LINES & CARVES

ARTWORK

by JON ANDER “KALI”

Who are you and where do you call home?

My name is Jon Ander Lara Aragón, but everyone calls me Kali. Thanks to my brother, he’s older than me, I can say that Lasa Skatepark [in Basque Country] is my home. Lasa Skatepark is a little core of skaters and good people. To me it is a place where usually gather several generations united in a common sense of belonging with a family feeling. I can’t talk about Lasa Skatepark without mentioning certain people like Pipas, Basi, Piwi (RIP), Dani, Kako, Nano (RIP) - all Lasa Crew.

What’s your philosophy on life?

I don’t really know if I have my own philosophy of life, but thanks to the education I received at home, and the experiences that skateboarding has given me, skateboarding and many important people, I could say I rely on “Live and Let Live”, respect, attitude and skate.

Do you see skateboarding as a sport, a way of life, or an artform?

To me skateboarding has always been a way of escape, and that’s how I met it. Trying to get out from a reality that had nothing to do with my own thoughts about society. I think nobody saw skateboarding as a sport those days, it was a kind of experssion, a lifestyle. I lived the old times of skateboarding, thank god! hahahaha.

From where did your Lines and Carves style originate?

The Lines and Carves style came from a mix of di erent ways of thoughts. They are just lines and curves, like everything we see day to day. Everyone has his paranoia and a way to represent the forms. I create casual images with the movement, then I complete them with di erent color combinations and textures. I enjoy creating volumes and perspectives, as visual e ects.

La Kantera is a central focus of much of your art, tell us about this spot and it’s in uence on you as a skateboarder and as an artist?

I’ve spent so many hours, days, in La Kantera, really good moments. There you can nd great people and skaters. There has always been a magical conection of di erent feelings. It’s a place of utmost respect. All the time I’lI have it’s lines and curves on my mind, it’s a way to keep all those experiences alive.

Name some artists whose work in uences you?

First of all, I need to talk about my uncle and my dad, they are not skaters but they are an important in uence on my way of creating. Another great source of inspiration has always been the photographs by my friend Pipas. Even as a child I remember seeing his photos and freaking out.

Also the gra ti movement was very important to me in those days. I always ipped out on graphics from Alien Workshop. Over the years, I found out who was their creator.

I remember the day when I met with my friend Pipas, he came with Little Swastika. When I saw him I knew he was someone special. I could say that every single creative person that I’ve met has in uenced me. One of those signi cant people is Manu Olagorta. What materials do you work with in your artistic creations?

I don’t like to put lters on the expression. Every tool and all di erent materials are valid. It depends on the moment and whatever you have in mind. Now I’m living in a very tiny house so I’m working in small sizes, trying di erent inks and markers.

Do you listen to music while you draw or solely the sound of your environment?

Music makes all the sense. I’m always listening to music when I’m creating, and I love practically all music styles, well, not all of them.. hahahaha. And indeed skate’s sounds are music to me too.

Current projects and future artistics projects?

Now I’m just focusing on survival. I would really love to paint some murals, working at a large scale. For sure vI want to go on with my work cooperating with the poetry of Eduardo Castillo. For the future I have some projects in mind, but I would enjoy sharing my work and cooperating with some skate brands.

What’s the biggest problem in the world right now? Sometimes I think the worst problem in the world is the human being itself, we are like a virus, often self-destructive. What really scares me is the lack of humanity.

Any last words?

This is all I can say at this time. I know I’m probably forgetting to mention many people and many experiences. Thanks a lot for this opportunity, it’s a fucking pride to be a part of this.

Thanks to everyone who has been with me unconditionally. RESPECT, LOVE, and SKATE. For all those who are no longer here, and to all those who always support me: Judas - @snaking_ commando, Urtz, Low, Cristian, Kako, Pope, Ian, etc.)