In this highlight I would like to focus on the wonderful work of Nico. His work focuses on the small details in everyday life. The photographs have a strong graphic design feel to them with use of typefaces and colour.
I really love the way Nico sees and finds text and type and uses them as compositional elements in their own right. I also enjoy the various ways he uses colour and textures combined to create beautiful and striking, and sometimes very subtle, compositions.
Below is a Biography written by Nico followed by a selection of is Instagram works.
"I grew up in the northern part of the Netherlands where people are said to be somewhat aloof and not particularly talkative. My father has a background in science and my mother has a talent for drawing and ceramics. As far as I can remember I was always interested in drawing. Early on I drew comics, although humour wasn’t necessarily my objective. Not that I didn’t care for humour, I suppose I strived for–dare we say–more serious things. I also appreciate very much what is known as the graphic novel. Especially authors from the US, Canada and France; Chris Ware, Cathy Malkasian, Dave McKean, Jeff Lemire and Jacques Tardi come to mind."
"I went to art school where I was drawn to graphic design. Certain teachers, however, we're more convinced I should come over to the art department. Although I could see their point I felt there is room for a personal vision in the applied arts as well. In my opinion one has only to look at the work of graphic designers like Bruce Mau, Tibor Kalman, Henryk Tomaszewski, Cristiana Couceiro and Anthon Beeke for examples."
"I think my graphic design background shows in my Instagram work. Even in times before Instagram I was always shooting pictures as a vehicle of self expression. Fascinated with the particular location I found myself in I was capturing details of my surroundings, e.g.: patterns, signs and symbols."
"This occupation I see reflected in certain artists I feel strongly about, i.e.: Jasper Johns, Joseph Beuys, Gerard Richter and Michael Raedecker."
"As far as technique goes, I think I am just keenly aware of light and context. I like to single out certain details and enhance them through composition, contrast and colour. Also whether or not to apply a border matters a lot to me. I see this as having a great effect in setting the experience. All pictures are taken with my iPhone. Sometimes I will run an image multiple times through Instagram in order to subtly manipulate contrast and colour. When precise cropping is paramount I resort to Adobe Photoshop Express (for iOS) for greater control and occasionally pre-manipulation of tone and contrast."
"Obviously I am cognisant of the great photographers before me or even contemporary ones. But in order to restrict myself let me name just a few of my favourites: Alexander Michailowitsch Rodtschenko, André Kertész, Sarah Moon and Anton Corbijn."
"The great thing about Instagram is of course that you get influenced by the posts of your fellow IGers and by the comments of your followers. So let me conclude this writing with listing a few of my favourite IGers "
@mmmm_______ http://instagram.com/mmmm_______
@ilein http://instagram.com/ilein
@intao http://instagram.com/intao
@krockenmitte http://instagram.com/krockenmitte
@igorcarlos http://instagram.com/igorcarlos
@_pere_ http://instagram.com/_pere_
@yannis__ http://instagram.com/yannis__
I hope you enjoy Nico's work as much as I do.
Feel free to add any comments below about the artist's work.
Nico can be found HERE and Instagram HERE.
Written by Paul Casey Hemming
@ Big World Picture Dot Com
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Mooi Nico!
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