The Studio of Philip Michael Wolfson operates in that area between architecture, across the fields of sculpture and installation, experimental design, interactivity, film and art. Trained internationally as an architect, his studio maintains a fascination with and examination of the construct of space and form, while questioning its modern understanding thru the examples given by the early 20th century Modernist Movements, particularly, Constructivism and Futurism.
Though the works vary in scale, the studio achieves a re-positioning of this understanding in the context of embodiment, perception and projection. The works constantly evolve between static and dynamic models, shifting from objects to installations and design, prospecting new visual territories in the field of narrative object and space.
Self-taught or art school?
Architecture school. Cornell University, NY and then the Architectural Association, LONDON. Painting was the form of expression for presenting the architectural works, and in my years running Zaha Hadid’s studio (the first decade of her studio) all we did were paintings!
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
That’s a trick question because I’d opt for something vastly expensive so I could then sell it and purchase a lot of other more interesting/exciting pieces by new artists, street artists, and a couple of early Futurist artists. Would anyone really be content with just one? If it absolutely had to be just one, then I think it would be one of Fontana’s slash paintings because of it’s minimalistic being, and the fact that it really is a blank canvas which embraces art as well as architecture and beyond….with the slash representing the opening to a new horizon, new world, newness of everything. Like looking out of a window into eternity! Allows for dreams and visions and memories. Isn’t that what art should be able to do?
New and Matterhorn Moon
How would you describe your style?
Abstract. Dynamic. Fluid.
Is narrative important within your work?
With some of my series, yes, such as the Tsukumogami and the way in which they have influenced the narrative of the NewLand series and BirthTotems. They deal with the ideas behind an alternate reality and genesis….something ever-growing and mutating.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
It’s a long list as I have different favourites depending on what I’m working on at the moment. I think that the Italian/French Futurists, Russian Constructivists, and other ‘ist’s and ‘ism’s of the early 20th century are always in my head because of the way in which they define geometry and movement…analysing gravity and dynamics. Also, definitely Lucio Fontana for his examining the realms of art and design along with architectural interventions. Similarly, the works of the architect Luciano Baldessari are inspirational. And, you know that he worked with Fontana on a number of projects.
Oscar Niemeyer is an important architectural influence as his forms and compositional elements I find incredibly exciting. Contemporary sculptural investigations by Anish Kapoor, Anthony Gormley, Tony Cragg and light/space studies by James Turell, are stimulating. And, street art in general, I find inspiring….actually, I do feel that the development of street art is one area in the art scene that has the most exciting potential to lead to new forms and ‘designs’ in the art world. Even, and this would be ideal, a merging of architecture with street art.
What or who inspires your art?
That’s in the answer above. Inspiration for me lies in how something gives birth to movement and force, whether actual or perceived.
Tsuku Gstaad
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
As of 18 months ago, I left Central London after many decades and found a house to rent at the end of the Central Line in the middle of the forest! So I have a fantastic studio in which to paint, and a garden for my Tsukumogami to graze…..or whatever it is they do out there when I’m not looking.
Do you have any studio rituals?
What…?….like sprinkling fairy dust around the easel, or lighting incense sticks?. No. The ritual is to work when the inspiration is there, and, I suppose, also, putting on a bit of 17th/18th Baroque opera, turning the volume up, and grabbing a paintbrush or pen. I love very current music, some forms of rap, and anything with a Salsa, Bosanova or Fado origin. But very rarely when I’m painting.
Tools of Inception No1
What are you working on currently?
BirthTotems, and a new series of landscapes based on the Alps. As I’ve spent a lot of time in Switzerland over the years I have many dear friends there, and not being able to travel the past 4 months has recently got me picturing mountains in my head! I’ve never done any landscapes, and the ones I’ve started are quite abstracted or relate to the NewLand Series where the landscape is that of an alternate reality. I’ve only done 2 NewAlps that are recognisable as mountains, with 3 in the sketch stage.
Where can we buy your art?
Here. Instagram. I’m currently looking for gallery representation in the UK. I’ve been showing the past years internationally, with Skipwiths Gallery in London – wonderful small gallery with a beautiful group of artists – but, not currently.
Birth Totem No6
What are your ambitions?
To have the ability and interest in my work to allow me to continue painting and sculpting. Also, to do more cross-disciplinary projects with my sculpture and painting along with architects or dancers or other artists. There is a contemporary dancer/choreographer that my partner and I have done a couple of ventures with, one of which is a film of his dance response to my functional sculpture Origami Chair, and a soundtrack composed for the film performance. In the pipelines is another joint venture with him which is his choreographing 3 dancers to perform to the score of a Bach cantata for 3 voices to which I will create 3 sculptures as the stage set. I find it enriching and fulfilling to be involved in more all-embracing aspects of the arts.