mememe.dk
anywhere anytime
Location: Dubai Dessert 2011, Photographer jakobmark.com
Issue 5 So, here we are again. It’s been quite a while since you all had the chance to flip through a new issue of Lillevegas Magazine. But now you have it right here in front of you. This time we have a few familiar faces for you who have been following us since the very beginning. HeadHoods are back, Fallulah is back with more than just new pictures and Lasse Dearman is touching us from a distance. But it’s not all familiar faces. We have some of the best editorials yet in this issue, together with Benjamin Birk, HuskMitNavn and lots more. The demand of the content of Lillevegas Magazine keeps getting higher and higher for each issue we finish. We try our best to find new interesting creative people hiding somewhere out there. DON’T be afraid because we need you! This magazine is what it is: We don’t try to push it into something it’s not. It’s here to show you the works of creative people, famous or not. That doesn’t matter. What matters to us is the work. Lillevegas Magazine has started it’s own life, growing for each issue. That is all thanks to you! Enjoy this issue and remember YOU WERE BORN AN ORIGINAL DON’T DIE A COPY
Lillevegas Magazine Wants to thank: HuskMitNavn / Heidi Wessel / Jean//Philip / Gert Foget Hansen / Fallulah / Karina Foss Fenn (Sony Music) Anders von Greffelstejn / Hordur Ingason / Jakob Mark / Benjamin Birk / Andreas M Hansen / Pia Dahl / Lasse Dearman David Richardson / Københavns Møbel Snedkeri / Kim Dolva / Søren Jespersen / Inger Stamp / Line Klein / Thomas Dudzinski Møller / Anne Nicolajsen / Henrik Hviid / Clinton van Gemert (HeadHoods) / Hugo Arturi / Jacob Ravn Our sponsors: Michael Berg Photography - www.michaelberg.dk / ME! ME! ME! - www.mememe.dk / Weber - www.weber.com & HeadQuarters for having us for the release party!
Cover: HuskMitNavn / Digital publishing: Issuu / Print by Scandinavian Book Published by AKDOV TELMIG STUDIOS - www.akdovtelmig.com / Idea & concept by Daniel Weinreich For all inquiries please contact Lillevegas Magazine at daniel@lillevegas.dk www.lillevegas.dk - Find us on Facebook
CONTENT Benjamin Birk Beast Empty Your Phone HuskMitNavn Københavns Møbelsnedkeri New Shade Rock Backstage Dubai Fallulah Hel-Met David Richardson Retro Films Jean//Philip HeadHoods Touching From a Distance Through the Haze
BENJAMIN
BIRK
We were very lucky to come across a very talented young man. We have never seen drawings like his. The amount of detail and work in these illustrations speak for themselves. Benjamin talks about his connection to drawing, the dislikes of Tim Burton and moving to San Francisco with his girlfriend. But most importantly: Take at least 15 minutes to study each of his drawings. Then, do the same the next time you see them. You will be surprised how much work and character you will find in each of these incredible works of art.
Tell us a little about yourself. Well. I’m 23 years old, live in Aarhus. I just moved from Copenhagen after two and half years of fun and games, nursing kids, smoking, building bikes, becoming a ‘’rockstar’’ with my former band ‘’The Last Romantics’’. A lot of stuff happened and now I’m back in Aarhus spending most of my free time working on my drawings and my music. When did you start seeing drawing as a way of expressing yourself? All kids draw. I just happened to be one of those who actually believed my family and friends when they said that my drawings were good. Most of my early work was concentrated around themes such as Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, dirty-drawings-on-schoolwork-shown-to-classmates and puttingmoustaches-and-sunglasses-on-celebrities. Later on, around 16 I started having problems with anxiety and depression. These conditions caused and still cause me to judge my work and actions in a pretty harsh way which in general leeds to behaviour which is neither very constructive nor productive. My work is not to be understood as a form of self-therapy but more as projected problem solving. Drawing and writing music for that matter gives me something very concrete to focus on, whether it be a drawn piece on which the eyes have a hard time resting or combining chords, melody and lyrics. How has your style developed through the years? (from what to what) To answer that question fully, I would need a scrapbook which I do not have and I believe that question is best answered by others when I’m dead, reviewed and remembered... If I’m presented with a an ealier piece of mine, there is some sort of recognition in
me, but that’s about it. I do not remember anything concerning the process, why I chose that motif, that theme or that kind of pen. Your line has a few things in common with Tim Burton’s. Is he an inspiration to you? No, my focus and where I believe my strength lies is in creating a universe which has sparks of originality and where the focus is on creating works of great quality, attention and detail and which has as few references as possible to already known works of graphic expression. The best work Burton has created has been adaptations of already existing universes such as those seen in’ ‘Batman’’, ‘’Batman Returns’’ and ‘’Coraline’’. His other stories such as Nightmare, Scissorhands, Alice, Charlie and Corpse’s Bride all suffer from the Walt-syndrome: They focus on telling the story of everyone: Everyone has something great to offer except those who envy others.
