Kalle Hellzén

The solitary figures in my artwork, captured in moments of pause—mid-fall, mid-life, mid-dream—represent more than isolated individuals. They are fragments of memories and echoes of the people in my life, including myself, my wife, and my father.

Kalle Hellzén is a multidisciplinary artist with strong experience in design, digital innovation and cinema. His pictorial career, however, is relatively recent and draws heavily on influences from these different fields.
His works are an interior story in which figures that draw directly from his memories are suspended in these isolated and solitary worlds immersed in bright colors, colors that are the result of his particular and very personal vision.
All images © courtesy of Kalle Hellzén

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ITA - ENG

DICEMBER 2023

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How did you start your artistic career? Have you always worked with these
techniques or did you use different ones? Do you have other tools and techniques
that you think you might want to use in the future?

My artistic journey began in graphic design, art direction, digital innovation, and film
direction, where I honed my skills in creating striking visuals and strong, singular stories.
It was only later in life, well into my forties, that I ventured into painting. This shift marked
a significant transition in my creative expression, blending my extensive experience in
design with the more introspective practice of painting. My only regret is not discovering
the joy and fulfillment of painting earlier.

Your technique mixes past and future; can you tell us more about this aspect?

My artistic technique is a dynamic interplay between the past and the future, where each
piece of art becomes a contributor and a participant in a larger creative narrative. This
process starts with traditional oil and acrylic paintings, which I consider 'Generation 0.'
These initial works are deeply personal, capturing my themes, colors, and subjects,
forming the basis of my artistic exploration.
What makes my approach unique is how these original paintings interact. Using
generative AI, I mix elements from these works, allowing them to interact and inspire
new creations. It's like each painting converses with the others, influenced by their
colors, shapes, and emotions.
In this process, the AI acts as a mediator and enhancer, helping me to blend, juxtapose,
and transform these original pieces. It's not just about creating new art from old but
about allowing these individual pieces to inform and reshape each other, creating a
continuous cycle of artistic rebirth.
This technique represents a meeting point of past and future, where traditional painting
techniques and themes meet the innovative possibilities of digital technology. It's a way
of creating art rooted in historical practices and pushing towards new, unexplored
territories. This method allows me to keep the conversation within my body of work,
constantly evolving and growing with each new piece.

How does your laboratory develop? How is it structured?

My atelier is where traditional art meets digital innovation, but is also an artist's
playground. It's packed with various art supplies, gadgets and computers, reflecting my
love for experimentation and learning. I also focus on capturing the creation process,
adding an expansive, behind-the-scenes element to my work and journey that in some

way is part of the artwork by giving it meaning that can reach far beyond any exhibition.
It's about the final piece and the lively, sometimes chaotic journey to get there.

In your works there are often very bright colors while the final result is minimal
and essential. Where does this dualism come from? What inspires you when you
work?

The vibrant colors in my work, stemming from my colorblindness, don't mask but rather
enhance emotional themes like anxiety and sadness. This juxtaposition, I call
'melancholy dipped in sunshine,' creates a compelling contrast. The brightness of the
colors accentuates the depth of these human experiences, highlighting the complexities
and intensities of feelings like alienation and sorrow, thereby offering a more profound
and nuanced understanding of these emotional states. At the same time, I strive for
minimalism and simplicity in the final result, focusing on emotions and scenes, stripping
away complexity to reveal the essence

What can you tell us about the White bird limited edition? How do you approach
this other medium that you use in your art?

The White Bird limited edition is a 3D rendition of my 'Bird' artwork, crafted in naturally
white and slightly translucent Polyamid. This choice of material adds a delicate, almost
ethereal quality to the piece, emphasizing themes of balance, perspective, and
tranquility. By bringing the two-dimensional concept into a three-dimensional form, this
edition represents a new dimension in my artistic exploration. It symbolizes the fragile
equilibrium we navigate in our personal and societal experiences, rendered in a medium
that perfectly captures the essence of its transient, elusive nature. This transition from
the paper to a physical form offers a fresh perspective on the underlying themes and a
tactile, calming and visually engaging experience in any space.

The protagonist figures of your works are often alone and almost meditative in
environments without other human figures. What would you like to tell with their
stories? Who are them?
The solitary figures in my artwork, captured in moments of pause—mid-fall, mid-life,
mid-dream—represent more than isolated individuals. They are fragments of memories
and echoes of the people in my life, including myself, my wife, and my father. These
figures, depicted in liminal spaces, symbolize the universal human experience of
introspection and solitude. This portrayal is an artistic choice and a reflection of my
experiences. Being colorblind and suffering from an anxiety disorder, I've often felt on
the peripheries, observing from the outskirts, feeling like an outsider. This duality of
being present yet distanced permeates my art, turning each figure into a representation
of the collective emotional journey we somewhere deep down, all share

Being a color blind artist creates a very personal vision of the world you
represent. Can you tell us about it?

My experience as a colorblind artist has profoundly shaped my understanding and use of
color. Initially, color intimidated me; I gravitated towards blues and blacks in my clothing
and deferred to others for color decisions. This changed when I started painting. I
discovered that my unique perception of color wasn't a hindrance but a strength. It
became a medium through which I could evoke strong emotions and tell compelling
stories. Now, color, for me is more than a visual element; it's a profound way of
communicating emotions and experiences, allowing me to connect with people on a
deeper and unique level through my art.

What are your future projects?

"Heroes" My recent limited edition print series, 'Heroes,' is a series that delves into
the understated yet profound resilience we encounter daily. It's about paying tribute to
the unsung heroism found in ordinary people. The series explores themes like
self-doubt, loneliness, and the various challenges we all face, highlighting the
often-overlooked acts of courage and perseverance. Each piece in 'Heroes' is crafted to
celebrate these quiet yet significant moments of bravery and triumph in the human spirit.
The core message is that heroism isn't always loud or grandiose; sometimes, it's as
subtle as the inner resolve to try again to keep moving forward despite the odds.
“Lonescapes”: This new endeavor represents a deep dive into the landscapes within
my art and, by extension, within myself. 'Lonescapes' departs from my earlier works,
where figures often inhabit liminal spaces. This series's unoccupied scenes create an
open stage that confronts the viewer with themes of choice and hesitation. The focus is
on elements like staircases, not just as physical structures but as symbols of potential
and the steps we have yet to take. These 'Lonescapes' are about paused narratives and
the quiet before a story unfolds. I intend each piece to invite the viewer to enter the
scene, fill the void with personal reflections, and consider the journey toward new
perspectives and growth. This series explores the unseen beauty and the introspective
pause it offers, encouraging a search for self-discovery within these artistically crafted
spaces.

What would be your ideal exposure for your works? How do you imagine the
perfect exhibition for your art?

In my ideal exhibition, the line between art and audience blurs, where viewers don't just
observe but become integral parts of the artwork themselves. I envision transforming the
exhibition space into an immersive environment that mirrors the minimalist architectural
settings of my pieces. This would be where visitors step into the scenes, becoming
subjects within these liminal spaces, where each person actively engages inside the art,
finding themselves within the narrative and the environment. It's about turning the

passive view into an active experience of self-discovery and reflection. This concept
elevates the exhibition from mere observation to a personal journey, allowing visitors to
explore and connect with the themes of solitude, introspection, and the beauty of it all as
they literally become a part of the art.

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