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3Dom interview

HUCK talks to the Avalaan Familia artist about politics, Edvard Munch and opening up your heart.

Interview Shelley Lee Jones

HUCK: How do you come up with the characters in your painting and drawing?
3Dom: Inspiration for characters comes from years as a kid soaking in colours and shapes on the idiot box. I used to sit in primary school putting eyes on objects, which I still kind of do. Nowadays, they're mostly from song lyrics and metaphors that I manipulate into a digestible character. Sometimes, it's a simple quote that gets me ticking and other times an entire album.

What are the consistent themes, if any, running through all your work?
I think the most consistent theme is just the general consciousness of the world around me. Personally, I'm always conscious about how the media are trying to suck the love out of people and replace it with greed, hate and fear to destroy the human soul - TVs on and curtains drawn style! Deep down, I guess I’m a hippy at heart and just want to spread love and understanding of the human potential and showing awareness of what's hindering it. I’d like to think that at least one person can relate to my characters. Sometimes, just the process of painting in public shows me how many people are all thinking on the same level but there is a lack of communication. So when you put your heart in public, it invites conversation. Whether negative or positive, it gets us talking and realising our similarities as humans.

Do you think art and politics mix well?
Personally, politics doesn't interest me. I feel like it's the movie to a bigger franchise but as it changes the way we live within societies boundaries, I feel its our responsibility to be aware of it. As 'artists', it is our duty to always question and analyse what we're fed. It's up to us to level the score and, if something doesn't sit right deep inside, use it as inspiration to produce artwork that stimulates others analytical behaviour about a subject.

Is provoking thought and change through your art important to you?
Definitely, as I'd hope every other creative person thinks its important too. I understand that sometimes the act of doing is the message, but nowadays I feel a lot of art is redundant. Pretty pictures turn derelict buildings into colourful images and, in doing so, uplift the human spirit. But I feel more can be done to mix aesthetic qualities and hidden messages. I want my art to be like a flower, and the viewer the bee! I am very aware of art that was made for the wrong intentions. As one of my favourite painters, Edvard Munch, quotes, "I do not believe in an art which is not forced into existence by a human being’s desire to open his heart. All art, literature, and music must be born in your heart’s blood. Art is your heart’s blood."

How do you go about finding your canvasses, i.e. shop windows, walls, etc?
A while back, I used to do work on canvas but I felt as though it was a bit clinical and didn't possess the right quality to reflect the images I was doing. So I’ve recently been gathering objects and painting onto those. It's given my work a different feeling. I love that idea of giving something someone's given up on a new life. As for walls, I’m going through a period now where I want my artwork to stay. I’m aware and accept the disposable side to graffiti. Sometimes artwork doesn't last for more than a few hours, if that. But my existential issues are getting the best of me and I’m wanting to leave work in public that will last once I’m gone. I have visions of future generations digging up our walls and wondering about this art form. So I’ve started to look at other processes and mediums within my graffiti. So stay tuned...or not!

Do you ever get in trouble with the authorities over your 'graffiti'?
No comment...P.S. Question authority.