Continues...
What projects are you working on at the moment?
What film would you recommend people to watch?
For the time being I’m drawing stillebens with uniball pens and that is great. Right now it’s cabbage and different types of roots. When turning my attention away from the black garden, I’m recording my seven track music project, looking for a bassplayer and trying to steal a guitarist from another band...
“Man Bites Dog” because it is fffffun.
You have created a special universe. Where do you get your ideas from? You want me to approach the question of the source of genuine inspiration. Well I believe that most of my ideas come from Dicaprio and team specialists hired and paid for by my dad who was a great drawer as well, a Peter Griffin IRL, who became a bricklayer, creating something material, directly functional, often beautiful to pay for the upbringing of his three children, two boys in Denmark and a daughter in Greenland. Your drawings have incredible detail. Do you never want to do something very simple and clean? Hmmmm, I’ve never tried. Maybe it will be one of the limiting obstructions that I will set up for some of my future work. I could imagine that it would be very challenging because one of my main focuses when creating a piece is that the eyes should not be able to rest on the piece as a whole, forcing the eyes to wander. On the other hand it would be interesting to see if one could create something simple, clean and stylish which could still irritate the eyes. A tough thing to balance I believe but definitely something that I can master if needed for more commercial jobs.
Where do you hope to be in 10 years? Living in San Francisco with Josephine, my girlfriend, drawing, playing music after graduating with a Master in Art from The Royal Danish Academy of Art. What is playing on your iPod these days? Murder, Best Coast, The Horrors (the US ones) and Therapies Son.
BEAST Photography by Hordur Ingason Model: Annamaria Munk - Diva Models Styling: Jannie Sander Make-up: Louise Mas Frederiksen www.horduringason.com
EMPTY YOUR PHONE This time around we are trying out a new little thing. It’s called “EMPTY YOUR PHONE” and it is exactly what it says. We ask a creative person to empty his or her phone of pictures and write one line for each picture to give a little and creative insight into their lives. The first person in this series is make-up artist and photographer Heidi Wessel. Heidi travels a lot so we were pretty sure she would have some interesting pictures tucked away in that phone of hers. Have a look for yourself and get a quick glimpse on how it is to be Heidi Wessel. There is no order in the pictures, no correct way of looking at them. Just get inspired and get out your own phone from that pocket or bag and start shooting bits of your own life!
The make-up artist in her “beauty salon on wheels�
Mind the train
Happy we are shooting indoors today Salt Lake City... cool style.. want it all with me home
.... even this one Creative use of old bicycle wheels
The only shop in a “shithole city overthere�
Something about old trains
Pimp it up
.... and train stations
My private jet.. Salt flats.. amazing location
Salon beauty on the salt flats...
Please give the model her sunglasses back
Always wanted long legs You can’t miss it
What are you doing auntie? A sunny day in Copenhagen..
