Interview with Johnnie JungleGuts

q)Introduce yourself, name,age, location.

a)I'm Johnnie JungleGuts, I'm 24 years old, and I live in Highland

Park, Los Angeles.

q) Can you describe your path to being an artist? When did you really

get into it?

a) I first started taking art classes in high school because I wanted to

be a comic book writer. Then during my senior year of high school I

did a volunteer project with Dolphins in the Bahamas. The dolphins

were really queer and it was really inspirational for me. They seemed

so free, and I didn't feel so alone as a gay human learning that there

were many other queer animals. I felt like I owed the animals

something for these revelations and my artistic focus shifted to being

about animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

q) Describe your ideals and how they manifest in your work.

a) I'm a proud queer and I'm a conservationist, with my focus being

wildlife. I also know that even if someone doesn't look like you or

talk like you they could still be feeling and thinking the same sort

of things that you're feeling, even when we're talking about other

species. Most of my work features animals in some way but I try to

take this subject matter a step further and make people consider and

appreciate other kinds of living in new ways. Steve Irwin said that

people want to save the things that they love and I make my work under

that creedo. If I can help people love nature they're going to be more

likely to make choices that support our threatened ecosystems. If I

can get people to understand big gay me then they might understand the

gays a little better.

q) Is music a part of your studio time? What do you listen to?

a)My favorite thing to listen to while I work is slowed and throwed

versions of R+B and Diva House tracks.  My favorite song is a chopped

and screwed version of Show Me Love by Robin S. My favorite band is My

Bloody Valentine. My favorite solo artist is Dolly Parton.

q) How would you describe your work to someone?

a)I usually tell people that I make drawings of animals and videos with

animals and I have a radio show where I interview people about

conservation issues. When they ask me what kind of animals I work with

I'll tell them a few and go from there. I mostly like to let the work

speak for itself and I try not to brag too much about petting wolves.

q) Influences?

a)I hate to admit it because I don't like everything she does but I

think that M.I.A. was a huge influence on me because I was obsessed

with her in high school. We're both  multimedia artists who try to be

political and cool at the same time- it's a risky business but I

suppose it's a good model if you want to gain influence for a cause.

AA Bronson is an artist whose influenced me a lot. He's an artist and

a healer and it's often hard to tell when the art begins and the

healing ends. I'd like to simultaneously be an artist and healer as

well, and I see my painting and performance work as part of the same

practice that includes the hands on conservation and care taking work

I've done with animals.

q) Describe your process for creating new work.

a)My painting process sort of revolves around me trying to paint

something, making little mistakes, and then leaving them in because it

actually makes the paintings weirder in these subtle ways. In my video

and performance work I usually try to take something that I'm already

doing in my life and make it weirder. I already sing in the bath tub

but why don't I do it in front of an audience? I'm already in South

America getting groomed by monkeys but what if I was singing while

they were doing it?

q) What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)To get out there in the art world you have to get out there in the art

world. Go to as many art events as possible. But don't forget to

actually make work.

q) What are you really excited about right now?

a)I always look forward to my radio show on Kchung Radio that happens

every Wednesday, at 8:30 pst. You can listen to it online at

kchungradio.org or if you're in Chinatown Los Angeles you can listen

in at 1630 AM.

q) What do you love most about where you live?

a)Being an environmentalist I often feel like some sick secret part of

me wants the human race to fail, and for that reason I have a fetish

for apocalyptic wastelands. Los Angeles is an apocalyptic wasteland.

So I love it!

q) Best way to spend a day off?

a) Hiking or camping though I rarely get the chance to do either.

q) Upcoming shows/ projects?

a) I run a drawing club called  and we're having a show in mid June at

the Concord Gallery in Cypress Park. My band, American Grizzly, is

going to start recording very soon for our first record.

q) Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)Johnniejungleguts.com is the best place to look at my  work. Also,

JohnnieJungleGuts is my video channel on YouTube.

