Jakob, congratulations on your first solo exhibition with us here at RAINBOW STUDIOS. How do you feel?

I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity and proud to now be able to write on my CV that my first ever solo exhibition took place on the other side of the world. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be recognised and received so warmly by so many Australians. It’s been deeply inspiring and motivating, and it’s truly confirmed to me that I must be doing something right.

What Does Tarzan Never Say? created a heartwarming feeling in our Darlinghurst showroom. Can you explain what this exhibition is about?

I approached the exhibition with the intention of showing who I am, and I wanted that to be felt through the works themselves. I tried to tell my story by painting objects, moments, and glimpses from my childhood, which has been a huge foundation for who I am and how I work today.

One of the first things I think about when I look back on my childhood is a game I used to play with my dad and his best friend called “What does Tarzan never say?” The game involved shaking hands, and one person would squeeze as hard as they could. If the other said “ouch” or anything like that, well then you weren’t Tarzan. And of course, as a kid, you always wanted to be Tarzan.


What do you have planned for your art for the rest of the year?

Right now, the most important thing for me isn’t big shows or major gallery collaborations. I’m young, I'm in no rush. Even though I currently have group shows in both Australia and Hamburg, and I’m in talks with some exclusive galleries in Dubai and London, my main focus is simply to get better at painting every single day. It’s a long process, and I believe if you just keep doing what you love most, the good things will follow. Just like this collaboration with Rainbow Studios.

What do you love most about being an artist?

Freedom. 100%. The freedom to do exactly what I want, when I want. It gives me a kind of calm when I paint, knowing that if I get an idea or an urge to paint, I can head to the studio at 2 AM without any guilt about waking up early the next day. That freedom gives me the space to perfect my techniques and craft and I wouldn’t trade that for money or anything else.

Jakob, tell us a little more about yourself and your art journey.
It’s a long story, so here’s the short version. My name is Jakob Juul, I’m from Aarhus, Denmark, and I’m 29 years old. Growing up, my dream was to become a professional football player and honestly, I was pretty close during my teenage years.

Six years ago, during a very dark personal period, I was deeply inspired by a Danish artist named Martin Bracher. That inspiration led me to buy a small canvas and some paint and from that moment on, I fell in love with what painting and art did for me mentally. It brought me a calm I couldn’t find anywhere else. Painting became a way to block out the world and step into a universe where negative thoughts and energy simply didn’t exist.

I just kept painting. Two years ago, I decided to show my work to friends and acquaintances and since then, things have really taken off. I was never that interested in art as a subject, but looking back, I’ve always had a creative side. I used to draw wild characters with swords and blood in my school notebooks when I was bored in class. That universe was pretty cool and unique, and I wanted to try to recreate it in my art today. What you see in my work today is a strange universe but one I can fully identify with. It feels 100% mine, and I think that’s part of what makes it unique.

So life changed quickly from chasing a football career to suddenly painting in Australia at my first major solo exhibition.


What did you like about Australia?

The coffee. Honestly, your coffee is insanely good and cheap compared to Denmark! But also the people and the climate. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere with such a great mentality, work ethic, and kindness. And of course, the sun and warmth don’t hurt either. :)

If you could describe the RAINBOW STUDIOS community in three words, what would they be?

Professional, innovative and welcoming.