MEET DENISE HOJDYSSEK
There are people you meet and just immediately love. Denise Hojdyssek is one of those people - and for the mid-century lovers among us (hello!), her art hits in exactly the same way.
Denise's creative career spans visual merchandising, styling, makeup artistry and photography - all disciplines that have contributed to her instinctive understanding of colour and composition.
Her abstract paintings all carry her signature balance of shape and form, richly textured surfaces, warm earthy palette - and timeless quality that feels both nostalgic and modern all at once. We just can't get enough.
Can you tell us more about your work and what you’re currently creating?
My work is inspired by travel, mid-century art, and childhood memories of Scandinavian Design. I have a strong connection to the Bauhaus movement and the Modernists, whose important formal qualities are harmony or balance, rhythms, and proportion. My medium is acrylic paint.
I use a combination of shape, colour and texture to convey a mood.
My paintings involve a long process of building up painted surfaces with abstract shapes and transparent washes, then sanding them down. The process is repeated over and over again to create the texture and image I have visualised for the final artwork.
Lately I have been exploring abstracted still life compositions. My reference is the objects I have collected around me.
I enjoy the process of staging these ceramic bowls, bottles and dishes and adding a graphic, minimalist point of view. I have also been curious with the dialogue between still life and abstraction and how it formulates a different conversation, ‘What would the abstract look like if it became more figurative?’
What does ‘art’ mean to you?
Art is my work, but it's also my safe place. It is a practice which gives me creative freedom to express myself and escape to.
In fact, art has saved me when things get tough. It is an essential part of my wellbeing, like exercising, eating, sleeping and spending time my with family and friends.
I think everyone needs art in their life. Making art more accessible to more people would make the world a better place!
What drew you to Frock Me Out and do you have a favourite print or piece?
FMO is an Adelaide success story isn’t it? I love that a creative female such as Jen, started this label and it is a success!!! She had a dream and made it happen. WOW!
The retro vibe got me. The silhouettes of the skirts and pants are so flattering for everyone.
The Bronze Goddess Bell Sleeve Top is my favourite at the moment.
L-R: Denise wears Renegade Tie Neck Blouse, Bronze Goddess Bell Sleeve Top
What helps inspire you during the creative process?
Travel is a huge source of inspiration for me. I need to change my surroundings and experience different landscapes so that my senses shift and are challenged. A pivotal moment came during a 2019 trip to India, when I was exploring textile printing. That experience sparked a shift, and upon returning home, I began painting, marking a new chapter in my artistic practice.
Quick 5: Local Edition
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A local event you love:
Illuminate! It comes at a time when we need it the most, the middle of winter. I love seeing young children interact with the lighting installations with wonder. Something about being out at night combined with sound and light is always magical.
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Another South Australian artist you admire:
I love Helen Fuller’s Ceramic work. Helen’s work references archeology which I have also been fascinated with since I was a little girl. Her coiled pots follow form and function in such an interesting way. I love that her art practice has kept evolving through various mediums such as painting, photography, installation and then to ceramics. This is a true creative.
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Favourite way to experience art in SA:
For a smaller state we have so many different ways in which to experience art here. Both The Fringe and Adelaide Festivals offer us opportunities that are immersive and sophisticated connecting us to the rest of the world. Whereas SALA highlights emerging and established South Australian artists highlighting the talent we have here and being supportive of it. I love that we are known as the festival city for creatives.
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Favourite coffee spot:
I have recently moved to the Eastern Suburbs and therefore still exploring coffee spots. Right now it is Nourish’d Kitchen, Stepney. It has a lovely feel and the girls make you feel right at home.
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Where you’d take out-of-towners first:
I would have to take any visitor we have for a walk through Michael Perry Reserve (Adelaide’s best kept secret). It is situated at the bottom of our house and you can follow the trail along the creek passing koalas on the way. It is a lovely walk down to Burnside Pool on a warm summer's day.
Upcoming Exhibitions:
Home Grown SALA, Smart Art Gallery, Adelaide
Spring Group Exhibition, Exhibition, Fenton + Fenton, Melbourne
View more of Denise's work and details of her exhibitions here. Follow her on instagram.