International
artist Max Springer has returned home to Pacific Beach to put together
a multimedia art project combining photography, computer manipulated images
and audio segments onto compact disks. His purpose is to create a new,
holistic art form that mirrors what is going on out in society.
"It
is the duty of the artist to embrace what society is up to," said Springer.
"This (computers) is what's going on now and I have to tend to it." Springer
describes his work as "animistic", giving life and motion to his art.
Springer
is working together with six other artists who each specialize in art, music
or computer animation. One of the projects they are currently working on is
entitled "Zong," which is an African word for air. This piece combines sounds
and noises from industrial air compressors, wind and wind instruments. Part
of Springer's research includes studying biological reactions of the body
that are induced by sound.
Springer's
fascination with this concept developed during his childhood. "My father had
friends and workers who were deaf so my mom would crank the bass on the organ
and play polkas while they (the deaf people) danced," explained Springer.
In addition to this, most of his college scholarships were in music and he
has always enjoyed math. He feels it only natural for him to combine his artwork
with the computer.
Springer
is working relentlessly to put this project together. He is currently working
an average of 16 hours a day. However, Springer has always been very dedicated
to his work. In the past 20 years he has produced over 850 paintings, with
three museum shows and several private shows throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Springer
described himself as "a very good painter" but said the art of painting is
dead now. "Walk into Tower Records at any time. It's always busy. No one goes
to gallery shows. It's all in C.D.s" Springer has begun working on a 10 second
full video piece, due out by the end of this year, and is hoping to put together
four CD's by the end of 1994.
Springer,
now 39, has lived in Holland for the past three years, but is actually a native
of San Diego. He described it as his most enjoyable home. "There are a few
spots in the Mediterranean and in Italy that are beautiful, but this (San
Diego) is the most beautiful," said Springer.
When
asked about the artistic community in San Diego, Springer felt that it had
been somewhat stifled in the past. Now, he said, "I think San Diego wants
to grow up and be a big city. They want to listen to what the artists are
saying."
One
of Springer's goals is to help in the creation of a "universal community."
He feels that his artwork is a "medicine for people and society."
Springer
will continue to produce medicinal art with the intent of recapitulating what
is going on in society, in hopes that we may begin to learn from each other.
