On now! Robin Muccari at the Akin Vitrine Gallery
The Akin Vitrine Gallery is so excited to welcome a brand new exhibition, “Untitled” by Robin Muccari, an artist who works out of the Akin St Clair studios. The gallery is visible from the street, so swing by to check out Robin’s fantastic work any time, 24/7!
When: June 24th - August 31, 2024
Where: Akin Vitrine Gallery, 1747 St Clair Ave W
Robin Muccari is an artist, illustrator, and designer located in Toronto, Ontario. His art ranges from analog to digital in collage, illustration, and animation. His three-dimensional analog collage artwork, "Untitled", was created in 2024 and will be on display in Akin Vitrine Gallery starting June 24th, 2024. The piece displays a static form of animated motion. Hands and objects rise from the bottom up, with light blue paths representing the direction and flow and energy.
We caught up with Robin to find out more about his inspiration, life, and work.
Akin: What are you curious about right now?
RM: “I'm very interested in creating mechanical collages. Having seen interactive art in the past and watching mechanical objects in YouTube videos is inspiring.”
Akin: What was your first medium and what's your favourite tool/material right now?
RM: “I grew up frequently drawing with whatever I had: crayons, No. 2 pencils, Berol colored pencils, ballpoint pens, and colored markers. Now, I am completely focused on analog collages using X-acto knives, glue, wires, wire cutters, pliers, and a saw.”
Akin: Do you have a studio routine ie: Are you a daily ritual person or are you project-focused in spurts?
RM: “I try to make it to the studio as much as I can but it's usually 2 or 3 times a week, in the evening after work. It's mostly focused on more than one project at a time. There are some times when I look through boxes of magazines for images that work with my thoughts or I improvise based on what I find.”
Akin: Do you have creative prompts or habits to help you get started?
RM: “Music and music videos. I go through phases and repeatedly listen to the same songs or albums because they give me motivation and help me think creatively. I also watch music videos on YouTube—generally from the 80s and 90s—for the same reason. I'm not sure why but outdated effects in them influence me.”
Akin: Is there an artist you'd like to go back in time to meet? What would you ask them about?
RM: “German Expressionists (George Grosz, Otto Dix, Hannah Höch, and many filmmakers) have been a major inspiration since I was a kid. I'd ask them about their inspirations, how they came up with their styles, and the Weimar Republic era in general.”
Akin: What are some of the benefits of being in the studio for you? What brought you to Akin?
RM: “It's really nice to have studio space because I'm able to leave home and focus on my work instead of being distracted by two cats. It's also great to chat with the other artists near me who work in mediums different from me. I looked for studio spaces on Google and Akin had a lot of locations and spaces at an affordable cost. I'm really glad I ended up at the St. Clair location because it reminds me of the studio spaces in the arts college I went to.”
Akin: What are you NOT very good at? What do you WANT to be good at?
RM: “I'm TERRIBLE at applying glaze to clay sculptures. They never turn out as I hoped. I have really enjoyed sculpting in the past so, at some point, I'm sure I'll try to get better.”
