interview

PERFORMANCE ART + INTERVIEW

by Luke Rudman

We spoke with South African artist Luke Rudman aka @pseudellusion about the plastic pollution crisis, being stared at in public and live transformation. Enjoy!

You are currently working with Green Peace Africa on a project. Can you share anything about that collaboration and how it came to be?

I began exploring using plastic pollution to create ‘eco-art’ earlier this year. Performance art has often been used throughout history as an artistic medium that aims to challenge/question a society or provide commentary and so it made complete sense to use my own performance art to raise awareness about the plastic pollution crisis. In fact I had just presented a seminar at Nelson Mandela University on “Performance art against plastic pollution” when Green Peace Africa contacted me, asking if they could share my work and through further conversations with representatives of Green Peace Africa the collaborative project was born. I’ve been working on a body of new, unseen artworks to be released soon on both Green Peace’s platforms and my own. This project has been my most exciting to date and it feels amazing to be able to marry my love of art and the Earth in my work.

I’ve seen you mention that you would like to keep pushing yourself with your artwork in the future. What does that mean to you? Bigger pieces, bigger collabs, uncomfortable themes, different mediums, more performances, etc.?

All of the above. One of the reasons I am so drawn to performance art is that it is, and always has been, an experimental/free art form. I use performance art because of how undefined the field is, there is so much more for me to explore and so much more that I intend to do. But I have few definite long-term visions for my work. I want the freedom to be able to follow the path as it reveals itself to me and travel through the doors as they open, rather than have my heart set on a particular door that may never open.

 
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I’m a big fan of the YouTube series Transformations with James St. James. Would you ever want to do something like that or a live transformation and what would you do?

Definitely. In fact many of my live performances involve painting myself ‘live’ as part of the ‘performance’. I love the transformative process and being able to show the transformative side of my art to an audience is absolutely one of the most exhilarating parts of what I do. There is so much symbolism and depth that can be found within the process of transformation.

 
 

When do you feel most confident? Most vulnerable?

I feel my most confident and my most vulnerable when I am performing as my artworks. It’s incredibly vulnerable and exposing to stand in front of an audience, presenting yourself as something to be stared at and analysed. I don’t think I will ever be completely comfortable in that space, at least I hope not. I think there is a certain strength to be found in publicly displaying your own vulnerability like that. In another sense I am most confident when I am performing as my art. It is what I am most well-versed in and most proud of. It really is quite a strange double-edged sword of sorts…

 
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What else do you have going on in 2019/2020 and how can everyone support your art?

I am releasing my collaboration with Green Peace on August the 28th 2019 to September 7th on the @greenpeaceafrica Instagram page, be sure to check that out. I have something in the works to be released later in the year too but I until the release dates are finalised be sure to keep an eye on my pages for more updates!

HAND EMBROIDERY

by Hooop There It Is

We interviewed Austin artist Lucy Orich about empowering women, Lizzo and nudes from strangers. Enjoy!

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How would you describe your current work? Have you ever explored other styles/mediums of art?

I would describe my work as cheeky hand embroidery that celebrates and empowers women of all shapes and sizes. As an artist, you're always branching out to learn new crafts and techniques. I've dabbled in wood burning, knitting, calligraphy, etc. but embroidery is what stuck. Even under the umbrella of needlepoint, I've done cross stitch as well as expanding my embroidery skills to try sewing clothing, hats, pins, and patches. It's always about exploring new ways to be an artist and incorporate your art within new mediums.

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I see you take custom orders, who would be your dream client? What would they want?

Oh great question! I think sewing an item of clothing for a music artist I admired would be my dream custom order. I would love to make a denim jacket for Julian Casablancas, Alex Turner, Angel Olson, Jack White, or Beck! I would also love to sew a piece of clothing for someone that represents full figured women and body positivity like Lizzo.

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Who/What inspires your work currently?

I'm always inspired by women who embody confidence, body positivity and self love at any size. Whether that's public figures like Lizzo or Ashley Graham, or someone from a facebook group or instagram that has sent me a photo of themselves feeling confident and beautiful. I've received many nudes from trusting strangers and that trust inspires me to make them feel beautiful and represented.

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Do you feel like the embroidery community is a close-knit group or do you feel like it’s every woman for herself?

