Friederike Hantel is an avant-garde artist based in Hamburg that explores from illustration, to fashion design or ·3D animation. All together connected in a same digital world where to catch all the vibes, where to feel all the feelings. Escape from reality through her japanese inspired aesthethic that mixes infinite creative references and energies. A weird universe dyed in eccentric colors that everybody can connect to, across projects like Wide Awake or Bimbaders Invasion: the surrealistic animals that had set the system on fire. Have a sit and blow your mind.

How was your first conexion with art? What does it make you feel?
As a kid I always enjoyed escaping in fascinating worlds.. I remember sometimes (at the age of 4) I sat hours in front of a book rewatching the illustrations, observing everything.. imagine me being part of this universe.. this continue with television shows especially animated ones.. I was super obsessed with anime. Now for me art is an expressive reaction and also a reflexion from the soul to its environment. Creating makes me feel alive and exciting, the same way enjoying art I correspond to..it gives me energy.

What kind of reality do you want to show through your own digital world?
I enjoy to show some twist .. a grotesque, an image which is not satisfying, sometimes creates discomfort..but in a hyper aesthetic way. But at the other side a universe everybody can connect to. A world were everybody is welcome and everything is connected..

How would you define your aestethic? Which artists or movements have influenced its foundation?
I really enjoy the aesthetic and formal language of asian art especially Japanese.. Hokusai, keiichi tanaami, kazumasa nagai, ikko tanaka, tadanori yokoo, mitsuo katsui, also the grotesque like hieronymus bosch, albrecht dürer and the pop of tom of Finland, Chicago imagists, Heinz edelmann, David lachapelle, antwan horfee ….etc

What role do japanese references, comics, sexuality and naïve style play in your artistic work?
I guess its something I feel so comfortable with because its surrounded me meanwhile I grew up.. in addition its so pop! Its energetic and at the same time aesthetic, also melancholic, dark and weird I just love it!

From an infinite portfolio that registers from fashion design to illustration, sculptures or animation, which have been the project that you've vibrated the most with?
At the moment of course I celebrate what BIMBA y Lola and team creates! Its amazing to see how huge the whole story spread trough the internet across the whole world. #bimbaders. its just amazing, to see my universe on so many medias. Its so big that’s generates an experience! Im very happy about how free they let me create. thank you! And I also want to mention my graduation project I created with a friend this year (wide awake)——> www.wideawake.earth friederike hantel x ethel vaughn + selam x, that’s something I created by heart, its about brining spirituality into the contemporary culture trough: pop.

The bimbaders invasion has burned the fashion system and the artistic scene in general. How did the idea come out? Why did you choose Petite Meller, John Yuyi, Sgàire Teàrlag Wood and Lily Miel Taïeb as muses for the creation of your jungle of surrealist animals?
Haha they fit so amazingly well and each of them is such a precious soul <3! But to be honest..I wasn’t involved into that process. Im still don’t know how they found me too ;P

What would your dream collaboration and exhibition be like?
Maybe Collaborations which combine technology and art to creates new experiences.. everything which helps to creates interdisciplinary experiences..meeting new creative minds .. creating together that would be fun! As for the exhibition, the Bimbader party in Madrid nailed it pretty well.. awesome experience!! Also I was highly mind-blowed by teamLab’s exhibition in „Tokyo digital art museum“ !!!!!! (But I just could see it trough the internet.. please Japan I want to visit you“)