Humorous, morbid and quirky - Fabian Monheim

We are thrilled that our good friend Fabian Monheim is one of the 5 artists featured at The Pilgrm this summer! Over the years, he has created some incredible artwork for us and when we first opened, it was Fabian whose art was displayed on our walls. In ‘The Untitled Project’, Fabian takes Victorian portraits and disguises parts of the face and body with abstract objects such as stamps, skulls, shells and even a McDonald’s chip bag. Come and see for yourself!

How would you describe your artistic style in 5 words? Humorous, Graphic, Retro, Morbid, quirky.

What was your route into art – is it something you have always loved from an early age, did someone guide you in that direction…? My Mother dragged me to as many museums, galleries and churches as she could find to open my eyes to this part of life. As a teenager I wasn’t all that interested but somehow it must have stuck.

Did you formally study within the arts? I went to Central St Martins to study Graphic Design and have been working as a Designer ever since.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? I have vast collections of old books and my place is filled with weird and wonderful objects from the past. I am visiting flea markets almost every weekend and get inspired by anything.

What is your favourite piece of artwork by another artist and why? I don’t really have a favourite artwork or artist. If I had to pick one it would be Picasso. Anything he touched turned to magic.

What is your favourite piece of artwork you have produced and why? At the moment it’s a picture of a beautifully groomed young girl I found on a flea market. I attached the hipbone of a rabbit to her forehead and when hung under a lamp the shadow falls on her face as if she was wearing sunglasses. It’s quite morbid but beautiful at the same time.

What would your advice be to young creatives? Be yourself and be it like mad.

What does craftsmanship mean to you? I love the quality of old craftsmanship. It is important that we protect and pass on these old techniques. In Japan these traditional ways are valued much more and constantly merged with modern ideas.

You seem to have an affinity with the world of food and beverage, where did that begin? My Mom was a great cook and I love food, but it was coincidence. Meeting people at the right moment in time.

How would you summarise The Pilgrm hotel in 5 words? Contemporary - convenient - colourful - cosy & casual... Not sure why I only thought of words starting with C.

What does an average day look like for you? I’m an early riser and after my coffee I often go for a walk and think of an order I should do things in. I try not to sit in front of the computer too long but get up every now and then and do something physical

And finally, what’s the top thing on your bucket list? To start a bucket list.

You can find out more about Fabian via his website - https://fabianmonheim.com/filter/illustration