Berlin

Following up from Jo's earlier post here are a few more images and observations from other studio visits and exhibitions we were lucky enough to experience whilst in Berlin.
A small group of us trotted off to prostrate ourselves at the pixel based alter of Eboy. Svend Smital was our gracious host (the other two eboyers now living and working in Canada) After navigating a warren of courtyards and stairwells we found Svends studio stacked high with a dizzying array of pixel based madness. Half studio half warehouse as the space is used to create the famous Eboy imagery but also as a base to mail out all of their merchandise. Eboy sneakers, iphone covers, posters, toys, apps, books, stickers, stakeboards, snowboards, toasters (only joking)
The detail of the imagery and the multitudinous contexts was mind blowing, three of them there maybe but they must work 24 hours a day. In this reassuringly cluttered abode Svend generously gave us an hour plus of his time, answering questions from students, flicking though portfolios and revealing the working methodology of the E-boy team. We are sworn to secrecy.


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Our next illustrative pilgrimage was to the rather swanky apartment of Mr Henning Wagenbreth. Henning was kind enough to invite us (about 10 plus.....gulp think I said 8 max) to his studio and home, all around were the collections that feed his expressionistic highly coloured imagery, African masks, wooden sculptures, musical instruments, textiles, Japanese prints, all of these items were referenced at some point and fed directly into his work. Living testimony that life and work are often totally intertwined for illustrators.
He showed a range of work from beautifully crafted stamp designs for the German Football League through crazily coloured textiles to huge silk screened posters for a jazz festival. He tackled any project with confidence because he made it his own, found his own way into difficult potentially dull projects and made them come to life with strange stories and facts. A truly inspiring visit.
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