Penabranca, guest artist
Minimalism and spirituality
Each season, Bask in the Sun collaborates with several visual artists, photographers and illustrators for its tee and sweatshirt prints. Bruno Borges, known as Penabranca, is a Brazilian artist based in New York. His work is inspired by the mystery of the cosmos, primitive human art, geometry and psychedelic minimalism. We are honored to be able to create a special collection with him, inspired by three of his most representative paintings: Moonrise, Dia Infinito and Solar Gates.
Who are you?
My name is Bruno and I'm a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. I was born and raised in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Are you influenced by your native culture?
My work is mainly inspired by natural phenomena, those that occur here on Earth and elsewhere and that are closely interrelated. It was in Brazil that I was able to connect with most of the terrestrial aspects of things. Rivers, mountains, forests, the ocean. My home is also filled with Brazilian art and music, and I often look at Brazilian modernism and indigenous art to feel grounded.
What does your artist name Penabranca mean? Where does it come from?
Il signifie « plume blanche ». Cela m’aide à me connecter à un côté plus léger de mon âme lorsque je fais mon art.
You experiment with different media and tools. Can you tell us about these different practices? Why do you go from one extreme (gold ink painting) to another (ultra-colorful digital drawing)?
I like to take freedom and explore beyond my usual, routine style. Part of it comes from the need to express myself with a different energy, the need to explore a different way of telling things. I've always said that my work is like surfing for me, but sometimes it becomes uncomfortable to do what I'm more comfortable with.
The human is not present in your creations. You seem to prefer to focus on things that are much bigger and stronger than humans. Why this attraction to the stars?
Yet people often describe my work as soothing and spiritual, but not really in a religious sense. I think it's very human.
I have a particular interest in nature and astronomy, because they give us humans a perspective that is both vast and humble. We can feel tiny and microscopic compared to our sun, which is itself a tiny star. We can also feel infinite and eternal, because we really are the Universe looking back at us when we stay in the present moment and observe what surrounds us. This range of feelings is mysterious and constantly intrigues me.
And I don't think I need to put the figurative human in my art for people to feel it's very human in the end. Some things don't have to be obvious to be clear.
You've often collaborated with music groups to design covers. Is it the sound that inspires you to create?
I was lucky enough to grow up with a young uncle who was really like an older brother and happened to be a musician. He was always showing us amazing music at home and I think that profoundly shaped my musical tastes and my need for music in my life. That's why I'm always looking for music I've never heard before, and I'm constantly listening to it when I'm creating. Or cooking. Or when I'm doing nothing. You can imagine my joy when I started making album covers, especially vinyl ones. I love seeing my art wrapped around good music! It makes me feel part of the musical creation, as if I were temporarily in the band.
Today, you're associated with Bask in the Sun, a clothing brand. What do you like about this collaboration?
When I saw what you do, the love of the ocean and nature, the love of art and working with artists whose creations you identify with in a very respectful way, I felt at home. So, thank you for welcoming me to the group!
