Emine Demir – General Assignments Reporter
There is no dogma or rules when creating art, said Connecticut born and raised artist, Daniel Eugene.
On Saturday, September 10th 2016, Eugene had a reception at the Lyman Center called “Channelings and Portals.”
Eugene said he began creating art at a young age during class in high school.
“It began as doodling in the margins,” said Eugene.
After beginning to wonder about art, Eugene said he started taking it more seriously and had a unique intention to create art.
“It is mostly about responding to just the creative impulse without interrupting is,” said Eugene.
Improvisational and free association are the styles he leans toward.
Eugene said he lets something happen instead of making something happen to give him a purpose or intention when beginning his artwork.
“The image creates itself through me allowing it to happen,” said Eugene.
According to Eugene, his greatest inspirations come from ideas and literature. While waiting for something to happen, his mind wanders and he begins to discover himself.
“It’s esoteric,” said Eugene.
Where the impulse comes from and allowing it to happen is mysterious, said Eugene. It leads to self-discovery and many questions.
Jerry Boryca, an architect in Hamden, said he often participates in Eugene’s exhibitions. Boryca said he enjoys looking at Eugene’s work because it has a sense of depth.
“As you look at the drawing, you see more than you saw two minutes ago,” said Boryca.
The word artist is extremely misunderstood and the associations people have with it are obsolete, said Eugene. He said many people think of art as the 1888 Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, who cut his ear off, or associate it with pretension in an art gallery where everyone is sipping wine with their pinky out.
“It is almost like there is this exclusivity and this elitism,” said Eugene. “But the artist has always been a peasant.”
Eugene said it is very disturbing that art has become a commodity and is being shoved around like a stock market. He said there is a spiritual element that is not being acknowledged; art is just being pushed around as money or wealth.
Being an independent artist is his purpose and sense of contribution to the public. He said art is his process of self-discovery and joy in a very personal process. It can be isolating, added Eugene, but during the openings he enjoy talking to people and sharing to relate to a greater body of people.
Directing himself toward Southern art majors, Eugene said, learn from yourself and allow the learning taking place in the classroom to influence the way you teach yourself, but it should always some back to you learning for yourself. He said staying motivated and not being demoralized is the real challenge.
Michelle Baker, a sales representative, said this was her first time seeing Eugene’s work and that she enjoys going to art galleries and seeing different types of art.
“Each art piece is like a fingerprint,” said Baker, “very unique.”
The greatest influences in history, said Eugene, come from politics, religion and art. He said it is like carrying a historic torch.
“When you are choosing the path of an artist,” said Eugene, “you are choosing to contribute to a tradition that has shaped history.”
Photo Credit: Emine Demir – General Assignment Reporter