HUSK MIT NAVN Here at Lillevegas Magazine we are lucky, that is, we consider ourselves very lucky this time around. Not only did we get an interview with HuskMitNavn (RememberMyName). He also did a unique cover for the magazine! What more could you possibly ask for! Once again, THANKS! HuskMitNavn is a Copenhagen based street artist who has been in the street art game since it took the first baby steps in Denmark. He is one of the most well-known Danish street artists in the world and he regularly has exhibitions around the world. He hides his identity like other known artists. By doing that he only projects his name and drawings on the street art scene and not his physical face. His style is well-known and very original! After seeing these pages you will know why you should remember his name! www.huskmitnavn.com
For how many years have you been a part of the street art scene? I started out doing traditional graffiti in 1993 and from 2001 to 2005 I made a series of street poster campaigns. Since then I have made things a little more on/off on the streets, mostly when I have the time and desire to do so. What triggered HuskMitNavn’s success? The reason I have been able to live from drawing the last several years is a mixture of luck and hard work. Luck in the sense that I together with some friends discovered the graffiti street art in its infancy. In that way I could jump on the street art train as one of the first. My network of friends is also my network in terms of work. Most are in the creative industry so we could use each other, criss-crossing in different projects. Hard work in the sense of being diligent and doing disciplined work, meeting deadlines, responding to e-mails - and drawing thousands of drawings. You get nowhere unless you put a lot of work into it. How did you come up with your idea “The Treasure Hunt”? I was given a Facebook fan page a girl had been so kind to make. There were 4000 fans but there was not really anything on the page. So I spent some energy figuring out what it could be used for and one of the ideas was to put out a photo-trail to a treasure (usually a drawing) which I had hidden somewhere. Then, people began running around trying to find it - astonishingly quickly every time. So far I have hidden treasures in New York, London, Oslo and around Denmark and the last has yet to be found: It is hidden in a continent that starts with the letter A.
We’ve heard rumors that some of your works have been cut down from their original place on the streets and were attempted to be sold on online art auctions? I don’t really have any comments on that. Heard about other artists with the same problems of having their works stolen? It has been quite common since the early street art days in the 1970’s New York. People like Keith Haring and Jean Basquat had their work stolen from the streets big style and a lot of modern street artists like Banksy, Barry McGee, Shepard Fairey etc. experience the same thing today. Continues...
What can we expect of HuskMitNavn in 2011? I have a few decorating assignments ‘round and about, an exhibition in New York and a few group exhibitions in Europe, plus lots of smaller projects I work on when time allows. I document the projects, both the process and outcome and put it on my blog and Facebook page. So you can get an insight on my work there. How has your style developed throughout the years? Hopefully it has evolved for the better. I spend most of my time awake on drawing and I try on a regular basis to experiment with my line without it loosing what defines it as a HuskMitNavn piece. Up until now I have worked on different media such as newspaper drawings, paintings, graffiti, posters, t-shirts, photos, sculptures, print etc. which has forced me into developing my line so it could easily translate into different types of media. Best trick for relaxation? Turn off the internet and sleep in, in a place far far away.
KØBENHAVNS
MØBEL
SNEDKERI In a twisted furniture world where you change furniture like your wardrobe, dominated by a non-specific Swedish company, we are very proud to introduce to you the best Denmark has to offer in the field of carpentry: Københavns Møbelsnedkeri. With an already well-known name on the Danish interior design scene, we bet we have only seen the tip of the iceberg from these guys. Københans Møbelsnedkeri makes furniture with their heart and soul and that shines through in every piece that leaves the shop. In direct contrast to the times of an ever changing homestyle, this furniture will last a lifetime. www.kbhsnedkeri.dk Photography by Inger Stamp & Line Klein
Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself. Københavns Møbelsnedkeri is six full-time carpenters and an architect. We all have a common goal to create heirlooms with inspiration in today’s designs as simple and timeless as possible. Yeah? What do you do? We have spent about four years developing everything from chairs to kitchens and we will continue as long we have something to say. Other products include tables, boxes, sideboards, lamps, bathroom furniture, wardrobes, art, skateboards, surfboards and much more. How did you start Københavns Møbelsnedkeri? We (Kim Dolva and Søren Jespersen) went to carpentry school together and knew early on that we had a good chemistry and a common preference for fine craftsmanship and design. We both also have a penchant for Japanese furniture art which shines through in our own furniture. You primarily work in wood. What is so fantastic about that material? Wood to us is a bit like jazz music. The improvisations often come expressed because no trees are alike. We make everything from scratch and we get new timber delivered to the workshop to create furniture from. It’s super satisfying and very creative. What are your working methods: How to get from idea to final product? Sometimes we get an inquiry from a customer on a particular expression of a piece of furniture: We then design and create. Other times, it is an actual need on the home front
serving as basis of a new design. Sometimes it’s just a good idea. You work a lot with contrasts, details and joints. What and who inspires you and where do you seek your inspiration? The big furniture designers and many artists from other genres. And nature of course. What are your goals with your products and your company? We actually decided not to expand our business although an increasing interest in our furniture: We want to vouch for everything that goes out the gate. We’re always open to new ideas and materials, but we try wherever possible not to make seasonal furniture. It is important that our furniture will continue to be cool - and who knows, maybe become classics.
