I think the title is valid in practically all different fields of art: it helps to create art, if you’re just a little bit “crazy” and little bit more open minded than an average person. Anyone is free to disagree with me on this one… But if you’re too serious and not ready to take some “risks”, you will never become a true artist. I’m not trying to say that I’m an artist, but I feel like the artist inside of me is slowly waking up…
Finding the right tools
My material isn’t paint, wood, fabric, steel or anything else that is used to create long-lasting art, but it’s latex balloons, that are used to create temporary art, much like ice or snow. When people hear words “balloon” and “twisting”, most of them think about the simple one balloon dog, sword or that kind of quite simple balloon designs. Balloon art is especially nowadays so much more and depending on the size of balloons and the used techniques, the creation of a balloon sculpture can take anything from few minutes to few days and they can last in good shape anything from few hours to couple of weeks. This is what makes balloon art so challenging and interesting at the same time. It also limits the things you can do with balloons especially in the learning phase – you can’t perfect your sculpture endlessly, because the balloon oxidates and starts deflating as soon as you inflate it and make the knot. These processes can be slowed down by using protecting agents inside the balloon (like Hi-Float) or outside the balloon (like Balloon Glow or Balloon Shine). These will close the small pores in latex and slow down the leakage of air and the protecting agents used on the outside of the balloon can also give a shiny cover for the balloon.
I like the philosophy of Pascal Grooten – one of the greatest and most unique balloon artists there are. We share a common vision on using different techniques.
“Using the twisting techniques as a toolbox, you can become a good craftsman.”
But one must always remember: Tools don’t build houses, but they help a lot in the process!
Finding the limits
So far, during my quite short career as a balloon artist, I have focused on looking for all the necessary “tools”, which mainly consist of techniques but also some actual tools (such as pumps), and find out how to use those tools to manipulate balloons into different shape – as far from the original shape of balloon (e.g. round) as possible. And by looking for, I don’t only mean replicating the techniques I’ve seen other artists’ using, but I mean experimenting with balloons, combining different techniques and also finding out completely new techniques. When working with balloons, it often actually happens that two or more people independently come up with same techniques – sometimes even almost simultaneously.
When I’ve managed to manipulate a balloon into completely different form, I have at least one “limit”, where I can go with that shape of balloon and then move to the next shape. The “absolute limit” is seldom what I actually want to achieve, but it’s easier to take a step back and make a smaller manipulation, when you have a feeling how far you can go with certain shape of balloon… It’s kind of like combining the work of an engineer and architect.
I have a quite long background in science and that probably at least partially explains my endless need to learn something new with balloons and also my attitude towards different techniques:
What would a scientist do without the necessary instruments?
I don’t usually have any pressure to make a specific balloon sculpture, but I do this currently just to accomplish my own objectives… And I must admit: sometimes also to bedazzle other people…
So when I get inspiration from an everyday object, cool artistic painting, sculpture, from nature or almost anywhere, I usually immediately start thinking and imagining how the figure takes a form of a balloon or balloons… I start making the sculpture in my mind and it may sometimes take few days or even more, before I actually grab the first balloon and start making it.
99% of my balloon sculptures are made in one go, taking typically something from 2 minutes to 2 hours. I don’t have a fancy working space in my home, but the work usually happens on the sofa or at the corner of our living room with balloons, pumps and other tools on the floor and me sitting next to those. Most of my balloons are in a sports bag, in a big plastic box and in smaller plastic boxes.
There’s always something new to learn! Decide a goal, find the path and go for it!
juho@pallotaide.com