World, meet Christa the kick ass artist (no joke)

Hobnobcity: What brought you to where you are at as an artist/makeup artist. (tell me a little about your background)

Christa Wong: As a child I was always drawing, painting, singing and dreaming.  I spent a lot of time in book stores and record stores and would see these images and think, “WOW! People actually look like that?”  It blew my mind, it was so unreal!  My father introduced me to a book entitled Making Faces : By Kevyn Aucoin and that was the beginning of it all.  I just loved the way color could bring life to the face and from that point on, I was hooked.

In the seventh grade, I joined my school’s dance company (where we had to do our own makeup for concerts) and this is when everything started coming together. I figured this was something I could do for a living so when I was 15, I worked in a mall at a glamour shots type of place. There, I received my early training in hair and makeup and even though I had a background in painting and drawing and other various media, it took some time becoming accustomed to applying makeup to another person’s face. I continued to work there throughout high school and after graduation, I applied to only one college. I was accepted, thankfully, and that school happened to be Parsons School of Design.  Makeup got put on hold for me because of school and unfortunately, I was not able to keep up with tuition so I moved back to Hawaii and decided to pursue makeup again.

HNC: You mentioned that not only do you do makeup but as a child you sang, danced and played with different materials as an artist does, how does this affect your makeup application?

CW: Experience working with different media really has affected my makeup application.  No matter what type of art you create or the materials you work with, you’re trying to get a message across, tell a story, or simply express yourself.  While singing and dancing, I’d tell a story through my body and voice.  I’m obsessed with the ability to Transform.  It’s amazing what a little eyeliner, the right hair, and false lashes can do.

HNC: You’ve come a long way, describe some of your road blocks.

CW: Life is a continuous roadblock though honestly, the only roadblock is yourself.  When I would paint or draw, I could never give my pieces away or even had the urge to sell them.  They felt very personal to me and I was selfish although with makeup, I didn’t have that mental block.  I could easily recreate the look over and over again but now, I’m learning the art of letting go.  Why make art if you are gonna keep just for you?  Spread it, share it, learn, & grow.

HNC: For an artist, do you believe that school is important to teach you the fundamentals to excel in this industry?  Why?

CW: School is very important.  No matter what your profession, you have to learn the basics and need some type of direction.  A lot of what I learned was from experience and practice.  Unfortunately at this time, I am unable to continue college but if the opportunity presented itself, I would go back and complete my education.

HNC: You worked hand in hand with Andy South quite a few times, how was it to see your work on television during his project runway season as well as prints for his collection?

CW: It blew my mind because this is what every artist strives for.  My initial reaction was, “Thank God it looks good!”  It’s just nice to know that other people saw it, and if they could appreciate it, that’s just icing on the cake.

HNC: Did you have other opportunities to work on celebrities or upcoming shining stars?

CW: I may have a project coming up soon.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

HNC: What makes your job exciting and what surprises have you encounter along the way?

CW: My job is exciting because I get to work with people and COLOR!  I could have a really crappy day, but as soon as I see that gleaming glitter lipgloss, or dark devil blue, the world is alright again.  A surprise I have encountered on the way is that not everyone is as excited or enthusiastic about makeup as I am but as soon I start doing my thing, they want to take me home with them.  A little scary especially if I just met them.

HNC: Haha, I am one of them. You do such an amazing job. For all the inspired makeup artists’ out there, what are some tips for a great image (print and television)?

CW: The key is to not “over do-it.”  It is easy to get carried away with makeup.  Start off with less product.  The beauty of makeup is the ability to build or add gradually, sort of like oil painting.  Some things do not set right away.  If you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to build on that, or erase it.  With makeup, it’s easy to erase and start over and is very forgiving.  Finding the balance, symmetry, and precision is something that takes time and practice. Lots of practice.  Start now!  To be honest, I’m still learning everyday.  I never want to get too comfortable, I always strive for perfection.  It keeps me balanced and grounded.  I’m not gonna lie, you are gonna fail a couple of times till you get it right.  Learn from your mistakes and try to not to repeat them.

HNC: As an artist, sometimes there are no directions given, how do you create these amazing color scheme pallets and on average?

