Bjorn Bengtsson

 Interviewed by Oliver Sayers

1. What inspires your art, recently or overall?

“A deep understanding of myself and spirituality allows me to create work that reflects my emotions and what I’m feeling in a visual and physical way. The ability to create in a therapeutic, healing, and mediative way, creating and deconstructing over time.”

2. What was your first memory surrounding your introduction to creating art?

“First time painting was with acrylic. It was my eighteenth birthday, and I got some money together to spend on art supplies and went to the art store and found paints I was drawn towards. The cobalt blue paint, one that I remember, stuck out to me. I bought two canvases as well and went back to my dorm and spent the rest of the night painting. I remember being an emotional release for me. It felt like I had so much in me to express what I hadn’t yet. It was a peaceful and tranquil experience, realizing what painting could do for me and others.”

3. Does culture, the environment, or spirituality play a role in your artistic practice?

“Yeah, in terms of culture and environment, gardening has impacted my art. I recently grew sunflowers and collected the seeds to give out along with instructions on how to care for them and to take care of the earth. It reflects in my work to acknowledge that we need to take care of the Earth and let nature grow and flourish.”

4. What themes do you enjoying exploring in your work?

“Spirituality definitely, it’s like light dissolving into light, it’s just a relationship with the spirit of life, that’s what’s important to me. Also sharing with the community around me, such as including my friends, painting them as they are and sharing my perspective with them.”

5. Who or what influences your practice?

Painting what I grow, such as the sunflower, it’s very direct and familiar. Painting my friends, family, and what’s around me inspires me. There is a real listening with my friends, the environment, and everybody around. Expressing my emotions through my work is also grounding and restorative for me. Additionally, the history of painting inspires me, such as Van Gogh’s and Monet’s works.”

6. What challenges would you say you face the most when it comes to your creative process?

“Just art, art is the biggest challenge due to overthinking.”

7. What do you wish to accomplish through your work?

“Every day and every moment to just feel grateful that I can pick up a paint tube and place down orange and an emerald-green color and see what happens right then and there.”

8. How would you define creativity?

“Creativity is just itself, it’s interpersonal to one's view of it.”

9. Where can people reach you to follow your work?

“My website bjornbengtsson.com, which features my visual artwork such as painting, pastels, etc. Then my writings are also linked on the website, which is posted every Wednesday. Also, my music, album “Eternity” is now on Apple Music and Spotify.”