NEW SHADE ROCK Photography by Pia Dahl Model: Ida G - Unique Models Make-up / Hair: Mia Damby www.piadahl.dk
BACKSTAGE Backstage “Veronica B Vallenes” Photography by Andreas M Hansen www.andreasmhansen.com www.veronicabvallenes.com
DUBAI Photography by Jakob Mark Model: Simona - Divadubai Make-up / Styling: Zena - Bareface Photography Assistant: Henrik Hviid www.jakobmark.com Designers: ListetĂĽ PĂ… Nanna Kvorning Julie Bach Mette Daring Ruffiankat
FAL LU LAH If 2010 should be dedicated to anyone, that someone should be Danish singer, Fallulah. 2010 was the year where she really showed Denmark who she is: Now the world awaits. Danish Radio P3 has played her song “Bridges” non-stop. She won the Danish P3 Gold Award. She is ranked Top 10 in iTunes. In short terms. Fallulah is EVERYWHERE. The Danish singer had her major breakthrough in 2010 and we can’t wait to see what the future will bring from this lovely singer. www.fallulah.com Photography by Anders von Greffelstejn
2010 has been an impressive year for Fallulah. Is it hard to cope with all the attention? The attention itself is not so hard. I still have my private life and I can walk the streets anonymously. It is really positive to feel the amount of attention there is towards my music. I had a dream course with my first album, which is as relevant now as when it was released a year ago. The important thing for me was to make an album completely after my own head and then hope that others would love what I had done. Everything that came along the success of the album were dream scenarios I have imagined over the years. Suddenly a lot of them were realized. I am so grateful that my show is so popular and I love to meet the audience afterwards. What has been difficult for me has been learning where my limits are for what I can grasp. And trying not to be too self critical. I am very often in new situations. The first time you have to play on live television, it feels like the scariest thing in the world. But already the second time around, one can find little comfort in fact that you know roughly how it works. You quickly start to notice all the small things. When one wants your behavior to be absolutely perfect and you are aware that people are sitting and judging your work constantly and continuously. Many are happy to share their opinions behind the comfort shelter of their computer monitor. Therefore, I skipped going on YouTube, Gaffa etc. to read comments. And it has actually made me a lot happier. Direct requests from people asking if I can send the chords to songs, answer questions for a school assignment, do volunteer work or come by and play a few songs have also exploded. I have had real difficulties saying no before, because I basically want to help everybody. However, that suddenly becomes a full-time job and the music and the joy of it all is kept in the background. Recently I went down physically and mentally from that so now I have to draw some clear
boundaries for myself. What sparked the dream as a singer? I do not know. I never had so much confidence in my voice but I wrote a lot of songs. I thought that I could write for other artists, but the songs were very personal, and when I eventually dared to believe that I could sing, it was the right thing. But as a little girl I always sang without me even being aware of it. My math teacher Annie threw me out of class several times because I was singing. That was also a topic at parent/teacher meetings. What was it like hearing your name announced winner of the P3 Gold Award? Probably like finding out that you’ve won the lottery: Completely overwhelming. It took a while before my brain could cope that information. Throughout the period leading up to the evening, people kept asking about my nomination. I could not bear to talk about it. I put all my focus into my performance, and when the time came to announce the winner I repeatedly said to myself that I would not win because I would’t want to be disappointed. My emotions controlled everything when they announced my name. All I could do was to try to keep up. Continues...