CW: I always try to prep for a shoot with a look I had in mind though, honestly, once you get into the makeup, the plans are pretty much squashed or just hints of the original idea remain.  When doing shoots with no direction, I do not build the look until I am actually there, right up in the models face.  Pulling whatever emotion and energy I can from the room is how I try to build the story or character. I feel the execution is pure… organic.

HNC: Define your version of beauty.

CW: My version of beauty is anything that draws a feeling or emotion.  Anyone can create something but unless it makes you feel something, what good is it?  It is useless. It doesn’t even have to be a happy feeling.  The most beautiful things are the ones that make me cry.

HNC: Thank you so much Christa. I had such a wonderful time getting to know you and now I see you so often it is almost funny. You are great at what you do!

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World, meet Jami also known as DJ Jami  of Nocturnal Sound Krew (2011)

“Can’t noc the hustle”

swag model and dj: jami

photographer: brandon ching

creative director: amy of hobnobcity

HNC: So talk about your early beginnings as a DJ. How did you start up?

DJJ: In the 90’s I had a cousin who use to do mobile and spin at most of Hawaii’s hottest clubs. He always tried to get us to learn but mixing is the hardest thing to learn and it was frustrating.

Around the same time I was introduced to the movie “Juice.” Now that’s what really intrigued me about DJing. It was the first time I saw the battle side of DJing, scratching and beat juggling. I knew at that moment that DJiing was what I wanted to do.

I’d also like to comment on DJ videos. DJ videos were a big part of my early beginnings as a DJ. See, I come from a time of no Internet and being in Hawaii we were so far away from the main cities and they’re DJ scenes. What we saw on the videos is all we had to better our skills. My brother Jay (DJ compose), use to bring home these DJ videos and I would study them for hours. I’m talking bring them to school and watch them at recess and then as soon as I got home from school, I’d watch them again. I guess you could call me dork.

HNC: Being a DJ isn’t easy, obviously. What was the hardest thing for you as you were learning/developing?

DJJ: I’m still learning till this day. I think the hardest thing about DJing is trying to keep up with the times. Nowadays, everyone is a DJ! It’s cool with me. I just need to step my game up that much more. It’s how you separate yourself from others in this industry that makes you a great DJ.

HNC: Absolutely. Describe your dream gig or job.

DJJ: I really would love to travel the world and see different cultures and their music. Being able to incorporate music from all over into my sets would be sooooo dope!

HNC: You started in Hawaii, then eventually moved on to NY. They seem like different planets almost in terms of culture and people. How different are the two scenes, in your eyes?

DJJ: NY really doesn’t sleep and the fashion here is the best! I love both cities with a passion though. Honestly, they both have so much soul. I feel like you get the best of both worlds if you ever visit them.

It’s funny, a lot of new Yorkers are surprised when I’m DJing and they know I’m from Hawaii. They think of Hawaii as palm trees and blue skies. They never think of Hawaii having a great music scene. It kinda upsets me but it’s a big reason why I’m out here now. I wanna show the rest of the world that Hawaii isn’t a joke.

HNC: Throughout history, whether it was the hippie 70s, punk rock/pop 80s, gangster rap 90s; music has always had a strong influence on fashion. Through your perspective, where are we now and what is so dope about it? What’s the next shit?

DJJ: That’s a really good question. Fashion is in such a good place right now. It’s a mix of different trends from the past with some tapering involved. Skinny jeans to baggy sweats, skate wear to Italino suits… I dig it all! It’s about being creative with how you put it together. “Every week is a fashion week.”

And as far as what’s next, just pay attention to me, you might learn a thing or two. Ha!

HNC: Haha, dork. Name some figures in who fuse fashion/music so well that everyone else seems to catch on and follow.

DJJ: Jay Z, Pharrell, Kanye, & Jami.

HNC: What genre of music do you tend to stick to while spinning, if any?  What type of vibe do you always try to create while you work?

