DANK Art at New Am: The Dan Kitchener Interview
Whether you’re an avid globetrotter, an art collector, or pop culture enthusiast, chances are you’ve come across DANK.
Artist Dan Kitchener (DANK) resides in Essex, London, where he’s painted more than a dozen street murals in and around the city.
He’s curated motion designs and visual works for renowned musicians, ranging from Paul McCartney to Calvin Harris, and art displays in cultural hot spots around the world–Stockholm, Spain, and Tokyo, to name a few.
Courtesy of Ziggy Sawdust Productions, DANK dropped by the Burgh last week to paint his first-ever public art display in the States.
Lawrenceville’s staple Butler Street establishment-New Amsterdam-became the next landmark in his captivating mural series–a colorful, psychedelic ambiance of neon energies pulsating through vibrant city streets.
We had a chance to chat with the artist, who shared details of his visit, creative process, and why he chose Pittsburgh as the first U.S. city to share one of his rare, unprecedented works.
“I am really drawn to areas that don’t have much street art or murals at the time … Sometimes, very popular cities become oversaturated with work, and it just becomes visual noise. I like the idea of being one of the first muralists to create work in Pittsburgh … [it] was also a place I had wanted to visit, so when the opportunity to paint the wall came up, I jumped at the chance!”
The mural’s overall imagery incorporates area-specific design elements, with a touch of influence from various, ambiguous destinations.
“The design was very specific to the area–to the wall, itself. I always have designs in mind before traveling to a wall to paint; but they almost always change to adapt [to] it, once I’m in the space and see the wall for real. There’s always a way of reading a wall that only shows itself once you are literally standing in front of it! I wanted the mural to have the feel of a modern city, but not be too restricted by making it location-specific. So, it has nods to the USA, but also to Europe, East Asia and Tokyo … I like this ambiguity.”
“I think people can relate to a rainy city at night, as most have been in an environment like that at some point in their lives … For me, the vibrancy, energy, and colour create a positive and beautiful image … I think these huge public art galleries have a duty to help an area, and create positive energy and positive imagery. It really can affect people’s moods subconsciously; so with this in mind, I hope it might–in some way–brighten people’s days!”
“It’s great to be in Pittsburgh! Everyone was so positive, friendly and helpful … I’ve been lucky to have met a lot of photographers and artists, and visited some great gallery spaces. [I] have some collaborations already in mind, and will definitely be coming back to Pittsburgh in the future; I loved it there!”
Photos: (1) “New Horizons” – Pittsburgh; (2) “Tokyo Ghosts” – Blackpool, UK; (3) “Streets of Colour” – Bristol, UK; (4) 2016 DANK Murals
