Earlier this week I met up with UMBC art student Harry Bach who, later this month, will be launching his first art exhibit in the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery. During our meeting, Bach talked about a number of things such as why he thinks his art is unique, his artistic process and what might be up next for him and his career.
Tell the readers about what it is exactly you do and why you think that what you do is different from everything else that is being done today in the art world.
Well, I am unique in that I don’t use a traditional medium. I don’t paint with paint. I don’t make drawings with pencils and pens. I don’t sculpt or photograph. I make pictures out of hair that I get from my very own body – head hair, chest hair, back hair and even pubes — I use it all. I have transcended traditional art by not only creating unique artwork but by innovating a new medium with which to do so. My first exhibit that will be opening on April 31 consists of my hair arranged on canvas forming portraits of various UMBC professors.
How did it first occur to you to use hair to make portraits of people?
Well, one day I was shaving my back and when I looked at the floor and saw that the hair had fallen onto the ground in the shape of actress Kathy Bates. I was immediately inspired. Ever since then I have made it my goal to depict people, scenes from nature and cityscapes using my hair.
Describe your process.
Well after I have finished one piece I must let my hair grow for usually around three weeks. I then shave it all off and collect in a Ziploc bag. Once I have been inspired and I know what I am going to depict — something that usually comes to me while I am staring at classmates’ knotted and uncombed hair during my classes — I get to work arranging [my hair] onto canvas and then spraying it with an adhesive spray to lock it in place. Once finished, I will post the piece on my website, hairpictions.umbc, where I will sell them often for thousands of dollars a piece. People are just so eager to buy them.
What sacrifices have you made for your work?
Well, ever since I have been using my hair for my artwork I have ceased bathing as shampooing and rinsing my body rids my body of the many key natural oils that give my hair the lustrous quality that really comes out when arranged on the canvas.
What would you say your crowning accomplishment is?
Ahh, yes. My crowning accomplishment. Never before seen by human eyes other than my own, my crown jewel will be revealed to the world on April 31 at the exhibit. I call this piece “Freeman A. Hairbowski,” and it is something that I have never before felt such a deep love for before. I have truly put my heart and soul into this piece and I hope that everyone that gets the chance to attend the exhibit will understand that. As you may have guessed it is a hairpiction of UMBC’s President, Freeman Hrabowski, who most graciously posed shirtless for me for 17 hours while I arranged my hair in his image.
What is next for you and your artistic career?
I anticipate that I will continue using hair to convey the innermost feelings of my soul. However I am considering branching out and buying hair from other students in order to diversify my work. I envision a rainbow of blonde, brown, black and red strewn across the canvas in the coming months. In addition to this I also may begin to move away from realist depictions and branch out into the world of abstract hair art.
The post Hair-raising artistry appeared first on The Retriever.
