Three great artists we met in Antwerp
A massive thanks to everyone involved in the YOU’RE HERE event in Antwerp this weekend. We had a chance to chat with some of the artists that were participating. Here’s what they had to say:
Jangojim
Everyone tended to misspell Dimitri Sakelaropoulos real name, so therefore he started using the artist name Jangojim instead. Dimitri’s comics and illustrations have been published all around the globe. During the event he did a really big “paint by numbers” painting for the crowd to interact with. Here’s what he had to say about himself, his art and what inspires him.
Jangojim preparing the paint-by-numbers wall
What’s your background:
I live in Antwerp, still studying, English and Dutch, started drawing as a kid and kept on and suddenly the passion became more and more of an occupation.
How would you describe your style:
Funny, silly, naive, improvisational. I like to improvise big chaotic drawings. I have a tendency to do a lot of details. Humor is one of the key things in my artwork. Humor as a compensation for not having to draw everything so perfectly.
What inspires you:
I find inspiration everywhere. From movies to 1920’s architecture. And I have a lot of heroes, ranging from the Muppets to Jan Švankmajer.
What’s your theme here at the YOU’RE HERE event:
It’s a harbor theme since the venue is located in the harbor and elements from the event like the skate pipe – but made out of cheese with rats in it. It’s just supposed to be big and fun since people are going to color it and paint by numbers.
The finished artwork – created by Jangojim and the Antwerp visitors
What do you like most about what you do:
The actual process of doing it, being focused, it’s probably like being a musician; you’re playing, you’re on your own, in your own cocoon, no one can hurt you at that moment, it feels really comfy and nice. The action of doing is the must fun and then the result, the big drawing is just an extra reward.
What inspires you about Antwerp:
Antwerp has a cool history with lots of immigrants and I’m interested in all those cultures that comes together in here. That’s really powerful. That’s why I put a lot of different cultural references in my drawings. Also, the river is really important to me. Other people like to go the sea, I like to go the river.
Bue The Warrior of Toykyo
Toykyo is a collective with several artists like Blastus and Bue The Warrior that paints happy faces on huge places like abandoned factories. During the YOU’RE HERE event Bue The Warrior painted a playful art piece that became really fantastic. We had a chat with him and here’s his story.
Bue the Warrior at work in Antwerp
What’s your background:
Graphic Designer and street artist since 1991. I also have a clothing label for kids and I do designs for a lot of other brands as well.
How would you describe your style:
Naive, positive, colorful, mellow and happy. Nothing too serious. The world is serious enough as it is and we live in a gray country with lots of rain, so I just wanna make the world more colorful.
What inspires you:
Music, other artists, and animations.
What’s your theme here at the YOU’RE HERE event:
I’m writing We Are All Stars. Because that’s what we are. With a lot of colors. Because that’s what I do.
Detail of the brilliant pieces
What do you like most about what you do:
Street art and graffiti is one of the purest art forms because in the streets you’re free to do what you want. There are no obligations or limits. Everyone is free to do what you like to do.
Mentalgassi
A Berlin-based art collective that does surprising and beautiful things to common urban objects, Mentalgassi wheat pastes vivid photographic images onto street signs, recycling bins and ticket validating machines, adding a humorous element to city staples. Mentalgassi did a couple of really impressive artworks at the event and here’s what one of the members had to say.
One of many Mentalgassi backlit panels, displayed in the windows of the old harbour roundhouse
What’s your background:
The collective met through graffiti but started experimenting in different directions. We’re four friends with different backgrounds and different angles on creativity, that known each other for more than ten years.
How would you describe your style:
Urban entertainment. We don’t want put heavy messages in every piece, not limiting us to that, but we’re trying to be as much in your face without being advertising. It tends to get more and more eclectic.
What inspires you:
Mostly people and my surroundings.
What’s your theme here at the YOU’RE HERE event:
The story behind the mini ramp artwork is that I was kind of inspired by an old french photographer, who was writing on his black and white prints. I wanted to pay homage by taking his work, adding an urban art twist and making it interact with the ramp and the skaters.
Detail of the ramp featuring Mentalgassi artwork
The photographer took photos that were more poetic and about storytelling, and the ramp is more a Mentalgassi-like “in-your-face” kind of artwork, which would work in the streets as well.
What do you like most about what you do:
Just doing what I do. Simple as that.
What inspires you about Antwerp:
Antwerp is eclectic as well, architecture wise, a mix of many styles. And the people comes from many different countries and there’s many different languages. That’s what inspire us.