Hey Restless readers, welcome to the new segment, Restless Pro-Files, which brings you interviews with practicing industry professionals. To kick it off we speak to Gimiks Born, a Brisbane based illustrator and designer who was recently here in Adelaide. Enjoy!
Could I ask to share a little bit about yourself and why you're down in Adelaide at the moment?
Yo what's up!. Well basically I'm a Brisbane based illustrator/designer with a healthy love of graffiti. I'm predominantly self taught from an artistic sense but I studied graphic design which I now practice full time. I'm also co-founder/creative director of "Picture Wheel Company" as well as one of the founding members of "The Bay", which is a skateboarding collective with roots in the Southside of Brisbane. So yeah that's about it, I practise art and I like to skate. I'm down in Adelaide at the minute catching up with the CH and GM fam aswell as attending a show that Jimmy Jam Fingers is curating at Magazine gallery this weekend entitled "Indelible". I was stoked to be asked to be a part of this show as the line up of artists is bananas! Also while I'm here I think I'll be partaking in a Ironlak sponsored wall of some description too....it's a mad busy trip but they always are when I'm down here in ADL ha!
What attracted you to illustration and graffiti?
Just a pure love of comics, being creative and drawing characters I think is what really enticed me to illustration. When I was young I use to read and collect heaps of comics, collect cards, you know that sort of ish, I watched plenty of cartoons too so I think that definitely inspired me to draw a lot. I always use to draw whenever and wherever I was, always practising, trying to emulate the comic artists I looked up too. I didn't start writing graffiti though until 2004, around the same time I started traditional painting properly too. From early school days graffiti however was something I looked up too and admired, the pure style and funk of the movement was a visual feast for the eyes. Even though I was inspired by graffiti I never actually thought of trying proper pieces until later in the game, I was always preoccupied with either skating or sketching to really have time to pick up a can. Now though it's an essential part of my own personal style and skill set development, it helps with everything. From digital art and graphic design all the way to high brow fine art and omelette making!
What artists and people have influenced you work and how?
Wow there is heaps of artists that I look up to and that give me an influential kick up the arse no doubt! There is just sooo many talented people out there. Some of my close friends who are artists influence and inspire me too. Artists whose artwork is just soo dam good and I totally admire, then you get those freaks that are stupidly next level good that they make you want to vomit!! There is really too many to list but heads that come to mind are Nic Plowman, Alex Louisa, Vans the Omega, Palms, Mystik, Yours, Sofles, Bliggs, Teneille Napoli, Meks, Shida, Kidd Zoom, Kofie One, Dems 333, Globe, Aaron Nagel, Haser, Berst, Greg Craola Simkins, Nate Van Dyke, Jeff Smith, Joe Queseda, all of these people defiantly influence my craft and inspire me to no ends. Also Alphonse Muchas work really intrigues me, such an awesome mix of strong line work and subtle rendering, so good. The great Jim Henson influences me hugely as well, he was and still is a true master of storytelling, someone whom I definitely really look up too.
Could you tell us about some current projects you are working on? Well....currently I'm working on pieces for the upcoming 12X12 show in Melbourne that Beastman curates, 12 artists, 12 works all 12' x 12', will be a dope show. Also working on some small works for Terri @ 19 Karen Art Gallery, Gold Coast. I'm also involved in a laneway painting gig down the Gold Coast too called Street Cube that will be awesome - I'll be painting with Beastman, Jae Copp and Shida too so it will be dope! I'm drawing up a full sleeve tattoo design for my boy Palms that has taken only two years so far - sorry my bad mate haha! Also excited about an upcoming collab I'm doing with a well known musican/artist from Brisbane for Picture Wheels, this will be freakin cool! To finish it off I'm still plugging away at my Bitter Winds graphic novel which is still in early development stages. This project will be a long haul but I know it will be worth it. I've been waiting too long to create my own graphic novel series so hopefully people will be as psyched as me when it drops. Yep, busy huh...
