1 When did you start to make art?
I have always been a doodler and interested in creating things. I started painting walls when I was 15 and did my first work on canvas when I was 18.
2 How did you evolve into a professional artist?
Perseverance! Paint, sketch, think and network every single day.
3 What drove you to make art as a professional vocation?
I’m addicted.
4 Explain your inspiration?
energy, colour, junkyards, DIY ethic, punk, traveling, skate culture, old wood cuts, aboriginal art, unity, countryside, collaboration, bold, crowds, riots, upbeat, flow, graffiti, nature.
5 In what way does your inspiration transform into ideas?
I surround myself amongst the things I like to reflect in my artwork and attempt to recreate the passion and energy.
I carry a sketchbook everywhere I go and they are filled with scrawled ideas and words.
Sometimes inspiration transfers into ideas that are not straight visual reproductions, for example I recently started a project which is a traveling sketchbook collaboration. I selected 50 artists from across the world whom I admire and have worked with in the past and they are each being sent the book one at a time and asked to create a piece on half a page, plus finish off a piece by the previous artist on the page before. It’s a take on the game exquisite corpse. The book has gone out to some great artists so far including Mr Jago, Niko Stumpo and Andy Council. It’s currently in Malaysia with Orkibal Labikro. Once completed we’ve got a gallery interested in exhibiting and publishing it. This idea spawned from the belief of a collective conscious and being able to connect and create with artists whom you have never met or communicated with.
6 From Ideas to production of art – how? And why?
I tend to not pre meditate my work, it is a result of my surroundings and emotions. I’m normally working on several pieces at any one time.
7 Could your ideas be portrayed in any other medium? If so which?
I would like to explore the moving image and interactive flash design. I’ve recently been working in the 3D model world and would like to continue playing around with this.
8 Which artists would you most like to blatantly rip off?
Keith Haring
9 Why is your art made?
I enjoy doing it
10 What does being an artist mean to you?
Developing your own style and using it to express yourself.
11 Are you happy with your reasons for making art? i.e Are there any trade offs that make life hard?
I enjoy every second of it. My struggle to keep progressing and challenging myself are probably the biggest trade offs. I find it hard to turn off, I hope that never becomes a problem.
12 When does your art become successful?When I get positive feedback from an artist I admire.
13 What is art?
A visual reproduction of a persons existence. A photocopy of a feeling.
14 How do you start the process of making work?
I create work from my house or at my studio (shed), both of which are littered with materials and surfaces. As mentioned above my work is rarely pre meditated so it’s just a case of picking up a pen/spraycan/etc and getting to work.
15 Who prices your work? And how is the price decided upon?
I suppose the price is decided by the market.
16 What is your next; move,project,show etc?
I’m off to Barcelona tomorrow for an exhibition and a few live painting shows. I have work in a couple of group shows over the coming months in Hong Kong, Germany and England.
I’m planning a solo show for later in 2009 which includes an installation which I’m very excited about.
17 What are the pros and cons of the art market?
It’s all a bit crazy up at the top isn’t it. I come from a background of creating artwork on the streets, where the balance between talent and fame are a lot fairer and easier to understand. I think that networking and the Internet are helping to readdress the balance, you can now effectively do the job of being artist, curator, promoter and gallery. It’ll be interesting to watch how this will develop over the coming years.
18 Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?
To date: ‘Unconditioned Citizens’, ‘Neon’ and ‘Together’.
19 Any routine in making your artwork? If so what?
I would like to think not, other than taking the lid off of a pen.
20 What has been the biggest break in your career?
When I was at University I spend a lot of my student loan on exhibiting my artwork and designs on clothing at various trade shows and events. Through these I have met some people who are definitely steering me in the right direction.
A canvas of mine was recently included in a sale at Selfridges in London which introduced my work to a lot of people who may not have heard of me previously.
Being asked to design a projection for Fabric Nightclub is another big one, I think more people must have seen that piece than in any of my gallery shows or press features.
21 Who has been the biggest influence on you?
A good friend of mine who creates artwork under the name DBO. We regularly collaborate together on pieces and communicate most days.
Also my girlfriend, she’s very into art herself and gives me good advice.
22 How many artworks have you given away and to whom?
I’ve given away several pieces in trades with fellow artists and other people I admire.
www.kevmunday.com and www.visualtourettes.com
