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Shill :
Shill has the pleasure of pulling up a chair and sharing a Hibiki with two highly talented artists that recently featured in the zine. We have George and Jonathan, the team that make up HANS.
Thanks for taking the time for this interview HANS. Let’s start with a little background about the two of you? Where are you based? How do your collaborate? What drove the two of you to create Inorganic Materials?
Hans :
We first and foremost want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak more about what we do. We highly appreciate these conversations and at the end of the day that is the purpose of art and design isn’t it? We are two designers originally from Montreal, Canada and we’ve been working together for three years now. In regards to our form of collaboration it is a very organic approach. Considering that we both come from a Graphic and Product design background, one can say our technical as well as conceptual levels are at the same degree.This means that when approaching a new project, dialogue is at the core of our propositions which leads to the further implementation of purposeful design within the said subject. In concrete terms, the idiom purposeful is the direct derivative of two ideologies: Function & Immersivity.1 Through such concepts, we aim to explore the relationship between design developments that serve specific objectives and alluring systems that challenge one’s sense of self.
The way we began to conceptualize our first collection was simply going back to our roots. We knew that we wanted our introductory collection to the solana ecosystem to be brutally honest and pure. So when thinking of our past and examining how we’ve moved forward within design, we quickly realized that our surrounding environment played an important role to our creative process. In other words, the idea of using the materials that construct our environment as main source for inspiration, was what drove H.1 Inorganic Materials.From that point we knew that our main objective was to find a way to bring life within mundane matter in a way that hasn’t been proposed within the ecosystem. That being said, in its ensemble, the collection triggers the epistemic and ontological human capacity through each material’s immersive properties. It is safe to acknowledge that Inorganic Materials is a deep dive within brutalist monolithic figures and their contextualized environments.
Shill :
When #Shill first came across your work I thought ‘ah! Photography!” but it was much more than that. It’s purposeful design essentially. Can you talk about your intentions with this approach?
Hans :
This is an amazing question. We view purposeful design as an entity.2 In order for the entity to function, it’s main objective needs to be centered towards triggering specific human outcomes. These outcomes take the form of senses essentially; where we seek to stimulate each and everyone of them through the use of a variety of mediums. For example, in Inorganic Materials, the use of soundscapes and three dimensionality was crucial to immerse the viewer in our world. A world that we deem valuable and necessary. And for us it all starts with purpose. Once the purpose is isolated, we conceptualize and expand upon it. Expansion takes the form of numerical and typographic systems. So to answer your question, our main objective, no matter the project, is for every component within it to have a purpose. A purpose that hopefully flourishes an emotional connection between the work and the viewer.
Shill :
In essence you are tapping into a multitude of media. Video, photography, and sound. What gear/setup do you have/use to deliver results like this?
Hans :
Indeed. The implementation of diverse media is one of the ways we actively try to tackle specific senses. As far as our gear goes, we actually solely use our computers and mobile devices. For example when recording the sound of materials, our phones did a great job capturing the frequencies we wanted and the three dimensional portion of the project was done digitally. We do believe that a key element within our practice is the use of photographic means simply because they allow for tangible solutions to be put forward within the digital realm. This is seen through the photographs we shot of copper, ceramic and shale which is what we believe adds this rawness that cannot be recreated via computers or let alone technical softwares.
Shill :
Another thing that intrigues me is that your creation is not solely an NFT. Your website hans-m.com gallery shows what looks like art installations. Where can one find this? What response do you receive from the public at large?
Hans:
It is essential for us to integrate the systems that we develop in any meaningful way. The construction of a digital infrastructure3 was necessary to allow our purpose to be put forward. Whether we put our work in specific spaces or we adapt them to a website, the objective remains the same : contextualizing. Context enables us to build a link with the viewer and make them see our intent through a different lense, hopefully one he/she/they can connect with. As for the “hans gallery” a term brought to us by the URS, it remains a conceptual space that we will evolve in the near future and hopefully have some interactive components to it.
The public’s response has been surprisingly overwhelming. Contrary to IRL this community has shown a deep interest within our work. We are extremely grateful and look forward to growing with this community.
Shill :
Then, of course, there are the soundscapes which go beyond a tangible piece. They are raw, grungy and have a reverb that can only be appreciated with a quality audio setup. My studio monitors pushed the sound through my chest! I guess this is the beauty of your art. It’s now just a visual or aural experience.
What does 2022 hold for HANS?
Hans :
We truly hope to further integrate our ethos within the solana ecosystem and make these propositions evolve into greater dimensions. Product design is something that will soon be implemented within the Hans portfolio and we are excited to see where that takes us.
Shill :
Shill really appreciates the time you have taken today. Looking forward to your pieces as you ‘open’ the community’s eyes to the possibilities in this space.
Hans :
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to express ourselves and conversate. We hope we get to do this again ! Cheers !