I absolutely love the embroidery community, it's incredibly supportive! Embroidery is so different from person to person that you can be fully supportive without feeling like someone else's success is your failure. Some people (it's not just women!) sew dog portraits, others do landscapes, plants, cross stitch, funny sayings; no two people have the same sewing style. There's only one other embroidery artist that has overlapped on a lot of the designs I've also sewn and we actually developed a beautiful (virtual) friendship bonding over our similar aesthetic. And even then, they'll send me photos of designs they think I should do and I'll post about their work via instagram. We also have "Follow Fridays" where embroidery artists will post about fellow artists and show support. When I was starting out I was able to message other artists for advice and now it's come full circle where budding embroidery artists message me with questions and showing me their work. I love getting to pay that support forward and be in a community where everyone wants everyone else to succeed.

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What do you have going on in 2019?

2019 has been a great year for my embroidery! I recently moved from LA to Austin and I've been working on growing my business in this new city. I recently was a vendor at the CraftHer Market put on by Boss Babes, I had an Anthropologie pop up and I'm in the works for a second one, and I was a vendor during SXSW. I'm also leaning a lot towards making more clothing and jackets (I've got to wait for the Texas heat to die down) and building my inventory to prepare for the holiday season!

DIGITAL ART + INTERVIEW

by Young.Gun.Motion

Toronto artist Joe Pascale talked to us about his floppy animations, old horror movies and Jurassic Park pinball. Click here to see all of the incredible animations on his Instagram.

Enjoy!

How would you describe your current work? Have you ever explored other styles/mediums of art?

Floppy! My current work is experimental in the sense that for me, the learning process has been just as valuable as the final output. I’ve been pushing myself to learn new software (mainly Houdini), which has been extremely challenging. So a lot of the stuff you’ll see on my Instagram is mostly the result of me experimenting with different processes within the software, which usually turns into bloated characters dancing awkwardly in city streets. At the end of the day, if people check out my IG and have a good chuckle, I’d consider that mission accomplished.

I used to draw a ton when I was younger. Mostly images of deformed creepoids, which I guess is where a lot of my 3D work comes from. I really miss it but to be honest, I just don’t have the time to do both (illustration & animation).

If you weren’t an artist, what job do you think you would have?

Professional pinball player. I go to a pinball bar here in Toronto at least once a week and have a machine of my own (Jurassic Park). I find it very relaxing (when I’m not stressing about ball drains). I could play pinball for hours. I’m not that great at it, but I could still play if for hours.

Who/What inspires your work currently?

My favourite artist of the last couple of years has to be Sarah Sitkin. Her sculptures are so incredibly raw and full of flesh. On the 3D animation end of things, I find joy in the work of Erik Ferguson, Redhoot and Smearballs, to name a few. But I’m actually most interested in Illustration. I found a guy named Whoisnemos on Instagram recently and I can’t get enough. There’s just something so sad and beautiful about his characters that I love.

Some honourable mentions would be Nychos, Killian Eng, & Nicolas Rossius.

What are your favorite things to watch or search for on YouTube/Reddit/TV/Movies...?

In all honesty, I only use YT to stream music mixes while I’m working. I’m really into synth wave right now because it’s oddly nostalgic and also keeps me awake when I’m working late. And I have no clue how Reddit (or Twitter) work, so I stay away. If I’m looking for inspiration it will usually come from Instagram or my Vimeo feed. I follow a bunch of motion graphic channels and am constantly blown away by the amazing work that comes out every day.

As for films, I’m a kid of the 80-90’s so I have a soft spot for old horror movies as well as Tim Burton stuff (Beetlejuice, Batman + Batman Returns). I also just really like trash movies like Bodymelt, Society, Street Trash, Re-Animator… basically anything that involves skin melting or bodies being mutilated in a goofy way. It’s funny, as someone who works primarily in animation and VFX, I’m such a sucker for practical effects.

What do you have going on in 2019?

My wife and I just had a baby girl on March 10, so I’m dadding out pretty hard right now. It’s the biggest project of my life thus far and I’m learning new things every day. So that’s a pretty big 2019 thing.

On the animation front, I have some ideas for a series of shorts for Instagram that I’m working on. I’ve also been approached to work on some music videos so we’ll see what sticks. I really want to spend this year working on personal projects and just learning a bunch of new software. So much to do, so little time….

Music Credits: Denzel Curry, BadBadNotGood, Run The Jewels

OP FIGURATIVE ART + INTERVIEW

by Alex Garant

Toronto artist Alex Garant was cool enough to talk to us about 2019 shows, careers past and finding her voice. Enjoy!

How would you describe your current work? Have you ever explored other styles/mediums of art?