Interview with Viktor Hachmang

q)Introduce yourself, name, age, location.

a)My name is Viktor Hachmang, I'm 23 years old and I'm based in The Hague, The Netherlands.

q)Can you describe your path to being an artist? When did you really get into it?

a)I'm not sure if I see myself as an artist, since I work in the grey area between art, illustration, graphic and product design. But I started out being obsessed by drawing and comics when I was young which gradually grew into a love for graphic design and (more recently) also a strong interest for the rest of the applied arts field.

q)Describe your ideals and how they manifest in your work.

a)I'm not attracted to any ideology, really. I try to avoid political commentary in my work. To me, the most valuable thing about art is the fact that it doesn't have anything to do with "real life", it's the realm of imagination and illusion.

q)Is music a part of your studio time? What do you listen to?

a)Music plays a big role in my creative process. When I'm working I tend to listen to one song continuously, mostly very long winding pieces or post-punk tracks with a lot of repetition. I guess music helps me focus.

q)How would you describe your work to someone?

a)Maximalist and very heavy on patterns.

q)Influences?

a)My main influences are Italian postmodern design from the 80s (Sottsass/Memphis/Alchimia) and 60s Japanese psychedelic art (Tadanori Yokoo/Keiichi Tanaami). But also Pablo Picasso, Hergé, Joost Swarte, Swip Stolk and Yuichi Yokoyama, among many others.

q)Describe your process for creating new work.

a)I'm interested in a lot of different aesthetics and in my work I like to reference famous artworks. So when I'm creating new work I mostly do a lot of research and then combine all these references and styles and try to make it look somewhat cohesive.

q)What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)The internet.

q)What are you really excited about right now?

a)Excited to see what the ceramic plate and textile I designed for Landfill Editions look like printed.

q)What do you love most about where you live?

a)That it's a big but quiet city.

q)Best way to spend a day off?

a)Museum, bookshop or the zoo.

q)Upcoming shows/projects?

a)I'm in a traveling group show called Power Redux together with Michael Willis, Hugh Frost, Øivin Horvei and Espen Friberg. It will be shown in Oslo and London this summer.

q)Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)My website www.viktorhachmang.nl.

Interview with Eric Rosner

q)Introduce yourself, name,age, location.

a)Hello my name is Eric Rosner (44), I'm a New York City Artist. I illustrate the Gilded Age of Manhattan from 1880-1910. I also illustrate flowers and iconic pop art.

q) Can you describe your path to being an artist? When did you really get into it?

a)I've always loved to draw, starting from grade school. I continued drawing much more intensely during college, it was a lot more satisfying to illustrate a hand or soda can then study an accounting class.

q) Describe your ideals and how they manifest in your work.

a)I love the depth of history that New York City offers. There are so many layers and so many different worlds that have been created here: from the trades of the Dutch, the take over by the British, the boldness of the colonists, the massacre of the indigenous people. America was battled for in lower Manhattan, it was also the capital of the US for awhile. The abundance of wealth, the power of the industrial revolution, epic structures soaring towards the sky, women's suffrage movement, labor day, scandals and villainy, the birth of Vaudeville and entertainment and so much more. The shear magnitude of events and people is staggering. Manhattan was the true city of the future and it delivered. I love to get lost in it's embrace.

q) Is music a part of your studio time? What do you listen to?

a)Definitely! I love to be carried away by listening to great tunes. I love an eclectic mix of different genres.

q) How would you describe your work to someone?

a)I try to capture lost historic pieces, freeze them in time. I imagine a street scene or doorway corner or perhaps a store window and conjure up all the events that must have played in front of these areas and these buildings.

q) Influences?

a)Winsor Mccay is my idol. That man is a GOD. I also love Norman Rockwell.

q) Describe your process for creating new work.

a)I search for an interesting photo reference from the Gilded Age 1880-1910. I try to find a epic buildings or street scenes or maybe an iconic object. I illustrate everything on a fine tooth paper pad with an ultra fine ink marker.

