Lepus Luna

I discovered Amy Duncan when she left a comment on my interview with Emil Amos of Holy Sons, Grails and Om. Duncan is a painter, illustrator and a tattoo artist at Chapel Tattoo in Melbourne, Australia. She has also been taking classes in botanical illustration. Her tattoo work is distinctive but her latest venture has really caught my eye.

Amy and her husband Shaun, a photographer, writer and musician have created a company called Lepus Luna. In their own words it "is a space we've created for exploring and sharing the art we make both individually and together, and with time will also become a space for sharing work by others we admire".

To date Lepus Luna have released two limited edition prints of Amy's work. The first was 'La Louve' a strictly limited first edition of 23, made using Epson Ultrachrome K3 pigment inks on 100% cotton rag Hahnemühle paper. All hand signed and numbered in gold pencil with embossed seal on the bottom left corner, and hand-painted metallic gold highlights on the bell and third-eye jewel. 

 

The second features a tiny botanical illustration of a young Amanita muscaria mushroom, is now available. These prints are 148 x 197mm in size (5 7/8 x 7 3/4"), and printed with Epson Ultrachrome K3 pigment inks on 100% cotton rag Hahnemühle paper. An ultra smooth rag was used so even the finest of details can be reproduced, and the prints are hand-signed at the bottom right with graphite pencil. 

To find more from  Lepus Luna and to see more of Amy's artwork:

http://www.lepusluna.com/

http://www.chapeltattoo.com/

http://www.pennywhistlesandmoonpies.blogspot.com/

Seeker

Artist Patrick Wagner was born in Germany in 1980 and works mainly with sculpture. His secret artistic passion is printmaking. He has attended The Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts Kiel in Germany, The National Academy of Fine Arts in Bergen, Norway and The National University of Fine Arts in Bucharest, Romania



Whilst at The National Academy of Fine Arts in Bergen, he worked on a project called Explo 01 assisted by Trond Mikalsen, Heiko Wommelsdorf and others. The Explo 01 was a self-appointed research project for his exchange to the Bergen National Academy of Fine Arts. Wagner was researching the possibilities of interfaces between art in public and virtual space. As a result of this he developed a kinetic sculpture (which draws on NASA Mars rovers technology) which provides a mobile research platform or presence in both spaces.




What artists have influenced you; and how?
Well, Gordon Matta-Clark was definitely a revelation. His "Splitting", "Day's End" and "Office Baroque" works kept reappearing in my head for months on end. I saw them at a show in Berlin, completely unaware of his position until then. The beauty of his 'anarchitectual' interventions, the dedication of Matta-Clark to his work impressed me deeply.

For the same reason, Horst Janssen (German print maker) is very dear to me. I lived next to his museum for four years, going there once a month. His love for printmaking transpired through every single plate he etched. In their way, his works are very educational, or maybe it is my adoration for them - whenever I am in the print workshop, exploring new techniques, Janssen is watching over my shoulder while I wonder how he did this or that.


Are there any particular places or spaces that you find inspiring?
Nope, not really. I can work anywhere. I like my studio here in Germany, because it is nice and spacious. Having a place to call home, art wise, is very important. I draw most of my inspirations from literature, ideas manifest themselves on long walks, situations and ideas get played through. The seaside helps, but it would also work in Tokyo, Bergen, Bucharest or elsewhere. Nights are best for breakthroughs. Travelling is important, but then again, that's maybe my restlessness speaking.





What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things are tough?
To be honest, I do not really know. Things are tough almost all the time, but that's the challenge. The character of my work is very experimental. I do a lot of things simply to answer questions I've stumbled upon. When my curiosity is satisfied the interesting part begins - finding out how to make this process of wondering and discovering accessible for other people.

Patience, or maybe even stubbornness, helps when obstacles are being hit. But then again, that moment-when sculptural decisions begin to really matter, that's when art is being done.

How would your life change if you were no longer allowed to creat art?

Tempting to write "I could not live without art", but most probably, all my energy would pour into something else... I would write, maybe, devote myself to a martial art, lecture at a university or find another vent for my need to reach out to other people. But actually, if I were no longer allowed to create art; I would most probably still make art, for it is vital.




Ultimate goal as an artist?

To one day make the minus in front of my account balance disappear. Until then I want to keep doing what I want/have to do. When the minus is gone, I'll keep on doing whatever I want, just without that little line. The world is still full of questions that need to be answered, at least as much as me and my art are concerned. Maybe get a call to teach at a University somewhere, maybe settle down a bit, win the heart of someone, stuff like that. Impossible to separate the artist Patrick from the human Patrick.

www.nymphomation.de
www.explo01.net