 This NYC based artist is part of the 3 piece Black Dice and is showing this spring at Jack Hanley's NYC gallery.
MONEY SHOT - GEL PEN AND MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER - 2006
Whether pummeling the sweet bejesus out of your ear drums with the 3 piece mega noise ensemble Black Dice, or creating super distorted, neon, tripped out worlds for your eyes to battle with, Bjorn Copeland is usually up to no good in some way, shape, or form (mostly shapes and forms). This Brooklynite has not only tested the fabric of sound and the limits of vision, but has built up an impressive resume and rocker/artist life's style that most 9-5er's post grads dream about in the warehouse. Bjorn is represented by China Art Objects (LA), Daniel Riech (NY), and has work in the Dominic Molon curated Rock and Roll: Sympathy for the Devil exhibition at Chicago's MCA. Keep your eyes peeled for this guy, but make sure they don't peel off once you have found him. -Ryan Christian
Ryan: As a child, what did you picture yourself doing? Was it anything like this?
Bjorn : This is sort of what I pictured myself doing. I knew I wanted to make art, be an artist. I always loved music, but never thought I would play in a band. That was/is a huge bonus.
RC: Are you educated or self-taught art wise? Music wise?
BC: I studied sculpture at Rhode Island school of design. As far as music goes, I have no formal training, which I am always grateful for.
COVER POTENTIAL - MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER - 2007
RC: There are some obvious themes within your pieces such as repetition and distortion. Talk about the dialogue happening between your own artwork and the work you do with Black Dice.
BC: I would say that since starting Black Dice in 97', the work in my studio has always paralleled the band. It was really the only outlet I had or making things after leaving school. Making record covers, t-shirts, and flyers really legitimized working two dimensionally for me. It wasn't something I focused on in school. Most of the work I've made has related to sound or related ideas, in one way or another. For me working collaboratively with Eric and Aaron for so long, their voices always seem to resonate when I'm working independently. That said, I do try to make sure our band artwork feels like Black Dice artwork. We've really tried to cultivate a very unique,
identifiable aesthetic for the band.
RC: What inspires your aesthetic?
BC: The main influence is just mundane pop culture. Crappy television, pop radio, advertisements. I don't go out to see very much these days. I like Paul Laffoley, Archigram, Jeff Davis, and Devo album art.
EXPANDIN CHAIR WITH LEAK POTENTIAL - MIXED MEDIA - 2007
RC: Describe your studio process. What's the space like? The mood? Things you do and don't need for the makings of a good day in the studio?
BC: My studio is a decent size, but covered with shit. At this point, you can't see the floor. There's plastic and paper everywhere. I listen to the classic rock station. Actually now its CBS fm, since they're back on the air. There is no real formula for a good day for me. I like it when I get surprised by something I'm working on. Surprised in a good way. That isn't happening right now, but hopefully later today.
RC: Your titles, unlike many titles, lend a hand in making your work even more intriguing. Like "Family Changer" Where do they come from? What do they mean?
BC: Most of the titles are conceived rather quickly, and with the primary purpose of making sense to me. Usually there's the word "changer" or "potential" in the title as well. I like to think of a lot of the collages as sort of static animations, caught in flux. Sometimes they are imagined sequences depicted.
TILED - COLLAGE ON PAPER 2005
RC: Is there anything exciting in the future of Bjorn?
BC: I've got a show at Jack Hanley's NYC space in the spring. Black Dice is touring in Europe in March. Maybe some other places as well this spring. Pretty much the normal pace right now, which is great.
RC: The best things in 2007 for you were...
BC: My new apartment, hermaphrodite, lima. I'm still reflecting on it all.
RC: Invent something cool right now. What is it?
BC: Sorry, it's too early for that much creativity. I am working on an idea for a mechanical sculpture that is kind of an invention, but it's too early to put that idea out there. Sorry.
VERTICAL CHANGE - GEL PEN & MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER - 2007
KOKOMO VIDEO BY BLACK DICE
http://www.blackdice.net
http://www.danielreichgallery.com/artistscopeland.html
http://www.chinaartobjects.com/Artists.aspx?id=16
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