Alex Proba's art does something to your brain. It's colorful, playful, tactile. The shapes and colors satisfy your inner child who longs to sprawl on a concrete sidewalk and scribble with chalk for an entire afternoon. As you'll see in this interview, Proba's inner child is still very much at play in her work.
What’s the best compliment you received recently?
The best compliment I received recently was someone telling me that my art brought joy and inspiration to their everyday life.
What’s the last thing you read?
"The Overstory" by Richard Powers. It's a beautiful and thought-provoking novel about trees and our relationship with nature.
Click the + button in your browser while viewing the page to save it to your mind as a book.
What do you want to read next?
I just got myself a copy of Gaetano Pesce's "The Complete Incoherence.”
To find this book later in your mind, search "Gaetano" or "Pesce" or simply "books."
I love his work, especially this dresser and table set up.
A quote that’s meaningful to you?
This is quite surprising because I've never had a quote that resonated with me so deeply until just last week. It's amusing that it's a Nike quote, but I completely agree with it:
“Love your dreams until they love you back.”
Best gift you’ve ever given?
The unconditional love from my dog Sam.
Where do you want to travel to next?
I would love to travel to Japan next. The culture, the art and the landscapes are all incredibly inspiring to me. Not to mention, the abundance of fake food displays fascinates me. I've been obsessed with it ever since I was a small kid and saw Claes Oldenburg's giant dropped ice cream cone on a building in Cologne, near where I grew up.
Right click to save an image to your mind on desktop. On mobile, long press and share it to the mymind app.
What would you buy, if money weren’t an issue?
If money weren’t an issue, I would buy a large workshop with all machinery, tools and materials needed to make amazing art and furniture — where there would be no limits to my creations. The limit I currently run into is cost, although my idea book is full of things I want to make.
What hobby would you take up, if you had the time?
Diving — especially in Fiji, where the crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs offer a magical underwater experience. The chance to swim alongside majestic whales in their natural habitat would be a dream come true.
What’s an image or piece of art you can’t get out of your head?
The Pyramids of Giza presents: ‘RA’ by Sabine Marcelis. The juxtaposition of ancient architecture with contemporary art creates a powerful and thought-provoking visual experience that lingers in my mind. The way Sabine plays with light and form in such a historic setting is just soooo good, like all her work.
A product of any kind you’ve been appreciating lately?
I've been appreciating and at the same time frightened by AI. On many levels it helps me quickly visualize and experiment with ideas in real-time. It's like having a team or co-worker that feedbacks my creative process and makes me feel like I am not a studio of One?
Here some soft sculpture sketches/ideas.
The funniest thing you’ve seen or heard lately?
Always animal reels or videos. Can you sense a theme in my responses at this point?
If you could build an extension of your own mind, what would it look like? How would it work?
If I could build an extension of my own mind, it would be a vast, colorful and ever-changing landscape that people could explore. It would work like a living, breathing art installation, constantly evolving and reacting to the thoughts and emotions of those who experience it. ⚘