I like to go across the board when I play. I don’t like sticking to just one genre. To me, a good DJ can play anything they want, just in the right context. You gotta get your crowd involved and really listening and enjoying the set. At the end of the night it’s all about having fun… and dancing, I think I’m an incredible dancer by the way, Hahaha! I’m such a douche:)

HNC: Definitely not a douche homie.  Thank you so much for the fun photoshoot and having an awesome sense of humor/personality. We shall work together again soon. P.S happy birthday April child.

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Hello Rhandy Tambio from in4mation (2011)

photographer: brandon ching

creative director: amy of hobnobcity

HNC: Tell me about the work that you do and companies you work for?

RT: HmmmmI would like to say that I’m more of a commercial artist above anything else cause I like to make money for what it’s worth with everything it supports from my graphic designs, garment design, illustration, photography, video editing, and personal experimental stuff. I try to be more business oriented with everything I do. I’ve learned the hard way by having a lot of not so awesome experiences building my career where it was a big learning curve to how I operate today.

I’ve been into design since high school and with the support from my peers, couple of creative mentors, and my older brother.  I have worked with several urban and action sports companies from Los Angeles all the way to chipping my teeth career wise in New York for 7 years from companies and projects from Stussy, The Skateboard Mag, Vans, Alphanumeric, DC Shoes, DVS shoes, Etnies Shoes, Casio Gschock, Fiberops, to being in a corporate environment such as Ecko Unlimited, Marthie Francois Gibaud and Akademiks Womens with In4mation my main priority as creative/art director almost making the 10 mark with my business partners.

HNC: Let’s talk about your history (creatively) leading up until now. Through your eyes, how has the fashion culture that you are involved in changed from then till now. What direction do you see it going?

RT:Fashion will always be forever changing and self expressive to each individual and with the help of the interweb it’s making everything easier to get things, see what’s going on in other suburbs, urban cities and countries making the world a seem smaller than it actually is, making the individual be more influence by others style than his own or being able to get a certain item without traveling.

When I was in my golden years what you did like skateboarding, surfing and what type of music you’d listen too or places you traveled is what defined more of your own sense of fashion.

Fashion should give you that emotional confidence not a status symbol.

HNC: What were some of your early inspirations that led you into what you do currently? What are some of your current inspirations?

RT: It’s all what I would like to surround myself by skateboarding, surfing, and music being the backbone.

HNC: What is the overall feel or vibe that you want your work to communicate? What is your ultimate goal?

RT: I want people to see the effort and the thought process going to every detail and that we practice the general principles of art and design pushing ourselves to think outside the box. Having our own style whether you like it or not and being able to mimic everyone else.

HNC: What are some personal bits of style that you are drawn to, either past or present?

RT: 90′s hip hop, 80′s pop culture, 70′s punk, 60′s Free love, 50′s post war Americana…..2000? The Jetsons?

HNC: What qualities would you say carries a person with a strong sense of style? Would it be how they wear, brands they wear? Name a person you think has crazy style.

RT: I like seeing people flipping there own style where they stand out from the rest of the lackster humans that follow trends or what’s cool now. People that are not afraid to express their voice and their emotion through their wardrobe.  I hate seeing that kid with the 5 panel supreme hat or shorty with that Louis Vuitton bag think they’re cool as shit. C’mon now!

HNC: What specific pieces of work that you have done that you are most proud of? Why?

RT: There’s a lot that I’m stoked on and majority of it is being able to work with people and share ideas and executed them. But as far for the most recent one personal project is when I was asked to do some artwork for an “Autism Speaks” charity auction in NYC.  I showed it to one of my creative mentors who is a fine artist in NYC and was jazzed about the technique I used. He’s pushing me do more where he will curate an art show with my work in the future.  Really stressed with the pressured but am excited to do more personal stuff again.

HNC: Are there any companies/brand/artist you really admire?

RT: To many artist and creatives to mention. I like Hanes and Levis. Shouts to all artist and creatives doing it or working hard to get there.

HNC: What is maiden hell?

Maiden Hell is just another extension and creative outlet that I labeled for the handmade jewelry and propaganda magazine/artwork some how turned into a brand. It’s not going to be a men’s wear brand just to let everyone know. It will be catered to a Mans Ruin and for the heartbreakers’.

