John Brevard
1. Where were you born and where are you from ?
I was born in the lively city of Miami, Florida. This unique blend of environments has deeply influenced my creative pursuits, offering a diverse backdrop that resonates in my work.
2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?
Following a significant coma, my first artistic memory was sculpting forms and constructing a tree house in my home’s yard. This period of creation was more than just play; it represented my early explorations into art, forming a fundamental dialogue with space and form.
3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?
Art and design have always been more than just professions for me; they are sanctuaries. My passion for creation, the innate drive to shape, imagine, and transform, has found its truest expression in these fields.
4. What led you to the design creation ?
Since childhood, I’ve been attuned to the energies spaces emit. I believe the arrangement of art and furniture, and the intentional blending of nature within interiors, profoundly affect a space’s essence. I’m convinced that adding a sculptural or design element doesn’t just fill space; it alters its frequency and transforms its spirit. My lifelong passion is crafting spaces that resonate with strength and harmony, serving as sanctuaries that elevate and inspire connection with one’s higher self.
5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?
My creative process starts with an instinctual spark, followed by sketching and then 3D modeling. This approach allows me to transform initial inspirations into tangible designs.
6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?
My day begins early with a Muay Thai session and a hike with my baby and my husky in Ibiza, followed by addressing client emails and visiting construction sites. In the afternoon, I dedicate time to design, concluding with sunset meditation and painting, balancing my professional responsibilities with personal well-being.
7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?
I use recycled materials, metals symbolic of our techno-tectonic era, and elements like petrified wood, which remind us of our timeless nature. The choice of metals and stones is also aimed at enhancing the energy of my pieces.
8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?
My designs are inspired by fractals, sacred geometries, and natural forms, reflecting my fascination with the repeating patterns in nature and their broader implications.
9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?
For those starting in sculptural design, finding your unique voice is key. Work diligently, maintain a positive attitude, and remember that your consciousness is the primary driver of your creativity.
10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?
My work is a blend of futurism and brutalism, combining forward-thinking design concepts with raw, elemental forms.
11. What designers and artists have influenced you ?
I am influenced by the architect Calatrava, whose work resonates with my design philosophy.
12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?
Currently, no contemporary designers particularly stand out to me; my work tends to carve its own path.
13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?
Similarly, no contemporary artists immediately come to mind. My inspirations are drawn from broader concepts and natural forms.
14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?
If I were to summarize my creations in one word, it would be ‘fractalize,’ reflecting the intricate and repetitive patterns found in my work.
15. Is there anything you would like to add ?
I am intrigued by the concept that fractals are a fundamental component of everything, including the dimension of time.
Proust Questionnaire with very short answers (one or a few words) :
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde, Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being at my home in Ibiza, surrounded by friends and family.
2. What is your greatest fear?
I prefer not to give way to fear.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Harshness.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lack of self-reflection or consciousness.
5. Which living person do you most admire?
There are so many special humans; it’s hard to choose just one.
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Collecting artifacts.
7. What is your current state of mind?
Peaceful, even as I watch the coming storm.
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Hard work.
9. What is the quality you most like in a man ?
Kind heart within genuine strength of character.
10. What is the quality you most like in a woman ?
Love and nourishing nature.
11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Are you ok?”
12. Which talent would you most like to have?
Deep engineering skills.
13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
None
14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Still working on it.
15. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I would choose to come back as myself.
16. Where would you most like to live?
Exactly where I am now.
17. What is your most treasured possession?
My family.
18. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Misery itself, especially negative self-talk.
19. What is your favorite occupation?
Creativity.
20. What is your most marked characteristic?
My stare.
21. What do you most value in your friends?
Nurturing love.
22. Who are your favorite writers?
Shakespeare, Henley, Kipling, James Allen.
23. Who is your hero of fiction?
Neo
24. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Shakespeare.
25. Who are your heroes in real life?
The selfless among us, like nurses, caregivers, and service workers.
26. What are your favorite names?
Aria Wolf.
27. What is it that you most dislike?
Dislike itself.
28. What is your greatest regret?
Perhaps not following my gut more.
29. How would you like to die?
Surrounded by those I love and who love me.
30. What is your motto?
“If it flows, it goes.”
