13 Questions: KAZLAND

Meet KAZLAND.  The U.K.'s answer to the ghosts of the underground Brooklyn art scene, back when it was all grit and spit and bloody lips.  Born and bred in Fleet, Hampshire, he's shown work at The Keystone, The Hart Centre, The West End Centre and Farnham Art.  When he's not arting, you might catch him shredding on stage for FOE (probably wearing leopard print).  Kaz let me ask him 13 questions...

Describe your style in three words.
PRIMAL. CHILDISH. NARRATIVE. 

What’s your process like?
I have to have lots of things to work off, like movies, music, books etc. And I work and re-work until it looks like something I’ve had in my head at one time or another. If that makes sense.
 
What and where would your dream exhibit be?
Either that old subway station from the teenage mutant ninja turtles movies, a huge wooden room built sneakily somewhere.. or Carnegie Hall.

Who's your favorite contemporary artist at the moment? 
Harmony Korine (if he counts).  I find myself constantly inspired by his films.
 
Whose art do you want burn?
Either Damien Hurst or Claire Fontaine’s. 

What’s your favorite article of clothing?
I flicker between lots. Currently it’s a short sleeved, buttonless, collared green sparkly leopard print cardigan.
 
Never leave home without…?
My bag, sunglasses, a camera, a hat and drawing things.
 
If you could only paint with two colors the rest of your life, what would they be?
Boring answer but white and black.

Best movie to art to?
Pulp Fiction or Gummo.

Jack White and Jamie Hince get in a bar fight.  Who wins?
Well I know Jacky White’s got a mean left hook. But there’s a smashing video of Hince in a drunken papp brawl.. I’d say Jack. He’s got big ol’ arms.
 
What was the last thing you drew?
Lot’s of foetuses or foeti in a bears stomach.

Worst thing about being an artist?
I ruin a lot of trousers.. and paint’s expensive.

You mix a drink called the Basquiat.  What’s in it?
Heroin and simple syrup with a lemon twist. (in a funky glass)

 
LIKE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KAZLAND/331306233575267
FOLLOW: http://kazland.tumblr.com/
FLIRT: https://twitter.com/KAZLANDD
BUY: http://kazland.bigcartel.com/

What Would Bowie Do?

I'm really sick of this notion that we have to pick our style and stay in that box.  Fuck that, I wanna change my style with every mood.  Those people inspire me.

Gif via...

RIP Lucien Freud

"I think that the greatest characteristic of genius is, above all, ENERGY"

Learn from your elders kiddies.

+= WU LYF =+

Still can't decide if this is what we desperately need or the product of a calculated marketing machine.  At least the music's good.

Embrace Your Weirdness

John Waters knows what's up.  Stop trying to be cool.

+ FIGHT +

This quote by Ira Glass has been making the rounds, but it's become like a daily affirmation for me, so I wanted to share.  The second pic is some sweet art.  If you know the artist please comment, I want to credit.

This Blog Will Never Be Famous

It is not hard to figure out what people want. It is only a matter of deciding whether or not you are going to give it to them. This blog will never be famous because it is not about street style, runway fashion, or personal sartorial choices. I will not be setting the timer on my camera, posing in a nonchalant way, and post the results, pretending that I am completely unaware of how fabulous I look. I knew what I wanted this blog to be about from the beginning, and I stick by that. Besides, everyone else covers the aforementioned areas so well, any attempt to mimic them would be superfluous.

I try to keep the blah blah blah to a minimum, but sometimes I feel compelled. The following facts are specific to artists (writers, painters, musicians, etc), but are relevant to people of all passions.

FACT 1: The work you feel the most passionate about, have the deepest connection with, will be the most undervalued by the public. Even ignoring the argument that no one could match the depth of feeling you have for your own work, this fact is true because the general public tends to have bad taste. Wait, I take that back. The general public tends to have shallow taste. Hence the proliferation of shiny, lucrative pop music, and the general unawareness of gritty, soul-shattering noise blues (I'm sure it exists, if not, get on that shit).
If you are ever to achieve a level of satisfaction in your work, you MUST come to terms with this fact. Reject the need to feel appreciated by the masses, embrace the support you have from those two people in the back, and in the wake of realizing that you are the only person who gets it, take comfort in your own self awareness.

FACT 2: You may never become famous. I know right? WHAAAAAT??? But more importantly you will never achieve fame (minor or major) for the right reasons. Fame is always a consequence, never an achievement. Unless you're a fame whore with no artistic ideals, in which case, bon voyage. Wait, what are you doing here?

FACT 3: If you want to keep every part of yourself, you can never give them what they want. Whose them? What do they want? Those people over there, and don't give it to them. They'll say, "This is perfect, but it would be even better if you changed it just a little..." I'm not saying never compromise, but if you do, be aware of the pieces of yourself you must break off and give away in the process. Sometimes they are pieces not worth keeping, but usually they are.

FACT 4: Never trust people trying to tell you the facts of life. This is all bullshit, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Some words of wisdom from The Man Himself.

More Son House Advice

À bientôt, RWPF

P.S. This blog is steering towards the direction of self expression rather than 'wear a black tie with a plaid shirt', 'roll up your pants', etc etc. As you may have noticed. Feel free to jump ship or jump aboard. Anchors away, I suppose.

Pulse. Pound. Sink. Drown. Then Keep Running.

DIY GLAMOUR

Glamour is spontaneity.

Glamour is a look on your face that says "Fuck yeah, this is who I am"

Glamour is and will always be lying with your feet up on a couch,
shoes on, shirt unbuttoned.

Glamour is setting the world on fire, literally and figuratively.

Glamour is pretending you don't care
while secretly blowing people's minds.

Glamour is flirting with everyone.

Glamour is five thousand explosions and a supernova.

Glamour is taking off your sunglasses last. (Except in lovemaking)

Glamour is and will always be a black tie, a black suit, and a young face.

Glamour is running through the streets at night.
Get yourself a long coat.

Glamour is above all, an unabashed expression of personal style,
twitchy trigger finger, safety off.

Music "Lone Runner" by Dirty Beaches

Full Screen This

I still miss him.

Serenity Mondays

Brought to you by "Wise Woods" by Colours

Someday I'm gonna pack a Super 8, a tape recorder, 20 reels of film, and a 35 mm, get in a car with a partner in crime and just drive the fucking country. I want to meet people and make art out of them.

+ + + ANALOG DREAMS + + +

It's Okay If No One Gets You

Dash Snow, Artist
1981-2009
****************

Do you ever feel like a Claes Oldenburg sculpture?

I'm In The Right Place The Wrong Time, That's How I Feel Everyday

This post is also called: I Promise I'm Not Lazy, Quite The Contrary, I've Been Too Busy To Post, Let's Stay Friends