I was in art school over 15 years ago. I experienced pretty much all mediums, acrylic, gouache, mixed media, even 3D mediums like clay and metal. But oils have always been the medium that made me happy or made me feel satisfied. As per what I call OP figurative art, it is a style I developed over the years. For a long time, I was painting more conventional and traditional portraits but I was still on my quest to find my own voice. Once I was able to visually conceptualize what was my deepest inspirations, I completely devoted myself to it. 

Did you want to be an artist growing up? If not, what did you want to be?

Art was always part of my life, my mother is an artist and writer, and we spent a lot of time painting and drawing when I was a child. But I did get lost for a few years and tried a few different careers, nanny, flight attendant, makeup artist, marketing, sales executive. I did it all! hahaha but there is never been a morning I didn't wake up thinking I wanted to be an artist.

Who/What inspires your work currently?

I try to shield myself from external inspiration, I do not want to be influenced by other artists on social media or wherever. I try to focus on internal elements as inspiration such as mood, colours I like, a texture I appreciate, etc.

What are your favorite things to watch or search for on Youtube/Reddit/TV/Movies…?

OOhh I haven’t had cable in 14 years so I am a huge Netflix fan. I tend to binge on Bob Ross, The Office, Criminal Minds, Black List and cooking shows. 

What do you have going on in 2019?

So much!
UPCOMING  SHOWS

January, University of Texas, Rubin Center for the Visual Arts

Feb 9- March 3, 2019 Solo Show, BeinArt Gallery 

Feb 21-24, The Artist Project, Toronto

April, 8th Annual Supersonic Invitational, Hashimoto Gallery, San Francisco

April, Winderkin, WxW Gallery, www.wowxwow.com

June, Feature show, ArchEnemy Arts Gallery, Philadelphia

June, Painting the Figure Now 2, Wausau Museum Of Contemporary Art

June, Thinkspace presents 12x12 Showcase, Heron Arts, San Francisco

July, Thinkspace presents 12x12 Showcase, Red Truck, New Orleans

Sept, Thinkspace presents 12x12 Showcase, Vertical Gallery, Chicago

October 31st, Duo Exhibit, Talon Gallery, Portland, Oregon

November 9th, Esprit de Corps  Group Show, Haven x Modern Eden 

Dec, Thinkspace presents 12x12 Showcase, SCOPE Miami

Feb 2020, Feature Show, Haven, New York

Painting + Interview

Omar Nors Yakine

Learn more about this talented Italian artist in our interview below and purchase his work here.

How would you describe your work?

My works are often the result of the analysis of small things that happen to me during the day. All that I see, in some way, influences my works.

Which creative medium do you prefer?

I really like to paint using oil color, although, in this period I'm often using watercolors or mixed media.

Who are your favorite artists?

I have too many favorite artists, very different from each other. 

Antonio Ligabue, Giovanni Boldini, Vincent Van Gogh, Jan Vermeer and Caravaggio are those who influence me most in this period.

What motivates you?

When someone tells me that my works touches them, this is what motivates me most. The possibility to be able to create something that will touch someone.

What’s next?

Once I've finished the one sketch a day project (I hope to make 365 of them), I would like to collect all my works in a book that tells the effects that this experience has had on me.

#GOLDBLESS.com

Interview By Elisa Williams

Illustration + Interview

 Jenny Liz Rome

Read our interview with Jenny below and check out prints of her work here.

How would you describe your work? 

My work is mainly revolved around an obsession with fashion and often touches on the bond between women and animal. It ranges from surreal to realistic in form and subject. I try to keep it light, visually pleasing, with a touch of whimsy. Many of my girls are sort of satirical portraits of an over the top vogue culture. 

Which creative mediums do you prefer? 

I'm a mixed media junky. It's an addiction. Paints, pencils , cameras , cut outs , computers , papers , knives , scanners , scissors , glue. Layers upon layers of mediums to make one image. 

Who are your favorite artists? 

I have a pretty long list. Gabriel Moreno , Ruben Ireland , Emma Leonard , Kelly Smith , Kaitlin Beckett , Fab Ciarlo , Keith P Rein , and my friends Olivia Cataford , Jenna Faye Powell , and Adelle Taylor. The list goes on and on.

What motivates you? 

Seeing my work on someones wall. That's a giant thrill. I get a real kick out of people posting a photo of my work in their home. Something I made hanging over a families fireplace in Norway, or in someones bedroom in France. I get chills.

What's next? 

I've started actually hand crafting clothes , to correspond with my illustrations. It's way harder then I ever imagined. I've found a whole new obsession in it. I hope to one day have a tiny fashion line. 

JennyLizRome.com

Interview by Elisa Williams