Introducing The 1st International NeoPopRealism Starz Art Competition Winner Simon Kavanagh, Denmark
Simon Kavanagh was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1974. He lived in Paris, then he moved to Shanghai, later he has returned to Europe, Denmark... In College, he studied Art and Design Education. He brought his skills into commercial multimedia, and within 1 year had become Creative director. Over the next six years he learned everything about production in all areas of MM for all platforms, inc. development of high end video and animation. I have always been an artist," Simon said. "Having the time to create is the challenge. When I lived in Shanghai, I found the stimulus there so intense that it allowed me the extra energy and inspiration to bring my art to the public. There, I had 2 major shows... a collection of 5 years work, and a graffiti show where I tested out my approach to interactive and media art on a large scale. "What if the work of art becomes the interface, a dialogue of thoughts and perhaps also of common creation-cooperation and shared experience," Simon Kavanagh shares his thoughts with NeoPopRealism Journal. "The audience shares in the production of the exhibit, contributes its imagination, and becomes a participant. An interactive art piece must facilitate the most natural and simple 
forms of human interaction, requiring of the user no special knowledge or skills - just a need to interact, a curiosity..."
"We need to take back the art world from the sellers and dealers, who place a false value and commodity status on art. The greatest inhibitor is the artist themselves and the concept of artist as solo genius. As the biggest sacrifice to be made here, is the ego! the power to determine the art piece in its entirety, and to say when its finished. This is not the artists fault per-say, but more the fault of the way the colleges and art world see artists and train and shape them."
"I like NeoPopRealism," Simon continued. "Also, its funny how some of my ideas have revolved around revisiting Pop Art concepts and pieces again. Pop Art was a very important art movement, however, as it turned out it did as much damage as good for art. It brought art into the commercial age of mass production as well as challenging the concept of suitable subject matter. It lead to the commercialization of the art world, as I see it leading to massive inflation of art work during the 80s. It also inspired a new generation of artists to experiment and be provocative. Perhaps Pop Art is more relevant now, in the 21st century, using its topical, simple imagery to reach bigger audiences faster, like a billboard which needs to be understood immediately, as everything is for sale, a commodity, but combined with new media and technology allowing for a new level of realism, accuracy and concision."
Starting in September 2009, Simon will focus on his art by reducing his employment. This will allow him the time he needs to develop some new pieces, software, concepts, ideas. He will also use this time to think about how to start working towards his goal of designing or helping to develop a masters curriculum in digital fine art, with a radical and interactive result. He is currently working in the KaosPilots in Denmark, a 3rd level education for social/radical entrepreneurs. Currently, he would like to do a PhD around the subject in order to strengthen and deepen the pedagogy.
For more information visit his web site at www.mediartists.info.
NeoVisit NeoPopRealism Starz at http://neopoprealismstarz.com
