour moods of the individual areas of the image, empowering a fluid compositional process by removing and adding individual image layers. In addition, the colour palette truly feels inexhaustible to me.
Where do you see your practice evolving in the future? Do you have any projects upcoming that you would like to talk about ?
I am working in parallel on a cycle of works with the title ‘LISTEN TO THE SILENCE’. Here, my focus lies on reducing the form of the pictorial elements and on colour compositions that softly flow into each other to evoke calm and lightness in the viewer. These works also pursue a spiritual approach that becomes visible in quiet tones. They invite you to find your balance in silence.