Insights

Bhare, Photo courtesy of artist

Artist Bio:

Drawing inspiration from his personal journals, multi-media artist Shareon Blenman, otherwise known as Bhare, imbeds his artworks with reflections of his individual growth journey and the intimate intricacies of home life. His pieces are filled with symbolism, reflecting and serving as a nod towards an ever-evolving spectrum of emotions which he represents through bold, geometric shapes, figures, and expressive free writing. Post-2019 Pandemic, he delves into the drama of hyper-introversion, cross-examining his place in the world and probing questions around identity and belonging.  In 2021, Bhare entered the Web3 ecosystem, finding success and solidifying his unique artistic identity. His contributions to contemporary art discourse seamlessly merge introspection with technological innovation. 

Today Bhare is currently living and working in North Carolina merging his work both through traditional and digital styles, showcasing his work amongst prestigious galleries from in New York, Copenhagen, to Los Angeles.

About the work:

I've Lost This Little Body of Mine is a comprehensive body of work comprised of 35 unique artworks within the series. Each piece features a digital hand-etched copy of the blueprint artwork. Utilizing digital oil painting techniques along with Procreate, Art Set 4, and Artrage Vitae, each artwork is meticulously crafted to evoke a distinct aesthetic and emotional resonance.

“I’ve given away so many pieces of myself to the fault that I’ve lost this little body of mine. I’m floating; drowning seems impossible; living is dramatic; dying seems out of reach. collaged from excerpts of personal journals.” - Bhare

This collection of 35 artworks will be presented exclusively on SuperRare. All auctions will open for offers and bids on May 30th at 1 pm EST. Additionally, 5 of the 35 works have been gifted to select collectors and will also be shared below.

Bhare, I've Love This Little Body of Mine, 2024 

Acrylic, Oil Pastel, Oil Stick on Canvas

41.5" x 28"

The foundational artwork for this collection shares a name with the wider series I've Lost This Little Body of Mine. Given that this is a 1 of 1 of 35 collection, they all have a shared similar quality that binds them all together. This being the main central abstract figure in the center of the physical painting which will be on view and exhibited in Charlotte, North Carolina at the L.A.N.D. Gallery from June 7th to July 30th as apart of their Juneteenth Group Exhibit.

The Interview:

Paloma: Can you tell me about your educational background? What did you study and how has that shaped your work and interests today?

Bhare: Well before pursuing art professionally, I spent most, if not all of my time in the kitchen. From high school until the end of my college career, I studied culinary arts and restaurant management. It was a profession that still allowed me to be creative, even if I didn’t think much of it during my first years of studies. Working in a kitchen requires you to get a bit scrappy sometimes. Thinking really quick on your feet to make a beautiful dish, even if all the odds are against you at the moment. Being in that constant mindset prepared me for the daily ups and downs that comes with running your own art practice. Also, beautiful dishes have lots of color, flavors, aroma, etc. and I like to think of my works in the same light. What can I do to mix and match mediums, previously used markings, illustrations and more to create something that blends together well while also challenging itself.

Paloma: Can you speak to the role that technology or digitization plays in your work? How does the interplay between your physical paintings and digital work correlate?

Bhare: Can I be transparent with you? If I did not find a community of artists on twitter back in 2021, I don’t think I would have started making digital works. Now I can’t see my practice moving forward without it haha. The role it plays leans more on the side of experimentation. I can test the boundaries of my imagination simply with the tools on my iPad. Then once I feel confident in it, I’ll start incorporating that into my physical works. Leaving myself open to the possibilities and perspectives that come from digital art only makes my physical work stronger and vice versa. The main element that connects them both is texture. The beauty of the physical works is being able to visually see the texture of the work; that itself tells a long story of how the artist got to that point. After years of practice, I’ve been able to mimic the same textures present in my physicals, on my digital works. 

Bhare in the studio, Image courtesy of artist

Paloma: Your work reflects your own personal journey and lived experiences. How do you approach your creative process and what does this ideation process look like for you?

Bhare: Introspection is the biggest asset to my paintings. I have many journals that I like to reflect on before, during and after the process of creating a new work. Sometimes I find myself reading over a short couple of lines I’ve written and I can visualize what that could look like in the moment. Given that a lot of my writings are older, seeing it with fresh new eyes aids my process. 2-3 months or even years later mixed with new knowledge and skills gives me the range to freely explore those ideas to the fullest. Kind of like how you would make a more informed decision by not jumping straight off of the first emotion. 