2011 already seems to be a great year for Fallulah. What do you do to keep both feet on the ground? I don’t have to do anything, they stay on the ground by themselves. It is not like me to rest on my laurels. I have expectations on my own behalf. I constantly want to push myself and improve as a songwriter and singer. I know that the relationship with my old friends, family and boyfriend are the most important and I cherish them. I live my life as before nothing has changed drastically in that sense. What is playing on your iPod at the moment? I listen to “Smokey Taboo” by CocoRosie, on repeat. Sometimes I fall for a track and then it is the only thing I listen to in a long time. What do you think in music terms is worth keeping an eye on in 2011? I feel pretty un-updated right now and have not heard anything new. I was just on By:larm where I saw a Swedish band called “Niki And The Dove”, which is really interesting. It is new age and ‘80’s Fleetwood Mac-ish, but with a strong rumbling drum track which I love. Peter, Bjorn and John’s new single is cool. And then Kate Bush, Lykke Li and Lady Gaga are all releasing new albums. I also hope there will be some cool and innovative music from home over the years. I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised. Where do you hope Fallulah is in five years? Then Fallulah is a well-established international name who has just released her third album and is on a tour around the world. I hope that I could continue to do interesting and meaningful music and not become complacent as you often see with artists who have been in the industry for a few years.
As I’ve said before: I stop making music if I don’t have my heart and joy in it anymore. Best trick for relaxation? If there is anyone out there with a couple of tricks, I’ll be happy to hear them. I’m just learning it. But take a break from the social networks, from emails and work. Go out, travel and enjoy life without having to document everything on the f book constantly. That should be a good start.
HELMET Photography by Anne Nicolajsen Make-up: Louise Mas Frederiksen - Diva Models Model: Mathilde Nibe - Unique Models Model: Frederik Kleis - Le Management Model: Mikkel Brill www.helloanne.com
DAVID
RICHARDSON British photographer David Richardson has a real passion for analogue film. FILM FOREVER as he puts it. He just finished an exhibition in Aarhus with selected works. And now we are lucky enough to present some of David’s pictures for you. David’s love for film and authenticity shine through in his pictures and it will make you want to throw your digital SLR out the window in the sheer hunger to go back to analogue. www.flickr.com/people/dangershark Photography by David Richardson
Do you chase and struggle to get the pictures you do or do they just happen when you look through your camera? I guess I struggle when I haven’t got a shot where I feel, you know, I’ve got a shot. I think if creativity is something that’s important to you, you feel empty when you’re not feeding it. I tend not to look through the camera, maybe initially just to frame if time is on my side as the lens can be a barrier between you and who is in front of you. Break the barrier. Look into their eyes and let them see into yours. What does NOT inspire you? I think that some institutions just don’t want people to move forward: The Tories in the UK have just axed the UK Film Council, despite the success of British films at the Oscars. There will always be people like this who are oppressing progress and are dangerously shortsighted. What does not inspire me is when people forget that they matter or they just don’t care. Actually it is far worse than a lack of inspiration; it terrifies me. I take inspiration in the great artists around me: I love Richie Culver’s work. It’s raw, honest and true. Just like the best art, it reveals universal truths but still let you feel your own way. His multi-disciplined work is so achingly beautiful, poetic and makes me laugh. James D. Kelly is an amazing social documentary photographer. He really makes the most of his Leica, composing complex scenes effortlessly. With his incredible eye for beauty I think he will be one of the leading fashion photographers very soon. Lasse Dearman is fantastic: What I’ve seen from him is breathtaking and it has just gotten better and better since the first time I saw his work. He’s got such a natural eye and is tirelessly hardworking.
He made an impact in London and Denmark won’t know what hit them; the world awaits. Film forever. Explain? How can you explain a love that feels like it would last forever? What type of film has a love affair with your camera and why? Some of my best photos have been with cheap, nasty film. I bought a bulk load and I loved the grainy imperfections of it. I was sad when it just became too bad to use. Technically the best films I’ve used are Portra and Tri-x. They look fantastic but anything is better than nothing. How is it to be analogue in a digital world? It’s like knowing the cure. But I would like to share it. I’m seeing more and more people who see the light. What is playing on your iPod at the moment? The new Radiohead album, Suicide’s second album, Pere Ubu’s dub housing and Betty Davis. You have just had an exhibition in Denmark. How was it? It was amazing! Such a crazy time. I want to go again. I had an adventure and stayed up partying with some people until about 10 or so. The exhibition was an honor to have and Raw Power is one of the best nights I’ve been to - full stop! First thing that pops to mind when I say...”soup”? My famished belly!