I try to build the objects with a structure, create deep shadows that help the 3d aspect. Sometimes it feels magic as if a great spirit guides me along, other times it's pure Butkus and nothing works but when it does work it's a high that you simply can't purchase on the street, simple bliss.

q) What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)I see a lot of stuff that seems to be a rehash of other rehashes. I really think you have to create a fresh approach to get noticed. Maybe your thing is drawing tiny straw mushroom caps, well, then bust it out and make it interesting. You have to get your audience to say "wow". You can't fake good art, either its "wow" or go home.

q) What are you really excited about right now?

a)I love creating illustrations for new media like iPhone and iPad. I have made a few apps and it's a lot of fun. I'm working on a new iPad book now with the new iBooks Author software from Apple.

q) What do you love most about where you live?

a)I live in the epicenter of NYC that has so much history. And it is chaos. I love the fast pace of it.

q) Best way to spend a day off?

a)I love to get a cup of coffee, listen to music on my iPhone and illustrate something.

q) Upcoming shows/ projects?

a)I have several shows coming up. The next one is at a high-end salon/gallery "Midoma" and the following one is on Fab.com

q) Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)www.erosner.com

http://www.erosner.com/product-work/

http://www.erosner.com/blog/

Interview with Libby Black

q)Please tell us your name and where you practice.

a)Libby Black
Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, and Installation

q) Why do you make art?

a)I make art cause I love it. I like to be alone in my studio and take a journey through a painting. It fills a part of me that no one can touch or fill.


q) How do you work ?

a)Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

q) What´s your background?

a)I was born in Toledo Ohio and moved to Plano, Texas when I was in High school.
My mom put me in art classes at the Toledo Art Museum and private lessons when I was in Texas. I have two older brothers. They don't make art.

q) What role does the artist have in society?

a)It seems like a very small one. We have walked out on a limb. To keep making work and trying to survive is a big project in this world.

q) What was a seminal experience for you ?

a)Having a kid with my Partner.

q) Has your practice changed over time ?

a)Yes in the best way. No time is wasted anymore.

q) What art do you most identify with ?

a)Lisa Yuskavage, Nigel Cooke, Manet, Liz Craft, Luc Tuymans, and Philip Guston to name a few.

q) What´s your strongest memory of your childhood ?

a)Driving in Florida with my family when I was younger. We where looking for the guy on the corner selling fake Louis Vuitton Purses. My mom wanted one.

q) What themes do you pursue ?

a)Luxury, Love, Sex, and Lose.

q) Describe a real life experience that inspired you.

a)On the first day of High School in Texas someone had written on the lockers "We're not snobs, we're just better"

q) What jobs have you done other than being an artist ?

a)Teaching. Working in a cafe.

q) What responses have you had to your work ?

a)Love and Hate.

q) What do you dislike about the artworld ?

a)People thinking they are better.

q) What research do you do ?

a)Internet and Fashion magazines.
Lately just looking at my own life.

q) What is your dream project?

a)To keep making work till I die.

q) What´s the best piece of advice you have been given ?

a)Don't do anything for money.

q) What couldn?t you do without?

a)Jeans and nice shoes.

q) What makes you angry?

a)Selfishness.

q) What is your worst quality?

a)Can never make up my mind.

q)…Dogs or Cats ?...

a)Fish

q) Making art is a lot like being on lsd. …Know what I mean ?...

a)Yes

q) What does ? copy? mean to you ?

a)For me it means take it and then take it to the next level!

q) What´s your favorite cuss word ?

a)Mother Fucker!

Interview with CARLOS PAREJA

q)Please tell us your name and where you practice.

a)CARLOS PAREJA, BARCELONA

q) Why do you make art?

a)BECAUSE I'M HYPERACTIVE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. I’M PRONE TO THINK CONTINUOUSLY SO I FEEL THAT I NEED TO DO THINGS TO AVOID NON-SENSE THINKING, ART RELAX ME.

