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Hans Poppe: Artist of the Week
Artistry: Graphic designer and artist.
Social media platforms:
FB: HansPoppe
Instagram: @hanspoppe
Website: www.hanspoppe.com
What services do you offer?
Freelance graphic design; illustrations; commissions; limited edition prints; custom portraits; one-on-one mentorship; selling originals; exhibitions.
Where can we purchase your work? For any purchase inquiries, feel free to send an email to hanspoppe@gmail.com. Online purchases will be available soon at hanspoppe.com.
Have you always wanted to be an artist/creator of art?
When I was 4 years old, while sitting with my Mother on a porch in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, I looked up to see a drawing my Aunt pinned up. I remember asking my Mom, “Whose picture is that?” (Thinking it was a photograph)… She replied with a simple, “It’s your Auntie’s drawing.” I remember looking at my crayons and that piece of paper in front of me and trying to make sense that a human, a being like myself, was able to do… “that”. It was at that moment that I realized what I wanted to do when I grew up.
Are you a full time artist?
Yes, I consider myself a “Full-time” artist and designer. I believe being an artist is a lifestyle, it’s who you are. It’s what you think, what you say, what you do, what you create. They are all one and the same. It’s what you do without realizing that you are doing it, a way for you to make sense of who you are. For me it’s answering that ever-elusive question… Why you are here on Earth? It’s you being real to your God-self here on Earth. For me, it’s the closest thing to the highest state of vibration. It’s where time doesn’t really exist.
I am also a Teacher/Mentor with some local community programs here in Toronto… The Remix Project (http://theremixproject.com) and Arts Lab. They both cater to “at risk” youth in the city. In the last 3 years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and being a mentor to some of the most talented and ambitious youth in the city. They all start off with a ton of focus, goals and ambition, but as the year continues, life can really become an obstacle in pursuing their dreams and goals as artists. Some make sense of their personal hurdles, some take a bit longer, but all have benefited from the art programs I’ve been involved in. One way or another it has usually been a positive experience for them. Further more, the ones that have really stuck through it all and continue to pursue their dreams and goals are such an inspiration! It’s always amazing to watch someone starting off with a sense of insecurity, and just grow to become the best versions of them selves despite their personal challenges.
Do you have formal training? What is your training background or are you self-taught?
My formal training is in Design and Advertising via Humber College here in Toronto. I don’t have any formal training when it comes to the arts. I took a handful of part-time classes to better understand and learn how to use my materials and some techniques. Some classes did help with art history, philosophy and context. Otherwise, I consider myself self-taught.
How do you combat any lack of inspiration?
I find inspiration in my everyday existence. It could be a ripped up poster on a street light pole on the way to work in the morning. Or a graffiti piece I see on my walk in the late night on Queen St., or book on the history of Corporations. Or an audio book entitled “Conversations with God” while I paint. Or photos from my last trip to Tanzania rotating on my computer screen as I paint Tanzanians on Tanzanian fabric (Kitenge). Lately, Instagram, Behance and Pinterest have been my defaults.
Life can be inspiration enough. My biggest motivation for the latest body of work is simply painting subject matter that I always wanted to see in galleries and never saw. My inspiration for this particular body of work is from constantly seeing Africans being misrepresented in the media. I remember growing up to some really ignorant questions about where I come from. ie. “Do you all wear grass skirts in Africa? Do you live amongst wild life in Dar es Salaam?” That was many years ago now, but it really made me see things differently. These days it bothers me to no end when I constantly see African children in the donation commercials… As if all the children in Africa are sick and starving. They hardly ever show the other more positive picture of Africa.
These painting I’m working on are to show the “real” life of Tanzanians, the unapologetic day to day life. Some are of villagers, some of city kids, some are late night conversations with elders… etc.
What you consume is what you will release. If you choose to see darkness all the time, you will see darkness in all aspects of your life. Vice versa, if you choose to focus on the positive side of your life, you will manifest positivity in your life. I want to change the image that people have of Africa and Tanzanian people in general.
It’s important as an artist to keep fueling what inspires you and focus in on why you started to do this in the first place.Africa is not the hunger commercials, poverty and war stricken place painted in the media. It is a beautiful land with a rich cultural history and an evolved people and I aspire to reflect that version of African in my work.
Random Question Alert! What is your favourite food?
Mom’s cooking… Which is mostly Tanzanian food :)