RETRO Photography by Henrik Hviid Make-up: Lonni Sandbjerg Model: Maria Mikkelsen - Diva Models Illustrator: Christian Hansen - ME! ME! ME! www.henrik-hviid.dk
FILMS A small selection of films from the internet. These six films are all some we have come across on the world wide web one way or the other. But most importantly, they got stuck in our head! So now they are here for your pleasure. Just click the “View film - Click here� text to view the film.
Kevin Lyons monsterizes colette water bar
View film - Click here
Klement “Supersize�
View film - Click here
View film - Click here
Zoos of Berlin “Electrical Way”
View film - Click here
Barry McGee “Transfer SP Brasil”
The Holidays “Broken Bones”
View film - Click here
Pogo “Alice”
View film - Click here
JEAN // PHILIP Sometimes a change of plans is the best way to get to your goal. Jean//Philip is living proof of just that. Starting out. Wanting to attend the Danish Design School. Jean//Philip never got in. However, that never seemed to get to the young designer. He was determined to make it and believed in his designs. That willpower has made him the new shooting star on the Danish fashion scene. www.jeanphillip.dk Photography by Gert Foget Hansen
Tell us a little about yourself. I have been dreaming of becoming an animator my whole life and I got accepted for a period of time at the Animation Workshop in Viborg, which is among the best animation schools in Europe. However, time showed me that animation wasn’t my call and I always knew that if animation wouldn’t work, I would want to do clothes. After high school, I tried three years in a row to enter the Danish Design School with no luck. After three attempts I got tired of it and five days later I had my VAT number and the brand was founded in 2007. Today the brand is still growing and developing almost exclusively among international clients - excepted is the fabulous store called &Pagne placed in the main shopping street in Copenhagen, Denmark.
What started the idea of becoming a designer? A head full of ideas that had to see the daylight. I’m just lucky that people like what I do! After a shattered animator dream in the sense that I didn’t get my creative needs fulfilled, I found that I could be fulfilled in designing clothes. How did you take the plunge to start your own brand? It came from pure annoyance and frustration of not being admitted into the Danish Design School after three attempts. The brand was formed a few days after the third attempt. I knew that I didn’t need a piece of paper to tell me that I’m good enough as a designer. I could figure that out by myself.
How did you achieve the success you have today?
How have you developed as a designer since your first collection hit the catwalk?
I have reached where I am today primarily due to hard work, willpower and a huge passion for my trade. And I don’t feel like anything can stop me! There is much adversity in this industry, but I accepted these conditions eagerly. Not be forgotten is all the fantastic people who helped me along the way: I do my best to show them that they are valued and that I appreciate what they do for me. As a result there are still a lot of the same people who helped me when I started who are helping me out today.
I have become better at working in depth with a collection, structure it and bring the whole expression context. And at the same time I have got a safety in knowing that what I do is right for the brand and me.
Another thing is that I am uncompromising in my work and I do what I think is right. Through that I can create a steady image of the goal I have for the brand. The character of the brand gets stronger season after season. That, combined with me learning more and getting better at my trade makes the brand more serious season after season.
Continues...
You’ve already got a respected name in the industry. What has caused that? Humility. Hard work and mutual respect for the people I work with. What is on your mind when you are not thinking about new collections? I’m always thinking of new collections: It’s the part that never stops! But when it comes to my private life, I’m just like a little kid. I love anime/manga movies, especially, Hayao Miyazaki’s universe. I take a lot of pictures in the Polaroid 600 film format and I’m a big music fan! Spend a lot of time diving into what’s happening on the music front. I listen to music all day when I design clothes and it is done on a proper hi-fi system. So I have my own little party every day. Music gives me a drive, but I need to change sound very often in order for me to keep the drive and not let the music drain me. Last but not least, my Nintendo Wii, probably the best toy I have at home!
