1xRun Thru Interview
Fuel from Fumes by Mr. Jago
1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about the original piece, when was the piece drawn and created?
Mr. Jago: The original piece was painted at the end of 2011. The client by whom the piece was commissioned specifically requested a painting on a black background. That request proved challenging to the way I try to balance colours and marks. I also find composition on a square canvas more difficult than working in landscape on a rectangular canvas. Given these challenges, I was very pleased with the outcome of this piece.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Mr. Jago: On the one hand, this piece laments the consumption of fossil fuels by the human race. Wastefulness, in a sense, is one of my preoccupations – fuel to my artistic output, however negative. On the other hand, the painting also imagines the possibility of being able to transform fumes into something useful – a fantasy of being able to refuel from what is in the ether.
1xRun: How long did the piece take? What is unique about this piece?
Mr. Jago: Approximately, two weeks. As with all of my artwork, there is only one of it.
1xRun: Why should people buy this piece ?
Mr. Jago: To stare at and think about the future.
1xRun: Describe the piece/print in one gut reaction word.
Mr. Jago: Burn.
Fuel From Fumes by Mr. Jago
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Mr. Jago: I have always enjoyed a scribble. My first piece? You’d have to ask my mum. My first canvas, however, was painted when I was 15. I’ve seen it since and realized that my taste for the fantastical was apparent even then – I was never that muscular.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?
Mr. Jago: My aesthetic began to take shape in the 1980s reading comics such as 2000 AD. Simon Bisley was a hero and the ABC Warriors also had a big impact on me. I then discovered spray can art and was inspired by the Chrome Angelz, especially mode2 because his characters were original rather than versions of existing figures. In the 90s that I took particular notice of Futura2000’s collaboration with Ben Drury of Mo’Wax records. Together they translated his abstracted graffiti to album cover design. Those images were to inspire me to unravel the techniques I had learned in art school and to develop my own aesthetic and aspire to career as an artist.
Chrome Angelz
1xRun: What artists inspire you now?
Mr. Jago: I am influenced in one way or another by many artists. Among those that I return to the most are Doze Green; Rammellzee; my good friend, Will Barras; Sheone; O-Two; Daniel Sparkes, aka Mudwig; Part2ism; and Kami.
Siddhartha by Doze Green
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Mr. Jago: I can’t work without music – doing so feels almost spooky. I share my studio space with several other artists so there is usually a healthy rotation of fresh music from various genres.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
Mr. Jago: Futura2000, of course! That would be the ultimate.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Mr. Jago: If you could arrange a seance, I would also like to sit by a motorway and paint the lights with Monet.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Mr. Jago: The first original I bought was a pen and ink cloud city by my friend, Xenz. Unfortunately, art did not always pay the bills and I had to sell the piece to another friend so that I could invest in sausages. I have retained visitation rights, however.
1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Mr. Jago: The last piece of art that I bought was a print by Petro in 2009. It is a a re-visit of one of his characters drawn in childhood. The man himself hand finished the electro trousers on each print. I also frequently swap artwork with many of the lovely artists I have met in my travels. The latest addition to my collection is a beauty by Will Barras.
Petro
1xRun: What else do you have in the works?
Mr. Jago: On 28 September, I will exhibiting a piece alongside some good friends as part of the Futurism 2.0 show at Blackall Studios.
In October, Winterlong Galerie will also be exhibiting a selection of canvases and an installation piece as part of Le 4 Mur 2012. I am looking forward to taking over their special space in the medieval Le Pilori in Niort, France.
I will be ending the year by participating in a group show in LA curated by Poesia of Graffuturism. I am also delighted to now be represented by Galerie Le Feuvre in Paris who have been an absolute delight to work with.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Mr. Jago: Website – Facebook – Instagram @mr_jago
– 1xRUN