HNC: Cool concept! Love the heartbreakers’ part and thank you for the maiden hell tee! So Any projects in the works?

RT: There’s a bunch. Don’t want to jinx it for others or myself.

HNC: During down time, what do you like to do?

RT: Go surfing, skating with the boys or work on some personal art stuff. Reading books.

Thank you so much Rhandy for allowing me to pick you brain and letting me do a photoshoot on you. you are such amazing talent and i appreciate that!

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Hello Sean Nakamura (December Feature)

HNC: Mr. Nakamura, where are you from?

SN: My hood is the Good OL Mililani on the island of OAHU! Chee

HNC: Where’s your favorite place to be?

SN: In the line up waiting for sets to roll in, around 6 just before the sun sets! CLASSIC!

HNC: What do you do and how long have you done it?

SN: I’ve been doing this art thing ever since I was a booger! I started freelancing and hanging my paintings in galleries about 7 years ago. Still drawing and painting about 5 days out of the week!

HNC: What kind of art do you do?

SN: Low brow, graffiti, mind illustrations, or impressionists. I really don’t know how to categorize myself. I just do what I feel!

HNC: Describe your work in three words.

SN: bold, creative, thought provoking

HNC: What is KIKU and why do you like this video?

SN: I created this video to have a didactic meaning. So many people that I know are taking the right handed path in life! Just a little reminder to never stop reaching for your dreams! This video is also a different aspect of animation. Paper cut outs, and model making

HNC: How long were you working on it?

SN: 36hrs!!!!! plus lo-carb monsters!!!!…. and Cheese itz!

HNC: What were your thoughts while making the video?

SN: During the process of capturing the animation. I learned a lot of how things function with animation principles and also my limits of stress!!!!

HNC: Talk about some of your inspirations when first getting into your art.  has it changed from the time you started until now?

SN: MUSIC is my quintessence for my artwork! I think I have around 360 gb of music to keep my mind moving! When I was younger all I ever listened to was punk rock! Lagwagon, No use for a name, NoFX, minor threat, Bad brains!!! Later I was introduced to hip hop. Some of my favs are Group Home, Jeru the damaja, Binary star, Nujabes! Next came indie. Fav for this genre is EMPIRE OF THE SUN! much much much much more to list, but I don’t think ill have space haha!….Whitest boy alive, little wings, miniture tigers, the national, CSS, OH SNAP!!!, Vhs or Beta. Sorry just had to squeeze them in.

Some of my early inspirations were derived from comics and a vast amount of toys as a youth. As a kid my parents were separated at a young age. My 2 other siblings and I had to move around a lot. Being the new kid in town opens up a lot of free time to explore and get lost in my imaginations. I used draw on pieces of notebook paper, then cut them out and create my own toys. I once created the whole Ghostbusters cast with the firehouse and Ecto car! Haha. I’ve always had a knack for drawing and painting, but was never really formally trained. That’s why I had decided to enroll at the Academy of Art University!

Looking at my past illustrations and animations, I think my artwork has changed for the present. My art has a better academic feel but still doesn’t lose that raw talent flavor.

HNC: Is there any kind of direction you want your art to work to go into, or what’s the overall feel you want people to get when they see your work?

SN: I’m just stoked anytime I do Paintings, Animations ,and Illustrations. Direction wise hopefully character design and concept art for film and videogames. When I used to show my stuff at galleries, I would just sit on the side and watch peoples’ reactions. I think I’m hungry for the thoughts and emotions from the viewer rather than trendy crap!

HNC: Your nickname is Stan Still.  How did that happen?

SN: You can some times catch me daydreaming or getting lost in my mind. Well one day a coworker of mine saw me just zoning out, and he yelled “ Hey Stan Still” Thus the artist name was created! I also have another nickname but only my close homies and homets only know of! Lol

HNC: would you rather get punched in the face by mike Tyson, or go a whole 3 minute round with BJ Penn?  Why?

SN: MIKE TYSON NO DOBUT!

Who can say that the DYNAMITE KID has punched them in the face!! FO SHO!

HNC: so you think BJ Penn is a fag?

