INTERVIEW: LEIF PODHAJSKY
Leif Podhajsky is a Melbourne based creative director and artist. His work shows a a fresh approach to the psychedelic mind and preconceptions of these altered experiences. Leif combines a perfect infusion of photography, art and post process manipulation.
His artwork and pieces are commissioned mainly for album covers. Though he does ethereal personal work as well exploring the theme of 'connectedness'. He inspires others with his work, and is also inspired by artists whom he features on his blog Visual Melt.
You can find his work in www.leifpodhajsky.com
Where are you from?
Oh my... what a first question! I really don't know. I was born close to Byron Bay, Australia. But before that you know I don't recall... I was probably part of something a lot bigger, existing as energy compressed, humming away on a different frequency. Sorry too much...
How is a typical day in the life of Leif?
No such thing at the moment for me. I have been traveling around doing work and exploring the world again. I was just in Berlin for a few months and now I am in London for some work and to meet some good people. All my days revolve around work, it's really all I ever do. I am way too obsessed but nothing else feels as good or as right as when I get that high in creating something new.
Although this lifestyle is a little insular and unhealthy at times, especially as I work alone and sometimes only ever 'meet' people over email. I am trying to curb this and venture out more... Then again it is Sunday night at 10:30 and I am still writing emails from last week... after a weekend of solid working, I did manage to drink some whiskey though.
If you rather live in another place, where would it be?
Middle Earth.
How would you describe your art?
I don't think I can or want too. I'll leave that up to other people.
When did you start?
I started making things when I was very little, using my imagination, forming ideas. What I do now is a continuation from that. Always wanting to push myself to make 'art' that gives my life understanding and meaning.
What inspires you in your daily life?
Love.
Tell us which are your preferred techniques to work with?
In a lot of my work I am pursuing a symbiosis between digital techniques and organic feeling outcomes. So I work in the digital realm a lot. But I also like to form organic matter such as textures, drawing, photo and then scan or digitize them to make something new. But I believe the main technique is my imagination, this is the most powerful tool I have for exploring and realizing my work.
You have been working a lot with musicians and art covers... how did you enter to this world?
I never set out to work with musicians and sort of just fell into it, I started getting some of my work published and bands and record labels started contacting me with work, one of the first ones was actually Tame Impala and I love them so I jumped at the chance.
How was it like to work with Tame Impala's guys?
It was great, a dream come true for me, the music really suited my style and the themes I was exploring. The actual job was hard as fuck and took a LOT of work, I really stretched my brain to its limit, I remember kind of loosing it, becoming totally fixated on creating something that could actually warp time by looking at it. But those guys are cool, we got to have a few nice hangs after it was done, I remember DJing with Kevin after a Pond show which was such a great way to end the whole project for me. I remember their manager calling me the next morning looking for Jay's kick drum, I think it got lost at my friends house after a night of looseness.
I find your art very psychedelic but also kind of dark in a way. How you react with religion?
Religion is a tough one, I don't believe in any of them. Although, I am a spiritual person and do believe in certain elements that can't be 'explained' scientifically. I think we are each our own gods and that there exists a plethora of wisdom and life force on other frequencies or 'dimensions'.
Tell us three new musicians you are listening right now.
Listening to Hype Williams, Balam Acab, MF Doom, Peaking Lights, Sun Araw, Beefheart, Nick Drake, Mayhem, The Warlocks, Jay Dee, Shlohmo, Shigeto, Matthew David, Shabazz Palaces also some new Young Magic beats.
And three favorite movies?
Three Colors, trilogy: Red, White, Blue.
What are your future plans?
I just want to keep creating, hopefully be happy and have love, joy and compassion in my life. This is what I want in the future, although sometimes it really does seem a hard place to get too, or maybe I already have it and don't even know it! That's a mind fuck. Damn universe it's a trickster, 'the cosmic giggle'.
