As an artist I’m used to a certain process. I work in solitude for a certain amount of time to create a new group of paintings. Then I show the works somewhere and hope to sell some pieces. At the same time I hope people will tell me what they think about my work. Mostly they ask what I mean by what I show, so the ball is in my court again. Or they use a platitude like ‘interesting’.

By visiting popconcerts and seeing the direct interaction between bands and their audience, I began to think that I would like to have this interaction as well. Part of what makes this project so very satisfying is that on a daily basis (I post two drawings a day) people tell me what they think about my work and sometimes they go beyond that and explain in-depth.

Besides that, being an artist can mean that your work reaches only a small group of people through the galleries, artist initiatives and museums. On the Hyves network however, I communicate with a new audience through my drawings. It enables me to have friends in all cities and towns, not only in the big cultural centers. People aged from 8 to 70, with different cultural and social backgrounds.

Another aspect that I find fascinating is the contrast between the high amounts of quickly produced digital photographs and the 19th century medium I use, where I literally recreate stroke after stroke the one out of dozens of snapshots people make during a night on the town.

The project is also a kind of research, aimed at learning about virtual friendship and networking. How does this function and which ways do people come up with to use the medium?

Van Abbemuseum

Fulloffolly @ Hyves