Interview By Maia Poon
Art in all its forms is so essential for our emotional wellbeing, learning about others’ lives, and sharing our own stories. Especially now, with June 2020 being Pride Month, a pivotal moment for the Black Lives Matter movement, and in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the role of art is shifting but more important than ever. I had the opportunity to provide a platform for multidisciplinary artists and writers through online interviews, and they each had something unique to share. Keep creating!
Mats Dahlberg
he/him
Collage and Mixed Media Artist
@maatsdaahlberg
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.
1. Do you feel more or less connected to your art during social isolation?
I feel a lot less connected to my art during isolation. I have little motivation to finish things so I have a bunch of projects that I’ve started and very few that I’ve finished. Now that I have virtually unlimited time, I feel no pressure to complete things if I don’t love them 100%.
2. Have you seen any noticeable changes in the subjects of your art?
The piece I made for this month’s Same Faces Collective edition is very focused on my experiences in isolation. Other than that I think my work has been reflecting a lot of motifs from my childhood (like cartoon characters and pastels) in an effort to provide a sense of stability and safety in my life.
3. Why is art important right now, with the pandemic and civil unrest around the world?
Art unites people. It gives people empathy and gives people a voice that they might not be able to express otherwise.
4. How can art be used to share typically marginalized voices?
I’m a member of the queer community and since it’s pride month, I’ve seen so many incredible artists highlighting the people that fought for queer rights and pioneered the movement. Especially those who have likely been glazed over in history class like Black trans women, lesbians, non-binary people, and drag queens.