SN: Naw hell no! Bj Penn is a local hero. I just would rather get punched in the face by TYSON!

HNC: ok back to being serious,  if you had the choice today, where would you want to work (artistically) or how would you want your work to be shown?

SN: Capcom, PIxar, ILM,…… Being how the industry is right now! I’m up for anything!

HNC: is there any one person, in your opinion, that creatively is amazing that people would necessarily know about?

SN: Terpsichore! Muse of dance! Lol! Some people gotta light some candles to her so they can get those dancing feet! lol

HNC: What’s your opinion on Hawaii’s art scene/culture?

SN: I personally think that Hawaii’s art scene/ culture has a awesome nurturing aspect! The community is very tight knit and other artists help other artists out. It’s like a Art Family that helps a young artist to go! Its your roots from were you are planted! Never forget your roots!!!! Hawaii art is not just Waves and turtles!!! lol

Thank you very much Stan Still!!! You are one talented kid.

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Hello October meet Eugene Kan from Hypebeast. (October/November feature)

HNC: Hello Eugene, please describe yourself using three adjectives.

EK: Extreme, silly, quasi-intellectual

HNC: What do you do and how long have you done it?

EK:  I’m the managing editor at a blog/online magazine called Hypebeast. I’ve been at it for about three and a half years.

HNC: What is Hypebeast?

EK:  Depending on how you look at it, Hypebeast is essentially a culture magazine with a strong focus on men’s fashion. We cover everything from art, electronics, design and cars but as mentioned it’s mostly about menswear. It’s progressed a lot from its start as a streetwear and sneaker focused blog.

HNC: How many emails do you receive a day from Hypebeast?

EK:  Approximately 150 but I get a lot of general emails that I don’t or choose not to respond to.

HNC:How do you filter through your emails and decide on what to feature?

EK:  Essentially it comes down to 2 and ½ things: 1) Whether we actually like the content itself; 2) Whether we feel that our readers want to see; and the ½) Whether the visuals are good.

HNC: Are there any current projects we can expect?

EK:  At the start of 2010, our biggest change was the implementation of hypebeast.tv. Going forward, video is probably going to be a platform we will focus a lot on. Among the plans are to develop more comprehensive series’ but right now we are still developing that side of the things.

HNC:  I know you have your own blog site (www.eugenekan.com) are there any tips to us bloggers out there?

EK:  It’s funny because the rules I give you aren’t the ones I follow myself. Generally, I would say try to update on a relatively frequent basis. Ideally every day, but if you have a day job than it is probably pretty hard to do. I wish I could update more often. Your tone and voice are ultimately extremely important because at the end of the day, they are your most unique assets and nobody will be able to replicate your opinions or your insights. Also, in this day and age, the proper balance of text and visuals are pretty important. Given that we live in a pretty visual culture where without any imagery, it is hard to captivate your reader.

HNC: Noted. Do you travel? And if so, is it for work or play?

EK:  I think I travel a decent amount but less than you would assume. Most of the time it is work related. I usually take quick trips that last under a week but since we have a pretty broad base of contributors, my need to travel is sometimes limited.

HNC:  Do you have any favorite brands?

EK: To be honest, I don’t really have a favorite brand. When you see so much stuff, you tend to like a lot of things, but rarely do you like everything from one brand.

HNC: I gotta ask…what camera do you shoot with?

EK:  Mostly I use my Canon S90, I do have a Canon 50D that I am using less and less.

HNC:  Are you planning on staying in HK or moving?

EK:  Probably not for the next few years. My girlfriend just moved here so I have no reason to leave. It’s an alright place, but I wouldn’t want to raise a family here.

HNC:  Interesting…so what is a normal day for you?

EK: Wake up at around 7:30am to go to the gym. Check RSS on the way to the gym. Come home and start work at 10:00am and do Hypebeast stuff until 6:00pm and then start working on my other projects until about 12:00am, then pass out. Pretty boring haha.

HNC: Any shoutouts?

EK:  There have been way too many people to thank and that have contributed to my development. There’s no way I could list them all.

Well said. Thank you so much Eugene for taking time out of your busy schedule. It was a pleasure. Please check out Hypebeast and Eugene’s personal blog.

