The notorious ArtRebels logo has a multitude of interpretations that bring fans together the world over. People identify with her. Some say she’s clearly a ninja. Others see a ghost, or a sly intruder sporting a balaclava. Our fans in the Middle East view her as a strong woman veiled in a burka. Regardless of her true identity, she evokes powerful emotions of pride and respect, while uniting people in celebration of nonconformity. We spoke with Artist and Graphic Designer, Mette Geisler Dragelykke, who six years ago designed the ArtRebels logo, to shed a bit of light on the mystery.
What was your inspiration for the design?
I was working on an exhibition with my art group MAM. We were three girls – Maria Torp, Anika Lori and myself, Mette Geisler. We had some pictures of a woman wearing a burka. The images were so ambiguous: rebellious, shy, religious, ninja-esque. I also made a mood board when I was assigned the job of making a logo and a website for ArtRebels. I was definitely inspired by holism and something spiritual.
It’s certainly a well-known logo. How does it make you feel to see it all over the place?
Proud of course! Especially because the company was not established when I made the logo so it was the face of the ArtRebels movement.
What artists do you look up to?
Robert Rauschenberg has always been a huge inspiration for me, he’s a big part of the reason I dived into a career of graphics and screen-prints. There’s also Jean Dubuffet; I love the curiosity and irony he displays having done so much work with small children and the intellectually and physically disabled. His art is very straightforward. Then there’s Tal R who has had the biggest influence on me. His work is so light and so alive.
Who would be an artist who you’d like to see reinterpret the ArtRebels logo?
I think Richard Coleman’s hardcore universe would fit ArtRebels very well. I also love Mathias Malling’s cutouts and frayed motifs, plus he works a lot in black and white. I think it would be so cool if Miss ArtRebels got a helping hand from him! Plus there’s the Swedish artist Bjorn Copeland – I’d like to see him reinterpret the design.
Can you tell us about some of your other projects?
I previously made up one third of the clothing brand Punk Royal and was a partner at I Love CPH. Now I am a Partner and Designer at Family Jewels.
In between different projects I work on various freelance assignments. In 2010 I designed the A/W Hummel by ArtRebels collection, plus I managed a project that ArtRebels did in collaboration with The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts which involved creating huge foil designs to go on the buses for two bus routes.
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Rebel-ish artworks from 2004-2010 by MAM – Maria Torp, Anika Lori and Mette Geisler.
