Introducing the fantasy surrealist 3D art of Morten Lasskogen.
We gain a fascinating insight into the mind behind some of the contemporary art world's most breathtaking 3D art pieces. Citing surrealist painters Salvador Dali & Rene Magritte amongst his inspirations, it's no exaggeration to state that Morten Lasskogen (aka @iammoteh) is carrying the torch for those surrealist artists into the 21st century. His work bridges the gap between history and the future in astonishingly detailed dreamscapes. The very act of observation from the audience is liable to place you in a meditative state and put you under the spell that he so magically weaves.
He previously stated how "I get inspired by light and shadows, dreams and feelings, and I love trying to put this into my work". There is most definitely a sensation of Zen balance to Lasskogen's art, he will not overcomplicate pieces and favours minimalism as an aesthetic, whilst maintaining a precise level of attention over the detail, an illusion of simplicity in and of itself.
Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it is no surprise that the immensely talented artist has gained a global following and has audiences waiting on every new piece he creates like kids in a candy store; with his work presenting an opportunity to explore themes of time, nature and consciousness.
Read on below for our interview with Morten Lasskogen...
What is the secret to your creative process?
My work is based on emotions. When creating I try to follow my instinct and let it evolve. When I can feel it, I'm on the right track.
How does inspiration find you on a daily basis?
That's actually a pretty tricky question for me - I get inspired by pretty much everything and nothing. I'm surrounded by amazing artists, so I get inspired every day through their incredible art. Also, most of my art is based on a feeling or a mood, so you could say that I find part of my inspiration within.
What excites you the most about the world of future surrealism?
I've been working as a photographer for around 10 years - what really got me into 3d and surrealism was all the possibilities. I could use a lot of my knowledge from photography but was no longer constrained in the same way. I truly believe that God is in the details; all the small things and details that we don't really notice in real life - those are the ones that make the difference.
Tell us a bit about where you grew up and what inspired you to take this journey into your art?
I grew up in the suburbs with my family. I drew a lot as a kid. I remember a specific episode where we went to visit my mothers uncle. When exploring the apartment I entered a small office, filled with books and papers from top to bottom. On the wall above the desk there was a beautiful framed painting.
At some point he came into the room and showed me a small folder of drawings he had done. I had no idea he could do this but they were absolutely amazing and I remember thinking - 'I want to do this'.The framed painting was 'Persistence of Memory' by Dali, and this turned out to be my first meeting with surrealism.
In my early teenage-years I started to get into photography and ended up doing it full time for around 10 years. One of the things I really fell in love with in photography was lighting and how shaping it could affect everything. When I then discovered 3d, the medium that I use today, it was that same feeling; I could control and shape the light and even use all of my experience from photography, but this time I didn't have the same limitations. 3D has given me a more free way to express myself artistically and follow impulses without the same obstacles.
What does the future hold?
I dont have a specific plan for the future. Making art makes me happy and Im going to continue to create and evolve...who knows.
What advice do you have when it comes to workflow and creativity?
I know everyone works differently, but my best advice would be "don't plan to much". I rarely do sketches and trying to plan everything out doesn't work well for me - tends to kill creativity. I usually start out with very little, a simple idea, and then experiment and let it evolve. Very often it evolves into something completely different.
You can follow Morten Lasskogen on the following platforms...
- website
- PSYCHIC GARDEN