Jaybo Monk Discusses Nowhere Is Now Here

We are excited to welcome artist Jaybo Monk as he joins us for his debut 1xRUN release Nowhere Is Now Here. Taken from his recent solo exhibition of the same name at trendsetting Los Angeles gallery Soze Gallery, the print offers a rare opportunity to pick up a print edition from the prolific Berlin-based artist. In coincide with the breathtaking sold-out exhibition, Soze Gallery and 1xRUN have teamed up to present this new limited edition from Jaybo Monk. Read on as Monk gives us the background on the image itself, his influences and more…

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1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Jaybo Monk:
  This piece was the first I did from my past show, and this means that it influenced the complete body of work of that show.

1x: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Monk:
  Nowhere Is Now Here is the name of this piece, as well as, the name from the show I recently had at Soze Gallery in Los Angeles. I am a big fan of nonsense. I believe in recognizing pure freedom inside nonsense. I follow, and so the paintings are a set of surprising elements due to the different techniques and approaches. These elements define the process I am interested in.

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1x: When was this piece created and what materials were used?
Monk: This piece was created in the Spring of 2015. It is a succession of different layers from charcoal to oil and spray paint on canvas.

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Monk:
I always follow the same process, I surprise myself around the theme of bodies in a surrealistic space of colors.

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1x: How long did this piece take?
Monk:
This is irrelevant. It took me 50 years to come to that point.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece compared with your other work?
Monk:
The line work in the background, and it was one of my first time using “metallic” approaches. The abandon of trying to show something with some narrative substance.

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1x: Why should people buy this print?
Monk:
Because I am usually not doing any.

1x: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Monk:
Lucky.

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1x: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Monk:
About 10 years ago. I don’t remember.

1x: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Monk:
Early on it was Francis Bacon and Andy Goldsworthy. They both continue to inspire me.

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1x: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Monk:
I am listening to music but not always, I am working in a back yard house in Berlin, a calm place. I jump from Metallica to John Cage. These days I am listening to Moondog, Fela Kuti, Money and Scott Walker.

1x: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artist?
Monk:
Andy Goldsworthy. Because he is the only artist. Francis Bacon. Because I could learn more.

1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Monk:
A photo by Andy Rumble about a candy machine on a old Berlin wall. Yes, it’s hanging at my place. The last was a photo by Will McBride who sadly past away on the day when I picked it up.

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1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
Monk:
I am working on a solo show opening September 12th at Blackbook Gallery in Denver called Beautyfool.  I also will have a solo exhibition in Amsterdam at Kallenbach Gallery in December.

1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Jaybo Monk:  WebsiteTumblr @toolateforexcuses – Instagram @jaybomonk

-1xRUN