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September feature is here!!!!

Everyone meet the coolest and most sweetest person alive, Stephanie Simek.

HNC:  What do you do and how long have you done it for?

SS: I’ve made all different types of things since I was very young, but as far as my wearable’s- that started when I moved to Portland in 2007.

HNC: Who or what inspires your art?

SS: With my jewelry and object-based work, I’m very often intrigued by natural oddities as well as everyday objects.  Lately, with some of my other projects, like my sound and performance work, obsolete and discarded technologies excite me.  In general, loving, harmonious, and peaceful people and environments always inspire me.

HNC: I couldn’t agree with you more. How would you describe your style?

SS: I would say it’s pretty eclectic since I experiment with a number of different types of materials and ideas.  I think there are elements of humor and playfulness to my work as well.

HNC: I definitely see humor and playfulness. So what is your most well known piece?

SS: Probably the eyelash necklace.

HNC: What are your price points for some of your jewelry?

SS: Currently my jewelry ranges from 30 – 285 USD.

HNC: When brain storming, what goes through your mind?

SS: With my jewelry, I think a lot about materials.  I keep a list of interesting components that I’d like to work with and revisit it often.  The list includes unusual things as well as common objects that I think could be reworked or reinterpreted in a new way.

HNC: Any projects we should be expecting?

SS: I have a show coming up in Portland at False Front that is filled with all new work.  The exhibition revolves around 23 portable cassette players I rewired to respond to light.  It also includes some paintings, video, and a performance.

HNC: Amazing! Where can we find your pieces (jewelry and projects)?

SS:  You can find my stuff online and in venues in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

HNC: Are there any celebrities that you know of wearing your jewelry? If not, who would be a good representation of your style?

SS: Recently I heard the Danish singer Oh Land has a golden eyelash necklace.  Also Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes) has an eyelash necklace.

HNC: Your accessories have been in a lot of media coverage, like “Marie Claire” and “Glamour” magazine. How did you feel when you had your first magazine spot?

SS: It all kind of happened at once.  I don’t remember what the first magazine was, but it was exciting to see that for the first time my ideas were being shared with more people than I was able to reach on my own.

HNC:  I’ve received a very special piece from a friend, the hex love necklace from the Sound Locket. How did you come up with such a brilliant idea?

SS: When I first moved to Portland I co-founded and coordinated an art and music space out of my home that was once a Hare Krishna temple.  It was a unique space with a stage and we’d host shows regularly, which is how I met the American musicians that contributed to the Sound Locket project.  I’d been spending most of my time between running the space and making jewelry, and wanted to find a way to integrate the two worlds for a project.  I’d been interested in incorporating sound into a piece of jewelry, and eventually arrived on this design as a way to use the body to relate to music in a conceptual, direct, and intimate way.

Thank you so much Stephanie for taking the time to introduce yourself.  You are truly amazing and talented. I look forward to your future projects and wearable’s.  I am going to get myself an eyelash necklace! Go get em ladies before it runs out!

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July/August feature: Everyone meet Jasper Wong the artist.

Jasper, Jasper, Jasper… the first official meeting wasn’t so official. I got off of work and was heading to the elevator…Jasper called and said he was getting a tattoo and that I should swing by and so I did…and now for the interview:

Hobnobcity: nicknames?

Jasper Wong: My family used to call me “Popeye” growing up. I have no idea why, maybe it’s because of my massive forearms and penchant for steroids in the form of spinach.

These days I have an alias, called “Pink Amigo”.

HNC: what is this about a pink suit? why?

JW: The “Pink Amigo” is the man in the skin tight pink suit. He gets into a lot of trouble, but mostly for the sake of fun and utter stupidity.

I try my best to not take things too seriously. I enjoy making a fool of myself. This is one of the many ways that I do so.

HNC: any collabos you’ve done in the past?

JW: There are various collaborations that I have done in the past with brands, however one my favorites is the collaboration I did with a fellow artist. French artist Wu Yue flew in for an event that I co-organized called “POW WOW”. We painted ten paintings together in a week’s time before the show. That one week felt like a lifetime, but it truly changed the way I worked and took me outside of my comfort zones. It was an amazing experience and I hope to recreate those in the near future.