THE OTHER REASON IS THAT MAKING ART PERMITS ME TO KNOW ME, AND MY INTERIOR LIVE, WHEN I TALK TO MYSELF, AND MAKING ART, I’M ALWAYS MAKING THIS.

q) How do you work ?

a)EVERY TIME I HAVE A NEW IDEA I WRITE IT IN MY NOTEBOOK. I DRAW FEW LINES; LATER, IF I’M UNTIL IN LOVE WITH THIS IDEA, I MAKE IT REAL. I USE TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS. SOME OF THEM WERE NOT CREATED FOR ARTIST, I MEAN, RECYCLED MATERIALS. I USE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES, DEPENDING ON THE MOMENT AND WHAT I WANT TO GET.

q) What´s your background?

a)I STUDIED GRAPHIC DESIGN IN ELISAVA (BARCELONA) , ONE YEAR OF FINE ARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY, ( I LEFT IT A YEAR LATER) I HAVE ALSO A MASTER ON AVERTISMENT PHOTOGRAPHY & PRODUCTS.

q) What role does the artist have in society?

a)I THINK THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE PARTICULAR ARTIST, I DO ART JUST FOR ME, I HAVE MY OWN IDEAS AND I DON’T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE NEITHER WILL OR WILL NOT UNDERSTAND. I MAKE ART BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW ME BETTER, TALKING WITH MY INTERIOR VOICES, SOMETIMES I DON’T LIKE TO WORK IN ART, BUT I NEED IT.

q) What was a seminal experience for you ?

a)I THINK THAT TO KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT I MEET IN MY LIFE, THEY ARE EXPERIENCES FOR ME, AND INSPIRE ME TO MAKE ART. SOMETIMES I FORCE MY LIVE, AND MY PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCES. TALKING WITH PEOPLE THAT I DON’T KNOW, OR LOOKING SOMEONE WITH AN OPTIMIST FACE...

q) Has your practice changed over time ?

a)YES, I DON'T LIKE MAKE ALWAYS THE SAME, I NEED STIMULS, AND MAKE DIFFERENT THINGS, TO LEARN, AND TO SORPRISE MY SELF.

q) What art do you most identify with ?

a)I THINK MY ART IS NOT DEFINED YET, BUT I WANT TO DRIVE MY ART TO LOWBROW, I LOVE IT

q) What´s your strongest memory of your childhood ?

a)I THINK THAT I HAVE A BAD MEMORY, AND I DON’T REMEMBER VERY MUCH OF MY CHILDHOOD OR MY LIFE NOW BUT NOW, I’M REMEMBERING THE SCENE OF MY OLDEST BROTHER AND MY, WITH 5 OR 6 YEARS HAVING DINNER ON A WHITE TABLE ON MY FAMILY HOUSE... LOVE MY BROTHER.

q) What themes do you pursue ?

a)REALITY, OBJECTIVITY, SINCERITY, LOVE, MURDER

q) Describe a real life experience that inspired you.

a)TO MEET A SINGULAR PERSON, MY PAINTING TEACHER OF FINE ARTS, LISTENING HIM IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE I’VE NEVER HAD

q) What´s your most embarrassing moment ?

a)WHEN I CHANGE TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. I WAS 16 YEARS , I HAD MISANTHROPY AND I DID'NT WANT TO TALK WITH ANYBODY. I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS AT SCHOOL, I HAD LOTS OF EMBARRASSING MOMENTS BECAUSE I HATE TO BE THERE, AND MY FACE TALKED FOR ME IN CLASS... I ONLY WANT TO LIVE, TO FEEL EXPERIENCES , BUT NOT LEARN THE LIVE HOW THE LIVE OF OTHER PEOPLE WAS... OR LEARN HOW CAN I CALCULATE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN 2 POINTS... IT’S NOT FOR ME...

q) What jobs have you done other than being an artist ?

