'The Lost Diary of Capt Malcolm Chang'

The Lost Diary of Capt Malcolm Chang

The Artwork of Van Holmgren

Opening Reception
Saturday November 14, 2009
7-10pm at Instinct Gallery
1408 Locust St. Des Moines, IA


Michelle Holley had a chance to sit down with Mr. Van Holmgren recently and find out more about his art, his show, and his dance skills.

MH: How did you get your start in art making? Give us the lowdown on Mr. Van Holmgren!

VH: I started making art-like things around the time of reading comic books. I would draw the images that I thought were interesting, some cool characters in action poses. I probably would not have gotten in to art if it were not for my older sister, it looked fun. I learned a lot about spatial relation of objects from comic books and other visual media at an early age.


MH: Who are your biggest influences?

VH: The things that really get me are vibrant paintings and gestural drawings. The visual part of everything around me plays a part in my idea process. Great stories also inspire me, there is some genius stuff out there that no one takes the time to realize.

Over the past year and a half I ditched my car and walk and rode my bike practically everywhere. That allowed me to take my time and slow down to see everything around me instead of driving by it at 40 mph.

Artists that really do it for me are Henry Darger, Basquiat, Connor Harrington, and whatever.

Anyone that sketches to an insane amount also can strike a chord.

I also love the dynamic between the juxtaposition of unrelated objects and words. They all mean something different, but once they are in proximity of one another, they begin to tell a unintentional story together.

MH: What is your favorite movie and color? And freestyle break-dancer move? Very important things to know about someone we will soon admire…

VH: Kung Fu movies are a great thing to have playing anytime of the day. Jason Statham movies are key as well, it's all just really mindless fun. I used a lot of blue in my paintings and that should be my favorite color. I am learning to love all colors, especially the brighter ones lately.


MH: Where did your idea for your current show at Instinct Gallery, ‘The Lost Diary of Capt Malcolm Chang’ come from?

VH: I have always loved the idea of a themed art show. Not a lot of people do it around here. Many of the shows are people just putting up their work without a well developed thought. It's not a bad thing that they do that, everyone has their own ideas and process. By making myself do a themed show I had to make work that was within the theme and that helped me formulate my imagery further. Better communication. I feel that this is a big step for me.

MH: And who is this Malcolm Chang fella?

VH: Mr. Malcolm Chang was developed out of an idea of what a really cool white Kung Fu master would be called. It is silly, but then the fact that he was a sea captain as well popped in my head, and these stories just flooded my head.

The adventures he experiences are "blown-up" things that I have experienced in the past few years. I just took the central, boiled down elements of what happened and made it in to a bigger story that happened on the high seas.

To be a jerk, I could also say that Malcolm Chang could be anyone, it's cliché i guess. It is true though. Everything we go through that is tough is amplified by our feelings and it is the main focus of our days and we let it consume us. Look at Facebook, a lot of the status updates are people
complaining about how their day is going, when everyone is going through the same things. It is like they are projecting it.

Does that work as an answer? haha.


MH:  heard there are going to be some large installation pieces in this show, is that true?

VH: Yeah, just come in and check it out, there is a boat n such.


MH: I also heard you will be doing a live tribal rain dance to the sea gods and sea serpents, tell us more about that:

VH: The whole dance thing is a personal ritual that includes self-nudity and is for closed doors. But in this case, it'll take place on the roof of the Des Moines Social Club. I am flying in a shaman.


MH: What is next in line for you after this show?

VH: Most likely drawing and painting a lot more. People on animals, animals on people. All having intense faces. I'll also be doing a lot more sketching, it needs to happen.


MH: Any other tips, stories, love notes you would like to leave for your adoring fans?

VH: Anyone can draw, if you can put a mark on a paper, it's drawing no matter how good or bad anyone thinks it is.

Try making art for everyone. The art for this show is also very cheap. It's slow times for money, so i want to make it extra easy to get to. It's a huge mark down from what I am used to, and that is okay.


MH: Thanks Van!

* *

*Michelle Holley*
*Instinct Gallery – Director*
*www.instinctgallery.com*