Featured Artist: Alfred Freddy Krupa

Freddy Alfred Krupa (Photo by Matea Štedul)

Freddy Alfred Krupa. (Photo by Matea Štedul)

Provoked by life’s circumstances, this artist overcame family plight, political hardship and the pain associated with the human struggle to become a pioneering figure in the Modern Ink Movement. His family lineage and contributions to the visual arts, like his own, were the result of the human wills’ power to persevere. His perseverance to overcome and defeat the failures and obstacles presented by social injustices allowed him to convert pain into prolific works of art. Considered the western Master of the New Ink Art Movement, we had the pleasure to sit down with one of Croatia’s best known and highly regarded artists. We present our latest ‘Featured Artist: Alfred Freddy Krupa’.

To understand an artist’s motives is to understand their state of being. A state of being is more often influenced by experience and both inner and outer provoking forces. We sat down with Freddy to discuss his success. His inspirations. His contributing drivers that have established him and his works as a pioneering force in the New Ink movement. As an acclaimed artist having exhibited works in over 10 countries, we took the opportunity to ask Freddy about his own motives and provoking forces. Furthermore, how these forces helped influence and establish a ‘genuine’ artistic path that has led to his global recognition and success.

To discern an artist’s motives, one must first understand the experiences and forces that helped influence and provoke the genesis of their artistic path.

Alfred Freddy Krupa

A Standing Nude by Alfred Freddy Krupa

Freddy’s path began in 1971, born in Karlovac, Croatia into an established line of visual artists. Naturally, his first introduction into the arts came from his grandfather, Alfred Joseph Krupa. An already established and acclaimed artist onto his own, he’d gained fame and notoriety from his mastery of capturing inspiring landscapes using aquarelles. This would cast a lasting impression onto Freddy’s artistic development. Another lasting impression from his grandfather’s life would come from the tragic social and political injustices suffered by his family during war.

Alfred Joseph Krupa experienced the carnage and pain of war first hand while serving in the Polish Army during the second World War. Captured by German forces and forced to work in labor camps, war would spare little mercy on the Krupa family. Alfred Joseph had lost two brothers to soviet occupation and one sister, burned alive at the KL Auschwitz-Birkenau crematorium, at hands of the Nazi occupation. The tragic set of events in Freddy's past would bear as a painful reminder almost a half century later during the 1990's Croatian War of Independence. War would again act as a conduit of injustice and oppression, this time effecting Freddy directly.

Fast-forward to the present, we asked Freddy about these life experiences. We asked how these agonies of war, oppression and injustices have affected his creativity, inspiration and successes throughout his career:

Alfred Freddy Krupa

The Art Pavilion in Zagreb

“The contemporary artist often likes to show social problems and injustice, but very few were indeed in the very center of it. Life without my will ascribed me to those who learned what is rarely learned…. Once I confronted and understood my life situation in its entirety (I think that we all must do that at a certain point in our lives) I came to terms with the deepest level of something which can be described as 'me'… I always claim that true art comes from certain pain, from certain defeat. That certain 'personal fall' is actually something that set us apart from the majority. We must build on it, use it for advancement!

I use all that is ‘negative’ in my life for the creation of better art, of more genuine and personal artistic expression and refused to stop my creation despite all challenges. I will not be defeat or stopped in any circumstances “

When asked about how today’s current state of affairs is now influencing his approach and inspiration, Freddy responded:

“As the pressure eased (but not ceased) I have continued my creation on that new level.  To explore new possibilities in things that were once considered as exhausted. I am in possession of a certain level of inner and outward freedom.  The public and critics alike recognized that. I am very happy about it “

Through these family experiences, influences and personal hardship Freddy began developing a genuine approach towards developing his artistic path. Following his graduation from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb in 1991, Freddy went to become the first Croatian artists to receive the Monbusho Scholarship in 1998.  He attended the Tokyo Gakugei University as a postgraduate research student.  There, he would learn, develop and eventually embraced Hakubyou (白描), the art of monochrome painting.  This ink and brush on rice paper approach would serve as the foundation for his own new and unique style.

Since then, Freddy's unique style has gained him notoriety among critics and scholars alike.  Considered one of the Top 10 artists in the New Ink Art / Modern Ink Painting movement according to ArtFact (Berlin, 22.2.2019), his works have been featured in 80+ exhibits in over 10 countries around the world.  So, at what point does an artist of Freddy’s caliber begin to realize that their work had the traction to attract attention?