HNC: where are you living at now and why did you decide to move there?

JW: After stints in Portland, San Francisco, and Kyoto, I now reside in Hong Kong. In art college they never teach you the steps to get ideas into physical form. I went to HK to learn about those steps. To learn about manufacturing. One thing led to another and I wound up working for Hypebeast and now I own a gallery called Above Second amongst other things.

HNC: how was it working for hypebeast? what did you contribute?

JW: Working at Hypebeast opened a lot of doors. I met a lot of people that have become some of my best friends. It was a rare and extraordinary experience.

The Zeitfrei project between Hypebeast, adidas and Bianchi was one of my favorites that I worked on. It was highly stressful, but it was ultimately rewarding because I learned a tremendous amount in the process.

HNC: what type of camera do you have?

JW: A Lumix LX-3. It is similar to having an affordable Leica.

HNC: when drawing your orgy art, what goes through you mind…with penises and nipples?

JW: I could make up some mumbo jumbo about the history of sex and its obsession with phallic imagery, but the truth is that I don’t know. My art just comes to me. At times it doesn’t even feel like I’m the one holding the brush. I’m a conduit for erotic pink art with Mr. T obsessions.

HNC: what type of category would you consider your art to be?

JW: I don’t find it prudent to categorize myself. In my opinion, it is a bit limiting. My art is just me having fun.

HNC: any future projects we can look forward to seeing?

JW: There are a lot of cakes in the oven at the moment. You’re going to have to wait and see for yourself.

HNC: What the heck man? Alright, fine. Moving along, what do you think about SF v.s. the HK art scene?

JW: San Francisco is leagues beyond Hong Kong’s art scene. SF is a city with a strong creative community with a myriad of outlets for artists, while HK on the other hand is a different story. It is a city founded on finance, so obviously a lot of those same ideals are applied to the art industry. As a consequence many of the galleries are essentially art stores that deal with investments rather than art for art’s sake. There is a need for these sort of galleries, it is of course an industry, however it is skewed and balance is sorely needed in HK. There needs to be a conscious effort to develop the careers of local artists; foster international cultural exchanges between local, foreign, emerging, and established artists; bring international art to a local audience; and create a wider recognition of HK’s current artistic and cultural production.

In a lot of ways, HK is similar to a lot of big cities before the art scene really started flourishing. It is at the precipice of change and there is a small community of creatives striving to make a difference. Given Hawaii’s unique position both geographically and culturally, Honolulu also has an opportunity to become a hub for the arts. It just requires the work of a few individuals to generate immense change.

HNC: you started a gallery, what is the purpose of it?

JW: As I stated in the last question, HK is in dire need of change, so the gallery is a method to initiate that change. We aim to challenge and captivate the audience with notions of unconventionality. We are attempting to promote and nurture the understanding of an alternative subculture with local and international artists whose work is rarely exhibited in Asia.

HNC: where can we find out more about you? website?

JW: I’ve been published in various magazines all over the world, but the best place to track me down is on my website. All you need to do is jump on the gravy train to www.jasperwong.net or www.above-second.com.

Of course, there is always everyone’s favorite social network – facebook.

HNC: thank you for your time, it was a pleasure. Cheee. please visit Jasper Wong at www.above-second.com.

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June Feature: Say hello to Alex Lim Photography

Hobnobcity :What inspired you to pursue photography?

Alex Lim Photography: I honestly have no idea anymore.  But I do like the freedom to create something unique…and this medium combines a variety of elements that appeal to me, such as playing with cool toys, working with cool people, and going to cool new places. Cool?

HNC: Cool. So are you a self-taught photographer?

ALP: Yep! But I think the majority of people these days are ‘self-taught’ for the most part. In fact the more I see comparisons between art schooled photographers and self-motivated peeps the more I see a clearly one-sided phenomenon…schooled ones are generally bland, lacking style, and feel like the product of someone else’s teaching.

HNC: That is an interesting point.  So when did you start?

ALP: 5 years ago, spring ’05.

