Clients of the prestigious, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts’, Angsana Velavaru Resort & Spa, Maldives can vouch for Christopher’s Hogan’s penchant for colour. The villas, bar and foyer areas are brought to magnificent life thanks to over 80 brightly painted, Hogan triptych prints on canvas gracing the walls of the luxuriously appointed villas at the award-winning boutique resort and spa.
And it’s no surprise then that the Australian-born artist and sculptor, who established Hogan Art (www.hoganart.com) in 2002 believes ‘’art should be fun.’’ But with his disarmingly Aussie accent, Hogan is the first to tell me that there’s more to colour than meets the eye, if you only know how to look for it.
“I’m always affected by colour and form and how it’s used,” said Hogan on a recent trip to Dubai where he is pursuing regional business opportunities.
“A lot of people are non committal or apprehensive about colour but [in Australia,] we grow up with colour.”
And the colour that Hogan grew up with in Cairns in the north east of Australia is about as bright and beautiful as it gets. The world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, was Hogan’s playground growing up and its creatures, colours and shapes remain his strongest inspiration. Sea life, which Hogan typically depicts in bright, abstract forms, feature prominently in the majority of his work and were well received at Cityscape where Hogan Art first introduced their unique Art Based Interiors, in January this year.
“So many people who stopped at our stand responded to the work I’d hung by saying, ‘wow, this is amazing!…….I feel like I’m on holiday!’”
And while Hogan agrees that’s a very encouraging response, his own purpose for visiting the region is to spend time here feeling very differently.
A collaborative effort, Hogan Art includes team members with extensive project management experience managing projects as big as Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Commonwealth Games Village, universities and 18-hole golf courses.
So while Hogan works closely with interior designers and home owners to develop art they will love, Hogan Art exploits that love a little further. Working with creative teams to develop themes that can be applied throughout an entire commercial or residential space; from canvas, to carpet, cushion or upholstery – staff uniforms, menus or stationery – Hogan’s creativity, combined with his team’s business savvy and large scale project management expertise – ensure “all the elements talk to each other” when a project is complete.
And this is where Hogan says his artistic offering differs from that of many other artists working in the field.
“I was pushing paint around and involved in design from a very early age,” Hogan says.
But whereas Hogan believes artists can typically be very precious about their work and designs, he is willing to be flexible about changing colours and working around different themes and towards various client briefs, guaranteeing projects of different types and sizes are completed to the creative and commercial satisfaction of everyone involved.
Hogan agrees there’s a fine line between remaining true to his creative style, fulfilling a client’s vision and maintaining a project’s integrity to ensure it stands out. And even though the artist’s internationally commissioned urban sculptures and limited edition prints created for government, corporate and private clients prove he can more than make it in the traditional art environment, he and his team are ready to break with convention.
“I want to take my art off the gallery walls and take it to the people,” Hogan says passionately. “So they not only look at it, they can lie on it too.”
If the team at Hogan Art has their way, people will be lying, sitting, walking on it – and even wearing it – too. Watch this space.
