lunedì 16 febbraio 2009

Interview with Aaron Martin






q)Please introduce yourself.


a)Hello my names Aaron Martin, I go by the artist Angry Woebots or Gruesome Smiles.


q)Where do you live and work?


a)I represent Hawaii but now based out of Los Angeles CA.


q)How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?


a)Vicious and Huggable.


q)How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?


a)I grew up drawing, I was the dude in class that never did his class work I drew all day. My grandfather, mother and father were all artist. So I pretty much rocked art all my life, but I never expected it to become my career.


q)What are your favorite art materials and why?


a)I like working with found materials and building stuff, but I really love painting with acrylic and aerosol paint, I really want to learn how to paint with oils.


q)What/who influences you most?


a)Usually other artist’s works, if I meet them and they are cool as hell they inspire me even more. I guess you can say meeting other artist and seeing how they work.


q)Describe a typical day of art making for you.


a)Getting up around 8am have some breakfast, jump on my mac check my emails, check my lists of commissions and shows make sure deadlines are meant, jump into some paint and music for a few hours, lunch time, jump back in the internet for an hour maybe some xbox360, finish painting. Meet with my girlfriend make some dinner and lax out for the rest of the evening. If I want to work some more I’ll wait til shes asleep then jump back into painting.


q)Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?


a)I just want to travel, and make a solid foundation so I can continue living life through art. I wanna do shows, rock live art possibly everywhere.


q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?


a)I dig the works of Craola Simkins, Andy Howell, David Choe, all of The Barnstormers, Ashley Wood to name a few. At one point of my career I actually got to either chill, paint or do a show with them. Good vibes makes for great art. I like that artists have been meshing up with the vinyl toy industry, I love vinyl toys and have been since Futura put out the first point man figure, so the two arts pull me in to continue creating cool art.


q)How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?


a)It takes me about a week to finish a solid piece unless I have to rush since I usually paint re-occuring themes of a Panda bear it can take one night to paint one panda piece.


q)Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?


a)I love my works I also enjoy releasing them out.


q)Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?


a)Music is very important to me, I love old Dusty Breaks, I listen to a lot of 90’s Hiphop and a lot of soul.

I also like Deep House, rock, Jazz. I listen to a bunch of stuff.


q)Books?


a)I collect art books, I love Scrawl 1 & 2. I wish I had more time to read, the last book I read was Rebel Radio diary by Rupert Mould.


q)What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?


a)When you feel it rock out. I like creating things during an accident like doodling and something comes up like an idea, also I get a lot more creative when a show is revolving around a specific theme makes me think harder and makes me think about what other artist is going to come up with knowing their style and how sick the other persons piece might look like inspires me to come up with something close as, good or sicker. Not meaning like a competition but if I love someone else’s work I tend to try to paint a piece just as good because I wanna be just as good as the person that inspires me.


q)What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?


a)I love making music with my brother and my homie’s. I also like to emcee.

My other love is film I love creating videos and working on cinematography projects, music videos or being part of a movie production.


q)Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?


a)Yes I have a show coming up at “Intoxicated Demons” in Berlin with Morten Anderson, ARO and HYP.

I’ve never been outside the US so it’s exciting for me to rock a show in Europe. A lot of my inspiration comes from European artist I think there are tons of innovations going on there.


q)Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you prefer?


a)I represent Honolulu Hawaii, but have recently based myself out of Los Angeles CA. USA. So a lot of my shows has been on the west coast of the United States I frequent the shows in Gallery 1988, Ronin Gallery, Munky King LA. I’m working on a couple shows in San Francisco I just rocked a Mural at The Honolulu Contemporary Art Museum which was an honor. I’m also part of Andy Howells Artsprojekt network which has tons of artist involved. I was just Published in Contrast Magazine (http://contrastmagazine.com/) , had pass features in Hi-Fructose, and Clutter magazine. You can find me here on the net (http://artsprojekt.com/) on artsprojekt go into artist and look my name up, you can find products ranging from Skatedecks, t-shirts, pins and coffee mugs, basically a place for people who want to pick up easy to find Woebots products. You can also go here (http://silentstagegallery.com/) here you can find my limited edition art prints and originals, my manager runs the site so if you want to get original art works custom prints go to Silent Stage Gallery. So lastly if you wanna check out what I been up to you can check out my blog here (http://armyofsnipers.com/) my personal blog, I post videos, new artworks and travels can be seen here. I also have a show planned for June in New Zealand more info to come, hopefully I could rock a show in Vienna and Tokyo well anywhere in Europe and Japan.


q)Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.


a)As for movies make a lists of your favorites with no specific number or order?

Baraka, Old boy, Star Wars Trilogy, Chung King Express, Crouching tiger hidden Dragon, City of God, Amelie, Style Wars, Bboy Planet, Bomb it, Goonies, Forest Gump, 40 year old virgin any movies connected to Seth Rogen, LA Haine, Akira, Samurai showdown, Usual Suspects, Lock Stock 2 smoking barrels, Hi fidelity, whoa damn way to many to answer hahah but that was a few of my favourites off the top of my head in 2 minutes.


q)Any advice for aspiring artists?


a)Fuck what people say, keep creating and never think you’re the best out there, there is always someone out there working harder then you so keep rockin. Keep a cool head arrogance makes art ugly no one wants to own art from a asshole.


q)Where can we see more of your work online?


a) http://silentstagegallery.com/

http://armyofsnipers.com/

http://www.artsprojekt.com/artists


mercoledì 11 febbraio 2009

Interview with Valery Sury





q)Please introduce yourself.