HNC: What was the most difficult part of learning on your own?

ALP: Discipline to stay on task and perseverance to stay on track.

HNC: I have to ask, which do you prefer…Canon or Nikon?

ALP: I’ve always only used Canon, it’s the market leader for a reason.  It works, it’s built well, they have more lenses, they have the infrastructure to support you with their whole product line, but more than anything it just works fine with my logic.  If I pick up a Nikon, it takes me a moment to shift my brain around, it just doesn’t make any sense to me.

HNC: Any photographers inspired you? Why?

ALP: Not particularly. I admire various photographers for doing various things, usually the ability to turn minimal tools into maximum results, or who demonstrate a unique style and perspective.  I enjoy guys like Erik Almas, Wendall Theodora, Sasha Dean Biyan, to name a few.

HNC: When traveling for work, where do you visit often? Where would you like to go?

ALP: Well I used to go up and down the west coast very frequently… even if I didn’t have any new client work.  I loved working in new places and with new talent, so it was an excuse to book a couple small gigs just to cover costs and go.  I’ve been pretty lame about it recently, but I’d like to start traveling more internationally for work…And Hawaii of course! Never been.

HNC: WHAT? You HAVE to visit the islands.  I am sure you will find things to shoot.  So any advice for models before shooting?

ALP: Well, probably to ask themselves why they’re doing it in the first place.  What are their goals, realistic expectations, are they doing it because they think they’re pretty and they need the attention?  That’s not really what you mean by the question, but that’s 10x more important.  Tangibly, of course just make sure your skin is taken care of, you get enough rest, you know what the shoot is for and you are prepared.  Be relaxed and open to suggestions, but on task and ready to work long and hard.   That’s a very general question so it’s hard to answer, it depends what model and for what shoot, but in general their job is to know their face and body and know how to make anything look good.

HNC: Any advice for aspiring photographers?

ALP: Yep, don’t do it. Or don’t listen to me.

HNC: Haha…If I may, what type of camera are you using?

ALP: Canon 5d II, but the more time goes by the less importance I place on this.  Higher resolution, better ISO performance, etc. is all great, but it’s still a tool, the content is more important.

HNC: For a point and shoot camera, which camera do you recommend?

ALP: Honestly no idea.

HNC: Do you bring your camera with you everywhere?

ALP: Sadly, I have to admit it hardly comes along for trips anymore, or even comes out of the case. Part of me is wise enough to know that I should be shooting anything and everything I can, whenever I can, to find inspiration, capture rare real moments, etc.   I started off that way, but gradually it became less and less.  I think the turning point was a couple years back while I was touring Asia, non-work related… I brought the gear along expecting to take thousands of photos, but instead was compelled to do the opposite. At times it seemed appropriate and my rational for wanting a photo of an interesting person I encountered or beautiful landscape won out, but it occurred to me that whenever I had my camera out and raised to my eye, I was somehow removing myself from the experience. Things just felt … diminished. It was as if to reap the most benefit from an event, I mustn’t photograph it.  To truly appreciate and value it, it should only exist as a fleeting moment in my memory, a moment that needs to end.

HNC: What do you do when you feel uninspired?

ALP: My creative energy is tied very closely to my personal happiness and state of mind. It’s an inconsistent and fickle thing at times, but as much as I’d like to remain more detached and keep a separation of personal-to-professional life, it’s an ongoing challenge for sure.  I’ve tried various ways to remedy the negative effects, but I think I’ve learned to accept my nature and try to use that to my advantage.

For example, because one side affects the other, that means a boost in one will boost the other.  By taking time out to focus on things that make me happy, personal relationships, recreational enjoyments like going out into nature, I feel the return in all aspects of my life and that is when I am at my most productive and passionate.

I don’t know if that answers the question in a specific way, but I think universally the things I’ll try to do all relate to change. Creating change introduces new challenges, which awaken the mind.   I’ve felt the idiom ‘thriving under pressure’ literally, and I think it’s helpful whether during a shoot or just in the happenings leading up to it that produce inspiration.

Thank you Alex!

Please visit Alex Lim Photography to see his portfolio.