a)GYM RECEPCIONIST, ARRANGING PRODUCTS IN A SUPERMARKET, ARRANGING PRODUCTS IN A FACTORY, MAKING CROISSANTS, DOOR-KNOCKER, RECORDING DVD's IN AN AUDIOVISUAL STUDY , GRAPHIC DESIGNER , RETOUCHER OF PICS IN A DIARY...

q) What responses have you had to your work ?

a)MOST OF THE PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND NOTHING, NEVER. BECAUSE I DON’T EXPLAIN SO MUCH MY PIECES... BUT SOMETIMES SOMEBODY CONGRATULATES MY WORK, LOTS OF TIMES PEOPLE THAT I DON’T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. THAT’S BEAUTIFUL.

q) What do you dislike about the artworld ?

a)NOTHING, I'M A RESPECTIVE AND OPTIMIST PERSON, I THINK, THAT ARTIST MAKES ART FOR SOME REASON, SOMEONE BECAUSE IT MAKES HIM OR HER HAPPY, SOME OTHERS FOR MONEY, SOMEONE FOR APPEAREANCE SOMEONE FOR SPEND HIS TIME...
I THINK ALL IS POSSIBLE IF YOU DON'T MAKE HURT TO ANYBODY...

q) What research do you do ?

a)I’M TRYING TO REMIX PHOTOS WITH PAINTINGS, I’M LOOKING FOR ATRACTIVE TECHNIC, I’M INVESTIGATING ON THIS

q) What is your dream project?

a)I WANT TO HAVE A GALLERY OF ART, WITH PIECES OF ME AND OTHER ARTISTS, I LOVE AND VALORE SO MUCH THE JOB OF THE OTHERS. RESPECT

q) What´s the best piece of advice you have been given ?

a)I DON’T DO ALWAYS THE SAME BEAUTIFUL THINK YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE... DO ALWAYS DIFFERENT THINKS, THINKS THAT YOU DON’T KNOW NOTHING.. FOR LEARN , FOR INNOVATE “

q) What couldn’t you do without?

a)MAYBE NOW I’VE BEEN DOING THE SAME TYPE OF PHOTOS, OR THE SAME TEXTURE OR PAINTINGS... NOW I LOVE MAKE ALWAYS DIFERENT THINKS... WITH DIFERENT MATERIALS, IN DIFERENT SITUATIONS, WITH DIFERENT PEOPLE... ALGAYS NEW


q) What makes you angry?

a)PEOPLE WHO LOST HIS TIME AND DOESN'T VALORE HIS LIFE, AND ALSO AGRESIVE PEOPLE...

q) What is your worst quality?

a)I HAVE NO MEMORY IN GENERAL, BUT WITH NAMES OF PEOPLE I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM... THEY DON’T KNOW IT BUT THE FIRST MONTH THAT I WAS WORKING IN MY ACTUAL JOB ( PRODUCT AND FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER ) I HAVE A PAPER IN THE DESK WITH THE NAME OF MY WORKING FRIENDS, THEY WERE 10 PEOPLE MORE OR LESS...

q) Dogs or Cats ?

a)BOTH. I DON’T LIKE TO DISCRIMINATE SOMETHING! BLACK OR WHITE? IT’S THE SAME. LOVE

q) Making art is a lot like being on lsd. Know what I mean ?

a)YES, I DON’T TASTE LSD BUT I CAN IMAGINE IT... FOR ME ART IS RELAX AND FEEL MY INTERIOR LIFE... MARIHUANA MAYBE ? :) I DON’T KNOW, BUT YES, IT’S LIKE A DRUG

q) What does “ copy” mean to you ?

a)COPY IN GENERAL IS LEARN, KIDS COPY BOYS, BOYS COPY ADULTS, AND ADULTS COPY BOYS ... COPYING ART IS LOSING YOUR TIME

q) What´s your favorite cuss word ? un “cuss word”

a)HIJO DE PERRA