I used to particularly love the Final Fantasy franchise, and I’m sure that like many other kids, I would make up my own figures and images based on my imagination.
Much of my early inspiration came from artbooks and fantasy artwork, especially illustrations on the covers of books or video games. Whilst I had plenty of encouragement at school, I did not come from a creative family. Were you introduced to art in your upbringing? If so, what forms or visuals stuck out to you? Since then, one way or another, making art has always been my go to ambition, and although building a career has seemed very difficult at times, I can’t imagine doing anything else. My teacher allowed me to continue the painting over the next few days, and afterwards called me her “little artist”. One of my earliest memories is from when I was around five years old and I was creating a great big painting of a snow leopard at school. I know it borders on cliché, but I think I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist. “Queering the past is a process of healing I think.”ĭescribe the moment when you wanted to dedicate yourself to a career in contemporary art. Take a look at our exclusive interview below. In our most recent installment of ‘Hypeart Visits’, we had the opportunity to engage with Jakob and delve into his multidisciplinary art practice that involves the use of unconventional materials to create fantastical masks and tapestries as well as the challenges he’s faced in the industry as an artist from the LGBTQIA+ community. These masks symbolize an ongoing struggle between the contrasting realms of carnival and lent, presenting a profound exploration of human experiences. Despite their hollow leather faces, they embody a complex range of emotions, evoking desire, passion, and guilt. The show, entitled “ Illuminations,” features the artist’s signature leather masks crafted from found materials and suspended from the gallery’s ceiling. Currently the artist is presenting a new body of work being exhibited at Steve Turner gallery in LA. Currently based in the vibrant city of London, Rowlinson continues to create captivating artworks that challenge perceptions and invite contemplation. In 2022, he was appointed as the Artist-in-Residence at Fores Project in London. His talent and unique artistic vision have led to exhibitions at prominent galleries, including Quench Gallery in Margate, Tandsticksmuseet in Sweden, and Clearview in London. Rowlinson, born in 1990, received his artistic education at the prestigious Ruskin School of Art, studying Fine Art, and pursued an MA in Sculpture at the esteemed Royal College of Art. Through expressive gestures and emotions conveyed through hands, he offers nuanced commentary on these fundamental aspects of human identity. The hand emerges as a recurring motif in Rowlinson’s work, representing an exploration of gender and sexuality. By juxtaposing these sharp, masculine symbols with soft fabrics, he challenges traditional associations of violence and toughness. Within his artworks, Rowlinson incorporates layered motifs such as barbed wire, arrowheads, and chains, evoking a sense of confinement or imprisonment. As someone who grew up surrounded by medieval symbols, Rowlinson associates them with his queer identity, recognizing their potential as gateways to an alternative past. Influenced by contemporary fantasy fiction and captivated by medieval illuminated manuscripts and gothic architecture, he draws inspiration from the enchanting worlds they portray. Medieval symbols and ornaments hold a significant place in Rowlinson’s compositions, inspired by his fascination with the medieval fantasy genre and its magical past. By dyeing the felt using natural elements from Hampstead Heath, he establishes a connection to the environment in his work. Felt, in particular, symbolizes both a versatile collage medium and a representation of healing and self-care. Working primarily with felt and tapestry, Rowlinson is drawn to their tactile nature and timeless appeal.
Influenced by the Final Fantasy franchise and profoundly moved by Francis Bacon’s emotional portraits, he developed a deep appreciation for art. Rowlinson’s creative inspiration stems from artbooks and fantasy artwork, including the alluring illustrations found on book covers and video games. Within these captivating landscapes, Rowlinson incorporates contemporary stylized symbols. These compositions are enriched by lush green moss, ferns, and foliage, harmoniously blending the natural and the symbolic. Employing collage techniques and working with felt, he merges decorative patterns inspired by medieval designs and manuscript marginalia with organic iconography. Jakob Rowlinson masterfully blends the natural world with medieval symbolism in his thought-provoking artworks, exploring the evolving perceptions of masculinity.
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