A painter, installation artist, and performance artist, Peter Hammar is a man of many talents. From winning the Art Takes Miami contest in 2013 to exhibiting at the Moore Building, ArtCenter South Florida, and even Scope Art Fair at Art Basel; Hammar's eclectic work has made its way into the far reaches of our city's scene.
Swedish-born and Miami schooled (he has a Master of Fine Arts from FIU), Hammar's work runs from performance pieces and installations to sculptures and video. He plays with neon and experiments with form; he breaks down boundaries and challenges the status quo -- even getting into a spat with the city over his idea to paint Port Miami's cranes hot pink.
For the second year in a row, Hammar has earned an Honorable Mention in the New Times Mastermind Awards. We spoke to the artist on his favorite piece of performance art, nomadism, and painting Perez Art Museum Miami.
See also: Artist Wants to Paint Port Miami's Cranes Pink, Controversy Ensues
Use four words to describe your artwork.
Hammar: Criticality, intertextuality, nomadism and difference.
If Miami's art scene were any person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Felix Gonzales Torres, an influential process artist to many current Miami artists. He was Cuban born and died young.
What's your favorite performance art piece of all time?
Seedbed by Vito Acconci, 1972.
Besides the pink flamingo cranes, if you could transform any Miami landmark or spot into a work of art, what would it be?
Paint the Perez Art Museum pink. It's a little bit too Suisse and dull!
How do you see Miami's art landscape five years from now?
A little bit endangered with all the new construction coming up and the old torn down. Artists are forced to move where rents are cheaper, maybe to Hollywood?
Next up for Hammar? He's working on an installation exhibition proposal for Locust Projects.
We'll be profiling those honorable mentions, and eventually the finalists, in the weeks to come. This year's three Mastermind Award winners will be announced February 26 at Artopia, our annual soiree celebrating Miami culture. For tickets and more information, visit newtimesartopia.com.
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