Anthony Palliparambil, Jr.’s amazing photography works will be exhibited in November at Hillyer Art Space. We got to speak with him as he shared information about his artwork and personal life. Here is a sneak peek of the work that will be at opening during First Friday, November 7th, 6 to 9 pm!
Hillyer Art Space: In your work, we see the strong figure of technology, please tell us what role does technology play in your work? Does it help you develop your art creating style?
Anthony Palliparambil: Technology has been ever present in my artwork, well before I began working on this series – and it plays an essential role in everything I do today. In my earliest works, replicating technological effects with traditional media was the goal. Today, technology is the tool with which I create the work, and more importantly, the tool with which I share the work. Social media networks and identifiers like QR codes and hashtags (quick plug: #AnthonyAshwin) make finding and tagging artwork simple and easy to find. There isn’t a single part of my art-making process today that isn’t touched in some form by technology.
Hillyer Art Space: You said in the statement that all the works were made by applications available on an iPad. Did you find these applications intentionally to create your works?
Anthony Palliparambil: This entire series originally began as a side project to keep the creative gears in my mind active while accommodating for my busy work schedule. At first, the apps I was using were the ones I had downloaded previously for fun. As the project grew and gained more attention, I began searching for new software that would be able to fill in the gaps that I saw in my works. Nowadays, however, I tend to stick to a favorite 10 or so apps that I continuously work with, with a few outliers that I occasionally access when needed.
Hillyer Art Space: You said that you tried to get international feedback on your work, we wonder if people’s ideas are really useful? Have you applied any of them into your work eventually?
Anthony Palliparambil: My series began strictly as a social media project, so by nature it encourages feedback from a wide audience. It was after posting a new piece every day for nearly two months that I think the “social” aspect of this project really kicked in – I began accepting submissions of original photographs by my followers. In the end, of the nearly 350 works I’ve created in the past year and a half, approximately a third of them used my followers’ photographs as the original source material. I really enjoy the idea of bringing other peoples realities into my works and re-imagining them in the context of my own life.
Hillyer Art Space: We see geometric shape, lines and strong colors, how would you interpret them as your symbol of work?
Anthony Palliparambil: I’ve always been naturally drawn to graphic shapes, hard lines, and vivid colors. Whether it’s my digital works, the subjects of my photographs, my paintings, or even the way I dress – strong graphic elements are always a constant presence in my life.
Hillyer Art Space: We can tell from your Resume that you began showing your work when you were in University of Maryland, how does the college life influence your creative career? And how do you like the art environment in the DC area?
Anthony Palliparambil: During my time at the University of Maryland, I focused primarily on painting. My paintings were very minimal in nature, yet explored color and line in ways influenced by technology. It only makes sense, then, that I began to move into the arena of actually working with technology to create my works. I love the art scene in DC. There are plenty of fantastic art spaces, organizations that are devoted to nurturing emerging and cutting-edge artists, and the easy access to the Smithsonian museums is a fabulous perk.
Hillyer Art Space:Do you have a favorite place to create works or get inspirations in this area?
Anthony Palliparambil: I spend most of my time on U Street, and I think it’s one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in the city. You have a great cross section of so many different kinds of people; it’s really a mixing bowl of fashion, culture, art, music, food, and architecture…all of which show their influence in my work.
Hillyer Art Space: What is your favorite art venue in the area?
Anthony Palliparambil: I could never pick just one. It goes without saying, Hillyer has put on some of the most interesting exhibits I’ve seen in DC in addition to various other arts events. The Portrait Gallery, and the East Wing of the National Gallery are personal favorites when I feel like visiting the museums. And while I’m a bit (read: a lot) biased, the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery is another amazing gallery that shows some of the most interesting and dynamic exhibitions in town.
