Our latest #FCUKWITHCREATORS collaboration comes from Demit, a painter whose playful, expressive style was born out of his desire to channel his inner child in order to create without bounds.
Growing up, Demit expressed his creativity through two main forms of art: soccer and painting. At age 18, he received a soccer scholarship to attend University of California, Berkeley. There he declared himself as an Art Major and spent most of his time painting when he wasn’t at soccer training.
His painting style has been heavily influenced by simplified lines and primary colors, and often depicts figures that represent experiences in his life. Demit has been fascinated by the concept of eternal youth living inside of everyone, and believes that as people get older, it is imperative to maintain and nurture that inner child.
Below, we get a little background on Demit from Demit himself and find out more about how his collaboration with FCUK came to life.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
I was born and raised in Northern California. My mother is first generation Filipino and my father is first generation Panamanian French. I look back and appreciate the diverse mix of culture that occurred in my household.
WHAT DOES YOUR ARTWORK REPRESENT?
My art is heavily influenced by my own personal experiences. I’m trying to portray a moment in my life through a sort of spontaneous and playful nature. It’s not about trying to depict a hyper-realistic example of what is in my head to people, but more about how I am feeling in the moment of creation - and then it’s up to the viewer to create their own interpretation. It’s less about trying to explain to you how I feel, but more about showing you how I feel.
WHO ARE YOUR ARTISTIC INFLUENCES?
The color palettes and fluidity of Picasso and Matisse. The figural movement of Egon Schiele. The simplicity and freeness of body of Fernand Léger. More recently I have really been inspired by primary colors, nature, and flowers.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU WANT YOUR ART TO MAKE ON CULTURE AND SOCIETY?
We live in this cycle: life, death, rebirth: growth that is ever-changing - this to me is the cycle of life. Going beyond the meaning of the physical perspective of “life and death.” It’s about how we live, die, and are reborn through different experiences. One thing that is constant in this cycle…is time. I’d like for people to take away a feeling of appreciation. Appreciation for our time on this earth.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PIECES FOR FCUK.
My pieces are centered around the flower - representing that cycle of life, rebirth. I think we have these chapters in life where we are reborn in a way, learning from our past. These pieces are about accepting and understanding what has happened in our lives and then learning from them to move forward.
WHAT KIND OF CREATIVE RITUALS DO YOU HAVE?
I’m big on music. I usually will have different playlists that evoke certain energy that I put into my art. That, or just background noise. TV shows, movies, anything that can just provide an occasional mental break.
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME CREATIVE BLOCKS?
Creative blocks occur when I’m not experiencing enough human interaction. Doesn’t necessarily mean one on one conversation, it could just be walking around. I try to get out, grab a coffee, or do something that encourages breathing and appreciating outside life. Noises, colors, conversations - my ideas are birthed from that.
WHAT IS THE MOST INDISPENSABLE ITEM IN YOUR STUDIO?
My pen! My ideas start from the pen - whether I’m sketching, writing in my journal, doodling on coffee cup sleeves - it encourages creation with no boundaries.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
DO! It took me 9 years to share a painting after graduating - I was so afraid of what people would say. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to “just do!” That, and to stop worrying so much about how people may react. It’s about appreciating and championing yourself through this creative process. Letting the inner child out.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
I’m really excited about upcoming travel and art shows that I’ll be in soon. It pushes me to really focus on a certain body of work, it reminds me of my soccer days. That’s where I love being. A feeling of purpose. I’d also like to publish a children’s book - but that’d be just been something fun on the side.