“The truth is that my work sparked interest from the very beginning, since the late 1980's.  For various reasons. Most people were attracted to my portraits, watercolors, and inks.  To the usage of the empty 'space', calligraphic lines, simplification and synthesis.  In the 90's I worked a lot despite the fact that I lived with my family in Karlovac – 'the' city on the front line during the Croatian Homeland War.   I also exhibited a lot.  Mostly invited.  A number of critics wrote about my work, but never had any particular lobby to support me.

Alfred Freddy Krupa

While Fixing Hair by Alfred Freddy Krupa

But true rise and change happened in the last decade after events previously described.

I think that logical combination of my age, artistic and personal experience, the vast body of work and the affinity for certain types of expressions, presented (perhaps) unique interpretations over time.  This caused an explosion of activity, now almost entirely abroad.  I also started to win various awards from Asia, Europe and the USA.  I also began to exhibit around the globe.  Coming in contact with curators and critics who understood my art and my profile.  Also, the prices of my works significantly rose. “

So, what kind of advice does an established artist have, especially for those searching to find their own path?

“I am telling my pupils that if they sincerely feel that an artist path is their path, then they must not give up when confronted with the obstacles and frustration that come from it.  I was born and raised in a family with a long tradition in visual arts and I can say that today is harder to succeed than in previous times.”

We asked Freddy for his reasons behind today’s challenges in the “art world” and what’s in store for aspiring artists.  We also asked what sort of advice he had for artists dealing with those challenges.

“One Reason for today’s ‘challenges’ is a superficial ‘artistic’ overproduction (or ‘visual noise’ as I like to call it).  Another is the huge number of often opposed artistic philosophies and practices. And lastly the existence of ‘Self-proclaimed artists stars’, not real genuine ones.  They attract and occupy attention and finances, something easily possible in the postmodern era.  That is something that we witness all around us, on a national and international level.  Sometimes everything looks more or less similar, particularly to the untrained eye.  It is difficult to prove that your art is a genuine one.  It is a long term ‘fight’.“

As far as advice?

“I always emphasize continuous (lifetime) artistic education both formal and non-formal, both theoretic and practical.  We must develop our own skill and our own freethinking mind.  Academics also never loses its importance. “

Whether through personal struggle or influencing forces, our Featured Artist: Alfred Freddy Krupa has more than overcome his challenges.  He’s flourished because of them.  To understand an artist’s motives is to truly understand their state of being.  Freddy’s state of being is a genuine one that has accomplished a style uniquely his own.  Admired, revered and acclaimed by many. Freddy has persevered and his evolution is evident in the lines and stokes that make up his works.  So, what’s next for the Croatian artist?

“Today I am trying to catalog all that body of work.  For a better understanding of my development and later works.  There will be a large one-man show in autumn.  The second expanded and revised edition of my book ‘Texts (1994-2017)’ will also be printed in autumn of 2019.  I will probably travel to one art colony at the beginning of June.  Also, a few group shows are on the table, too.  I’m also work in a further amalgamation of the western and eastern artistic practices.

At the end, I still remain hopeful to be granted with an atelier.  I would also like to teach at the academy level as my further goals.  Finally, I hope to enter the international secondary market (auctions).

All that seems logical development for me, but we shall see what will happen.“

We’d like to thank our Featured Artist: Alfred Freddy Krupa for his time with us here at District Artisan.  Experience is truly the teacher of all things.  The difference between defeat and perseverance is how one perceives the challenge in front of them.  Some fight through the challenge while others embrace the struggle to their advantage.  Throughout his life, Freddy has rejected the notion of defeat.  Using his struggle and pain as an opportunity for advancement.  This evolution of creativity is reflected in his style.  If you’d like to know more about our Featured Artist: Alfred Freddy Krupa and his works, make sure you visit him here.  There you can find his latest works, up and coming exhibits and all his social media hangouts.

For those interested in learning more about Freddy and his origins, make sure you check out ‘New Ink Art Manifesto by Krupa (1996)‘, a deeper look into the masters evolution and contributions to the New Ink Art movement. 

 
 
Alfred Freddy Krupa

The Tree on the Riverbank by Alfred Krupa

Type to Search