Artist talk: Hanna KL

Hanna Kastl-Lungberg is a versatile visual artist from Gothenburg, Sweden. Hanna has developed a personal expression creating playful artworks where she combines colours and shapes in a unique way and turns them into paintings, prints and patterns. Her work is greatly influenced by the time she has spent in Los Angeles.

How did you become interested in creating art?

I grew up with parents that are both artists so that part of me was always there, and I was always encouraged to be creative. When I was studying sustainable design at uni I realised I wanted to be a graphic designer and that’s when I suddenly started creating art prints, sort of as a way of learning. To my surprise, my prints became very popular and that’s where it started!

What’s the inspiration behind your latest collection?

I wanted to make a colourful collection that would go along with the colours and the feel of the upcoming bright seasons, and add some extra happiness in these tough times. But I also wanted it to be compatible with the artworks in my previous collection with Postery.

Does your style depend on your mood, current season or perhaps some other events in the world, or do you try to close the world out, and it ́s just you and your work?

I can create at any season because I daydream a lot and take inspiration from memories but when serious events, such as the current war in Ukraine, is going on it’s difficult for me to be creative when I know that people are suffering and especially when it’s so close. Otherwise, I usually try to stay away from the news because I’m one of those people who gets hugely impacted by all the misery and negativity in the world and if I watched and read about it each day I would simply not be able to do anything. I try to do what I can but I can’t solve all these situations, it’s out of my control, and it’s sad to say but to some point, I have to close out the world in order to create art that reflects positivity ¬– I make art in hopes it’ll bring out good memories or make someone smile, even for just a second

When you are creative, what is the one thing you can ́t do without?

Hmm, probably just a creative atmosphere. I can do without music and drinks and stuff like that, honestly, all I need is just my drawing materials and a setting around me that is calm and inspiring.

Do you need complete silence, or do you have some music/sounds in the background?

As much as I enjoy silence I also love music and it definitely helps me get inspired to create. I have an extremely eclectic music taste – from boybands to grunge to 80s hair metal but lately, I’ve been playing a lot of Wallows, Conan Gray and T. Rex. I also watch tv shows while drawing. I recently watched Genera+ion and I loved it so much I’m rewatching it now.

"I wanted to make a colourful collection that would go along with the colours and the feel of the upcoming bright seasons"

What do you like doing when you are not creating?

As a freelancing artist, I’m always either creating or working haha but I love just walking around on a nice day and listen to music and grab a coffee and maybe sit down somewhere and do some people watching. I also thrift a lot and on the days I don’t go to the thrift store I feel like I’m gonna miss out on a good find haha.

If you could choose to have one superpower, what would it be?

To travel in space and time. I would just go to a ton of concerts and experience times I could only dream of being part of. The first place I would visit is Los Angeles in the mid 80s.