Currently featuring on Tones – our online group show, Kino Hogan is a young artist working out of Cape Town. He graduated from the Michaelis School of Fine Art in 2019 with a focus on sculpture. Currently working as an artist assistant and independent sculptor, he explores challenging and familiar themes and topics through his work.
His sculptures are influenced by the architectural designs of cathedrals and the various symbols and aesthetics of religious visual language. Through his creations, Hogan places particular focus on small details, displaying a meticulous attention towards representation and playing with the contexts of understanding.
EC: has your artist process changed working in isolation?
KH: I think I have been more conservative with the materials I have and taking longer to make decisions on the ways in which I use them. The work I did at Michaelis was predominantly done with a Laser cutter which is obviously something quite inaccessible at this time for me. So in response to that, I have been working on new ideas and exploring other mediums that I haven’t used in my practice before.
EC: What do you think the role of artist is in times like these?
KH: I think it is important to make sure that we are considerate of other artists in our communities too. Making sure that we support each other in any way we can. I think creative platforms are a really great way to raise awareness about the virus but also to inspire a healthy creative environment at home so that we continue to keep that energy going. I know for myself I find it difficult to create anything without the tools I usually use and the spaces I usually occupy when making work, but I feel that if I don’t get busy on something then I might find myself really struggling to make work after this has all passed.
EC: Are you currently busy with a new body of work?
KH: For now, I think I have been trying to push my practice conceptually whilst I have all this time to read and do more research. I have so many ideas for the future, so I will hopefully start bringing everything together after lockdown. Two artists I have really enjoyed reading up on include Yang Yankang and Nobuyoshi Araki. Both artists are photographers, who have inspired me to make more film photographs. I have also been drawn to other examples of religious art forms which led me to painting more. So, I think for the rest of lockdown I will be trying to define and solidify more ideas with the use of these materials.
Because of how I have been drawn to painting and photography during this time, I have started painting again and trying to push conceptual ideas for photographs. I will always include some sort of sculptural forms in my body of work, but I find it difficult to work sculpturally with the lack of tools and machines in my current space.
EC: How would you encourage the public to support artists and galleries during this time?
KH: I feel that the public can definitely support artists in many ways during this time. The most obvious way is purchasing artworks, obviously the current situation doesn’t make it that easy, but just sharing an artists page or new work can go a long way too.
To see more of Kino’s work in our exhibition Tones – an online group show, click here.