Initially recognised for his multi-layer street stencils and posters, Meggs has become a well respected member of Australia’s street art culture. With a background of graffiti, skateboarding, heavy metal and graphic design Meggs has developed his painting skills from street to galleries with a mixture of aerosol based character work and stencil based expressive canvases. Read on for more on Meggs including photos of past works and our short interview where Meggs talks about early influences, the first piece of art he bought and what else he has in the works and be sure to check out Megg’s latest print The Year of The Dragon which is available exclusively on 1xRUN.com.
1xRUN Thru Interview
The Year of The Dragon by Meggs
1xRun: When was this piece drawn and created?
Meggs: This piece was created in September of 2011 for the ‘Young & Free’ exhibition of Australian street artists at ‘941 Geary’ Gallery in San Francisco.
1xRun: How did this piece come about?
Meggs: This piece was inspired by travels in Asia, more specifically Japan & Hong Kong and represents my recent explorations of warriors, demons and mythology.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Meggs: I would say this piece took 1-2 weeks to complete.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Meggs: It’s a large scale work, approx 1.2 x 2.4 metres in size and combines several elements I’m exploring right now such as masks, demons, warriors and the female form. The large vertical symetrical format is something i don’t paint often as this piece was specifically created as a centrepiece for my section in the exhibition.
1xRun: Why should people buy this piece ?
Meggs: This work symbolizes a progression in my work and was an exhibition that explored my ideas on duality and self-reflection a much deeper and more personal level.
1xRun: Describe The Year of The Dragon in one gut reaction word.
Meggs: Powerful.
The Year of The Dragon by Meggs
1xRUN: When did you first start making art?
Meggs: I’ve been making ‘art’ in different forms, on-and-off, my whole life but my street-art habits took full flight in about 2003 and my move to take art more seriously probably happened around 2007.
1xRUN: What artists inspired you early on?
Meggs: All my fellow Everfresh artists: Sync, Rone, Reka, Phibs, Prism, Maktron,Wonderlust and the Tooth, of course. And many others like Brett Whiteley, Francis Bacon, Anthony Lister, Dave Kinsey, Craola, Dave Choe, Banksy etc.
Everfresh Collaboration Wall
1xRUN:What artists inspire you now?
Meggs: That’s a hard one but right now I’m really into the works of Dave Choe, Conor Harrington, Blu, Kid Zoom.
1xRUN: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what?
Meggs: Definitely, I couldn’t work without music. Usually it’s metal or punk or something fast as well as atmospheric soundtrack stuff and 80’s style synth instrumental. So many bands but to mention a few right now I’d say Russian Circles, Tool, Zombie, Suicidal Tendencies, The Bronx etc…
1xRUN: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Meggs: Does a big print of an airbrushed Lamborghini Countach in the 80’s count?
1xRUN: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Meggs: The Toshikazu Nozaka tattoo on my right calf. Inevitably I’ll keep that for life!
Toshikazu Nozaka
1xRUN: What else do you have in the works currently?
Meggs: Some more travels and painting in the US for the next month, then a solo show in my hometown, Melbourne (Australia) in October. A couple of other projects & collabs in the works and then back to the US for Basel and more shows on the West Coast in 2013!
1xRUN: Where can people find you across the internette?
Meggs: Twitter/Instagram – @houseofmeggs
-1xRUN