Feb 25, 2022

SCHNAYDERMAN'S x MARCUS MÅRTENSON

For Spring/Summer 2022 we have teamed up with Stockholm-based artist Marcus Mårtenson to create an exclusive capsule collection. The collection is inspired by the sudden halt in normal day-to-day life that the pandemic resulted in and the perspective that vacuum has brought. It features Marcus' artwork on some of our most classic silhouettes such as the Shirt Boxy and Shirt Notch SS.

With his art as the medium, Marcus guides us through the abundance of information in a playful, cynic and honest way. He often comments on contemporary phenomena through his artwork and to be able to do so you need an explorative and questioning mindset. That same viewpoint of society today is something that we explored in the Spring/Summer 2022 collection titled “In Transit”.

A while back we visited Marcus studio and asked a few questions about his work process, inspiration and how he started making art when he was young.

Can you tell us a little about your background, how and when did you start creating?
I was born in Sweden but I grew up as a kid in the United States. I have always been making art but I got into it more when I started painting graffiti in the late 80s. Eventually I got a studio in Stockholm and haven’t stopped.

What inspires you? 
I’m inspired by my surroundings. The world is becoming stranger and stranger the more humans interact with technology and therefore its seems like every day there is something new to make art about.

Why do you choose to paint on wooden boards?
I used to paint on canvas but then one day I got tired of it. I found an old wooden loading pallet lying around somewhere and started drawing on it with pastel crayons. I really liked how that looked and since then I have been painting on lots of different kinds of wood.

You often comment on contemporary phenomena through your art. Do you feel that you’re doing it in a cynical or comical way?
Its not one thing or another. Art in general can sometimes take itself a bit too seriously so humor can be a good way of bringing things down to earth.

An inspiration for the collection is the state of mind we were in during the pandemic. How it felt like being stuck in a void where everything stands still. This has made us pause, take a step back and discover new things in our immediate surroundings. How do you get in the right mindset to be able to create your art?
I like to take in a lot of different things. From what I read to whats going on online, or travelling back to the States and spending time in places like New Orleans. All these things and more can be inspiring.I think Rick Rubin said that the artistic process is close to play, and in play the stakes aren’t that high. Thats a mindset I aspire to be in when I create art.

Could you tell us about your thought process behind the artwork for the collection?
 The works are focused on artificial intelligence and how we are being changed by it. A lot of the things that we take for granted are becoming obsolete. The amount of information we are taking in each day is bigger now than any other time in history, and that might not be the best thing for us in the long run.