David Bowie once quipped: "The only art I'll ever study is stuff that I can steal from." It’s a cheeky remark, but there’s truth in it: all art is a mix of borrowing, bending, and blending. Right now, no one embodies this idea better than Fin DAC. While many artists try to hide their influences, the Cork-born, London-based creator is proudly showcasing them in his latest project, HomEage. This series features striking "half-and-half portraits," merging his unique style with the legacies of icons like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and Jamie Reid. "The artwork is split down the middle, with the second half repainted in the style of another artist. It looks like two different versions or personalities of the same character," DAC explained from his studio in Mile End, London. He added: "With this project, there’s no hiding - it's all out there. It’s meant to celebrate those influences and those artists." Known for his massive outdoor murals seen worldwide, HomEage marks DAC's first solo show since 2021, taking place at London’s St Martins Lane crypt gallery on 25 and 26 October. The project is also available in book form from West Contemporary Editions.
Euronews Culture sat down with DAC before the show's unveiling to discuss his journey to becoming a full-time artist at 40, the impact of AI in the art world, and his creative process for creating gigantic murals. DAC's career as an artist began late, around the age of 40, after a stressful relationship. He turned to drawing and painting as a form of therapy, which quickly snowballed into a full-time career. His latest project, HomEage, explores split personalities, with each artwork divided and repainted in the style of another artist. The project started during the first pandemic lockdown in California and has continued over the years, focusing on various influential artists.
The exhibition is held in an underground crypt, chosen for its historical significance. DAC hopes the audience will appreciate the celebration of influences and artists. He is renowned for his large-scale murals but finds painting for galleries more challenging due to the need for perfection. His style is described as "urban aesthetics," focusing on portraiture and beauty. The mask, a recurring theme in his work, holds specific meanings that remain a mystery to keep the art intriguing.
DAC's process for creating massive murals involves adapting the environment to the art, using a technique called the squiggle method for precision. His largest mural to date is a 200-foot portrait of Frida Kahlo in Guadalajara. He is motivated by the public presentation of art and the cultural experiences that come with traveling to create murals. DAC views AI as a tool and is not concerned about its impact on his work, focusing instead on evolving his brand. He is most proud of becoming an artist, overcoming mental barriers to pursue something he loves.
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