Staying between the lines has never been on Dion Horstmans’ agenda but shaping them with force and face-melting temperatures has. The Bondi-based sculptor is about to open a new showroom and atelier at Precinct 75 in St Peters. Before his showroom opens, he takes a minute to speak to us about his career journey and how art really does imitate life.
Can you share your career journey with us, did you always know you were going to be an artist?
It’s become a career, however, creating has always been a passion of mine. I've always done it, but it wasn’t something I consciously chose to pursue. When I was starting out, art wasn’t considered a ‘career’. Design, art history, graphic art and architecture were all pathways that artistic people seemed to follow, but at 17 they didn’t excite me. I’d say I've been ‘lucky’, but I’ve worked hard at doing what I'm passionate about which is making, exploring and experimenting. Through this, opportunities have come my way and that’s what’s validating and inspiring to me.
What were some of the highlights, milestones and challenges along the way that have shaped your point of view?
The highlight list includes selling my first wall sculpture, getting represented by a gallery and finishing my first public work. Being an artist can be isolating and even though I was doing my thing with passion and drive, I was always working in a studio alone, second guessing myself. Having someone pay or commission a piece was when I realised that I was doing something right.
There are many challenges to my line of work, there’s the constant internal dialogue to overcome, and the isolation of creating as a solo artist. Welding is also a heavy, noisy practice as well as being a ‘winter sport’ - kitting up in the Sydney humidity and playing with fire is hard going. There’s also the irrepressible pressure of staying relevant. As an artist, you must be agile and able to pivot. I love a brief and a deadline, but sometimes there’s a creative blockage. In that situation I’ll always say yes and work out how to do it later. Then, once the deadline is up and I'm against the wall necessity kicks in.
What’s inspiring you now?
Right now, I’m totally driven by the amazing opportunity I have to create a working atelier and showroom within the new Precinct 75 development at St Peters. I’m working out how to maximise the workshop space as well as creating a showroom experience that is flooded with light. My goal is to create a space that represents me as an artist but also a living environment that is immersive, fun and alive.
How has your process changed during your career?
I’ve become a bit looser and less regimented in my practice and method. I’m able to work to a brief and pivot when necessary. My works are not politically driven, I’m making spatial sculptures that are a continuous thought stream or internal conversation, if the brief demands a change, I’m now better able to handle that.
How does your studio space impact your creativity?
This space I'm creating now is by far the best creative space I’ve ever had. I’m really enjoying creating the actual space; thinking about how, what and where I can display and the theatrics of displaying my work and the dialogue within my practice. In short, space hugely impacts creativity.
What are your considerations when creating a public art piece?
Firstly, the client’s brief, followed by scale and budget. Then I look at the environment and the surroundings and how to get the piece to ‘pop’.
Can you think of a time when art impacted your life?
All the time. Art is the music of life, it’s the blood that runs through our veins, I see all that we have made, and all that nature has made as art.
Dion Horstmans’ showroom will be open to the public on Saturdays from August this year at Precinct 75, 75 Mary Street, St Peters.
