Fvckrender
The man behind fvckrender has seen it all: a near-death moment, paralysis and depression. Through 3D he created a new brave world that gave him structure and a very individual signature to his genius handcraft. He already worked for some of the biggest gigs in pop culture. Time to ask this virtual personality about his analogue ways …
Bonjour Frédéric aka fvckrender, when I look at your work, I enter a void. A dystopian void of perfection beautifully put together. Where does virtual reality begin and where does it end for you - how did you start fvckrender?
Thank you for the kind words. Why I really got into 3D has a bit more tragic background: I had a severe bike accident that left my complete left side numb from face to toe. I couldn’t practice cycling anymore, which was a pretty big part of my life back then. I had two choices: either go full-on depressed and do nothing - or get get my brain active instead.
So I chose to stimulate my brain and got extremely passionate about 3D work. This is how fvckrender started. I was working at a restaurant in Montreal, the work was really painful for my body and therefore emotionally draining. What kept me going was to learn how to do 3D by myself - I would bring my computer to work and just sit at the bar figuring out 3D stuff: before and after EVERY shift. That’s how determined I was - and I still am.
That is inspiring and very „higher self“ of you. We often see strong motives on your instagram that could be interpreted as either biblical or extremely yogi: Snakes, flowers and crystals. Has that something to do with a virtual reinterpretation of what has been called ‚paradise‘ in many religious mediums (bible, quran, yogi, the nirwana) ?
Mmmm, hard to say. I’m not religious at all, but I’d like to think that there is something bigger than us out there. At least, I hope there is. My motives are just elements that I find interesting. Snake skin, for example, is fun to play around because it has a bouncy texture and reflects light really well. I love working around elements that reflect light as much as possible. But there is nothing too profound in my art. I prefer let the audience think what they want instead of giving them no freedom.
You are a self-taught artist: do you think your work wouldn’t have had this very individual approach if you would have gone to animation school?
That is for sure, BUT if I had ever gone to art school at some point I would have quit real quick anyway. Since my early age I wasn’t interested in school, so I quit when I was 17 years old, without any degree in the pocket. I’m reconsidering going back, but just as a free student to learn about finance.
Your work has something magnetic and capturing - some people even say: hallucinating and trippy. Not recommended for people with psychosis or having experienced a bad trip. How does your brain render all of that strong visuals of yours?
That’s funny. I just get inspired a lot. To me my art is all about peacefulness.
Rendering must be consuming most of your time everyday. What does the daily routine in fvckrenders aka Frédérics life look like?
I have a pretty strict morning routine, where I wake up at 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m.
I do that every day. Then I get myself a glass of water, it’s like a ritual for me. Until 9 a.m. you will find me checking out the stock market, whilst working on the inquiries of my clients. After that I take my first break where I go on a big walk on the beach with my dog.
Then I’ll keep on working till 2 in the afternoon, having worked out a schedule for my meals as well: you see that I’m a very structured guy. Finally I start all my render and go off enjoying the rest of my day without touching my computer anymore.
And you do all of that in Montreal, where it is snowy and freezing cold 70% of the time?
Yeah, fuck that. I just quit Montreal to live in Vancouver. I couldn’t deal with the snow. I love the smell and the looks of freshly fallen snow, but when it turns brown at some point my mood turns into depression mode as well. I’m more a tropical kind of guy. I need that warm weather … and those virtual snakes around me.
courtesy FVCKRENDER
interview FRANCIS SALVATOR
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