Derek Hess Dissects NVA Flightless Bird

1xRun Thru Interview
NVA Flightless Bird by Derek Hess 

1xRun: Tell us a little bit about the original, what materials printed on and drawn with? Is it still for sale?
Derek Hess:  The original was done in 2012 on my sketch book paper using, pen, ink, and acrylic. Yes it is still for sale here on 1xRUN for $650.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Derek Hess:  I’m a big fan of tanks. the idea came to me one day that the beak and head of a bird could work as a tank turret. the title of this piece “NVA Flightless Bird” is the combination of a North Vietnamese army tank turret and an ostrich. the North Vietnamese army was referred to as the NVA during the war. the turret is from a soviet T-54 tank, the Russians supplied North Vietnam with weapons during the Vietnam war, and the ostrich is known as a flightless bird.

NVA Early Sketch

1xRun: How long did the piece take?    
Derek Hess: This piece took about 2 hours.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?    
Derek Hess:  I think it’s the shoes.

1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Derek Hess: Because everyone needs and image of an ostrich with a T-54 tank turret head flying a North Vietnam flag rocking Nike high heels wading through the wreckage of American tanks hanging above their mantle.

1xRun: Describe the print in one gut reaction word.
Derek Hess:  fowl

NVA by Derek Hess

1xRun: When did you first start making art?    What was your first piece?   
Derek Hess:  I would say 3 years old, my first piece I would say it was a crayon drawing of a dinosaur.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?
Derek Hess:  Gil Kane and Heinrich Kley.

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?
Derek Hess:  Same two as above, BASK, and that Glenn Barr guy is ok too I guess…

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Derek Hess:  Sometimes…I like the new ambix, ELO up to the out of the blue cd, iron maiden, the new rush is great, thin lizzy, ufo, nin, accept, saxon, with honor, rainbow, one dead three wounded, black sabbath, etc.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?    
Derek Hess:  Gil Kane, so he could show me up.

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?
Derek Hess: I have a clothing line “strhess” and I self publish books under “strhess press”. my current book is called “black line, white lie”, the next book is titled “black, white, and red all over”.  strhess clothing is going to launch this fall it’s tenth year anniversary line called “ten to life”.  My next exhibit is Feb 8th called “divorced from heaven”  at Rotofugi in Chicago….and i go fishing a lot.

1xRun: Where else can people find you?   
Derek Hess: WebsiteFacebook ArtFacebook ClothingTumblr 

-1xRUN