Scarebook thoughts

Paloma: Could you discuss the reasoning behind the color palettes you employ within your work? It appears that you often incorporate monochromatic color schemes in your compositions. Is there a deliberate intention behind how you select color choices and its connection to the narratives depicted?

Bhare: Colors are my bread and butter haha! I often gravitate towards using earthy tones to ground the work and brighter pastels for a dramatic pop. In my own opinion it helps to give the piece weight and tension that won’t usually come from extremely vivid colors. On a flip side my use of monochromatic palettes are employed simply to bring emphasis to the main idea of the work. I intentionally choose colors that will spark questions from my viewer. Let’s say I painted a small blue flamingo into one of my works. Realistically, flamingos aren’t blue in the slightest though it’s depicted as such in the painting. A viewer admiring the flamingo can start taking the time to either question it or connect some dots around the canvas. The perception of the color blue could hold a different meaning to the viewer against my own ideology. While I never have a strict connotation for specific colors, I do use them interchangeably to fit the narrative I’m speaking on. Color is such a powerful tool within visual language.

Poor Soul Sitting on Paint Can, 2024

Paloma: The humanistic quality of your work creates a relatable narrative that invites the viewers to resonate, while also inviting them to partake in a deeply personal piece of expression. What are your expectations regarding how you wish your art to be encountered or interpreted?

Bhare: That’s a tough one. If any, I wish for my artwork to be approached with an open mind and open perspectives. My very first paintings back in 2017-2018 were deeply personal and I did not want anyone to approach them. Now even more so because they were poorly designed and made haha. Now after growing into my work, and as a person, I crave to really have discussions focused around my work. I grow as an artist by taking in new perspectives and learning from the areas in which I could do better to convey meaning. My expectations are now only within the reach of what I can control. More than ever, I recognize fine art to be extremely subjective and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I’m confident enough to say though that for whom my painting resonates, they will meet the paintings with open arms, every time. 

Paloma: How do you categorize your artistic style? Are there specific movements or artists, such as those associated with Neoclassicism, with whom you feel a connection or influence?

Bhare: I wish there was a specific name for it haha! I see my artistic style on a line between illustration, abstraction and figurative language. All of those elements are used to produce paintings that remind me a bit how mixed media works are layered. I feel aligned with Neo-expressionism, Contemporary and the Abstract Expressionism art movements, while I currently look towards Danny Fox, Jack Kabangu and Rose Wylie as influences. After that my artistic peers online really shaped how I approach my artwork and they helped me spark new ideas more often than not. Each piece plays a really vital role in building these paintings from the ground up.

Danny Fox, The Prodigal Son Reveling with Harlots, 2017

Jack Kabangu, Brødrene Løvehjerte, 2022 (left) Rose Wylie, Untitled, 2017 (right)

Paloma: Can you tell me about this specific body of work? What inspired this series titled I've Lost This Little Body of Mine? 

Bhare:

“I envision the inner-workings of my body as a jigsaw puzzle, a maze of fragmented pieces. Many that don't fit together, unless positioned in its designated place. I've given pieces away, I've taken some for myself, and had some confiscated from me.” - Bhare

The paintings here reflect just that. I’ve honestly been inspired by other collections of 1/1/X and how artists either build stories or break them down using this format. The blueprint work for this collection featured an abstract figure that was pieced together using various colors and lines. I mimic the act of giving away pieces of myself by breaking down this blueprint into new forms giving them the ability to touch on multiple topics. This little body of mine looks to evoke a sense of fragmentation and disconnection that resonates deeply with the experience of grappling with daily life, mental health, physical health, etc. I invite the viewer to contemplate the myriad of ways in which we negotiate with our sense of self, whilst gluing together a sense of wholeness from the fragments of our lived experiences. 

Here I’m using the notion of losing one's body mentally as a theme. The analogy of the body as a jigsaw puzzle offers a easy to visualize starting point, evoking a sense of fragmentation and disconnection. I invite the viewer to contemplate the myriad of ways in which we negotiate with our sense of self, whilst gluing together a sense of wholeness from the fragments of our lived experiences. - Bhare

I imagine myself, my body standing over an array of jigsaw pieces, some are missing, lost to the ether of memory or relinquished in moments of vulnerability. I’ve embraced the inherent messiness of my existence, celebrating imperfection, and have recognized that true wholeness lies not in conformity but in the courageous act of embracing my own complexity.

 View more of Bhare’s available work on SuperRare here and read more about this highlighted series "I've Lost This Little Body of Mine" directly on Bhare's website here.