a)I’m a french artist, painter, sculptor and illustrator. I’m graduated from Montpellier Fine Arts School with complementary courses from Nantes Fine Arts School in France. During the Itineraires d'artistes Forum, organized by the Aquitaine Regional Council my sketchbook is awarded a special distinction by the Jury. At the same occasion The Rotary Club buys a portfolio comprised of illustrations, prints and silkscreens.
In 2000 I had been chosen to be part of an artist residency at Lakeside Studios in Michigan. My work is further shown in full at the Lakeside Gallery. Some of these works taken from this exhibit plus some new artworks are put together a year later in a joint exhibit specially organized for the Mars Gallery in Chicago.

q)Where do you live and work?


a)I lives and works in Montreal where I promotes the legendary french publisher of the international underground The Dernier Cri.


q)How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?


a)My paintings and papier mâchè 3 D carry the intensity linked with Art Brut through complex compositions and meticulous applications of textures and colors. My acrylic paintings sometimes borrow the idea of ex-voto paintings using contemporary pop iconography taken for the most part from American culture. My art work shows a strong influence from the cartoonesque world of the Asian Manga, Mexican popular art and global subcultures. It is tempting to describe my art books as artsy and edgy comics. The result is challenging visuals, at times almost childish, as well as a mix of French and English views giving a unique perspective on the American experience.


q)How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?


a)I’am french and I grew up in The Douanier Rousseau’s city. Laval is very close to Robert Tatin ‘s muséum. At seventeen I went to Gaston Chaissac’s exhibition, it was a such amazing art with intense feeling of freedom than I decided I would make the same thing !


q)What are your favorite art materials and why?


a)Acrylic medum is the fast way to paint !
Working in paper maché sculptures let me create my forms quickly. Recycled supports are inspiring me and I feels confortable with that medum.1 customizes it and it is really fun ! Right now I ‘am painting on canvas because most of the poeple likes clean and serious support ! Black pencil to draw my sketches

q)What/who influences you most?


a)Most of the time absurd and illogic’s situations are influencing me for my sketch books….popular art, primitive art, art brut for my paintings…


q)Describe a typical day of art making for you.


a)I’m usually working for new project with dead line. Then I’m spending all day and all night in my studio with my favorite France Culture’s radio station.


q)Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?


a)I would love to create a monumentale sculpture in an american big city.


q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?


a)Artist from providence (USA), Paper Rad, Kramers’ergot édition, Orlan , Messager, Buenaventura Press, Outsider art, artist from Le Dernier Cri, Asian Manga, contemporary underground US scene ….


q)How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?


a) Usually one month for a painting
Two weeks for a 3 D Several months for a silkscreen art book

q)Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?


a)I’m emotionally attached to them after one month of intimity ! But it’s really cool when my paintings be a success. It’s an honor to sell it !And it’s my job anyway !


q)Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?


a)Since i’am young I ‘m always been involving in music. 1 was singer in a riot band called The Trottinettes.1997 till 2003, I was manager of the legendary independant music club Zoobizarre in Bordeaux, France. My underground club was dedicating to alternative art in alls forms. Current line-ups was including electronic music, experimental music, independent rock, underground hip-hop, video art and performance.
Right now really good shows was Fucked Up, canadian punk hard core, The Death Set. My favorite music right now is Art Brut and Silverfish….OH! and I went to igloo fest last week and I discovered a really cool dj called Adam freeland from UK !
q)Books?


a)All art books, Hundertwasser,Picasso, Arts Martials book, Underground comic books, my recent book are Calamity Janes « letters to her daughter « , Picasso by Gala, Louis Soutter, Boston buildings….


q)What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?


a)Art must be not serious but serious, funny, extrême, beautiful, awesome, subversif , disturbing , naive and brut.


q)What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?


a)Networking, flee market, collected artist pieces, shopping, playing with my son’s Leon and creating with him….. his drawings are fascinating he is really good ! I like to pratise Tai-chi in my health club . Climbing mountain with my sister.


q)Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?


a)Mars to april 2009, Art auction live at Mountain Lake PBS television + group exhibition in Plattsburg
April 2009 in Boston, I registrated to participate for a Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts at Transcultural exchange May 2009 Toronto Comic Art Festival June 2009, solo exhibition at the Casa del popolo in Montreal : I would be the featured artist for the Suoni per y Popolo Music Festival. I will be showing my new works called Art Kills Texas: Comprised of 16 pieces, paintings and papier mâché sculptures, these artworks were greatly inspired by my trip at the 2005 South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas. Back home in MontréaI I used my sketches from the festival to create an art book of artsy and edgy comics SXSW. From this art book emerged 90 cm x 90 cm paintings and meduim size sculptures. 2010, solo exhibition at Wilder & Davis gallery ( Montreal)

q)Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you prefer?


a)I’am following Montreal contemporary art scene.
Best 2008 Montreal exhibitions : Yves Laroche gallery HQgalerie ( Montreal) 106U Gallery Sophie Calle exhibition « PRENEZ SOIN DE VOUS ! » at DHC-ART « MUSIC AND DANSE IN Andy Warhol ‘s WORKS » at Museum of Fine Arts SYMPATY FOR THE DEVIL: Art & Rock’n roll since 1967 at MAC Yves St Laurent’s exhibition Best art magazine : Kramer’s Ergot Buenaventura press Raw vision Hopital Brut from Le Dernier Cri

q)Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.


a)How do you feel when you don’t have inspiration ?
Very frustrated .

q)Any advice for aspiring artists?


a)Do It Yourself !


q)Where can we see more of your work online ?


a) http://valeriesury.com


http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriesury/


http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1353280357&ref=profile