What plays on your iPod right now? Creep - Days Feat. Romy Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto - HJ Broken Line 1 Crystal Castles - Baptism (Primus Optimus Transformers Version) David Sylvian - Get The Hell Out (Bonus Track No.3) Fischerspooner - Supply & Demand (AutoErotique Remix) Giana Factory - Rainbow Girl (Live Version) Goldfrapp - Pilots Grandaddy - The Crystal Lake LudoX - Coming Up Roses No-Man - Only Rain Phillip Glass - Saxophone Concerto [Hector Castillo & Eduardo Larez] Superheroes - Eventually (Jeg elsker jer sku stadig...) Thomas Koppel - New Years Morning …I could keep going but we stop here.
HEAD HOODS On a trip to NY I came across what today is the fashion phenomenon HeadHoods. In the very first issue of Lillevegas Magazine we featured Clinton from his first studio. A lot has happened since then. Once again we bang heads with Clinton van Gemert. Founder and designer at HeadHoods. To find out what has happened with HeadHoods in little over a year. And it’s quite a lot. Three different studio spaces, a ton of new ideas, art exhibitions and a little thing we like to call love. www.headhoods.com Photography by Hugo Arturi
To sum up, what is HeadHoods? HeadHoods is a concept I came up with back in 2005. I came up with the idea and ran with it because I thought it might be a good side job to help make ends meet. It did more than just that and it actually made me decide between my full time job and HeadHoods. To most of my customers, HeadHoods is a simple idea of screen printing - a vast array of proportional heads on the hoods of sweatshirts which results in a sort of walking street art fashion. I really wasn’t expecting such great feedback when I first launched HeadHoods back in 2007. I ended up diving in head first and haven’t looked back yet. I’ve lost count of how many hoods I’ve printed, but it’s thousands and they are probably in just about every country I think. I’ve been trying to make HeadHoods not just a clothing line, but more of a lifestyle. I would like to think that HeadHoods inspires young kids to go out and make their own careers. It’s a little over a year since we featured you in the very first Lillevegas Magazine. What has happened with HeadHoods since then? First off, I’m psyched to continually be a part of your mag. It’s exciting to see it grow from issue to issue and it is great to be a part of something that’s blossoming. A lot has happened this last year. I had the opportunity to have my own solo art show here in Brooklyn, which was a great experience. Was great to get things out of the studio and to hang them in a gallery. The opening was fun and my fiance Martha Ellen (yes, I also got engaged this last year too!) and I debuted some of the new music we have been playing. I’ve also schlepped my studio to different areas of Brooklyn a couple times in search of finding just the right set-up and dynamic for working on HeadHoods (one of the more physically exhausting things instead). Having just the right spot and set up really makes a differ-
ence for doing my work. It’s fascinating how much a space will effect your work. HeadHoods just moved to a great new spot right in a great part of Williamsburg, which is one of the higher energy areas of Brooklyn, New York. Lots of shops and creative types everywhere. It’s a nice change of pace from being off the beaten path isolated massive artist loft I was at. Martha Ellen and I joined forces and are right now in the process of opening “HeadChop” ~ hairs and wears. She’s a very talented hairstylist and is her own boss as well. Setting up this space together reminds me of doing a gallery show, which is an exciting way to think of any space. We work very efficiently together and propel and help each other in their own biz. This location also has a little showroom shop up front, which I’m really psyched about. Continues...
You are a very talented musician. Are you able to combine HeadHoods and music?
You have had exhibitions internationally. Any new projects in the works?
Thanks Dan. That means a lot. I still remember playing my double bass for you and Alberto back when I had my studio in the back of a motorcycle garage! Since HeadHoods is my full time job and I am my own boss, I am able to take music breaks from time to time, which I will always make a priority. Not always as many as I’d like! I always make a point to have a music nook in each space HeadHoods resides. Most of the time, my mind is juggling an array of HeadHoods related tasks and one of the few times I’m not thinking of HeadHoods is when I’m playing music. It’s a great medium to get lost in. Music is the most free form of art I feel since it doesn’t require a constant source of materials and is visual in the sense that music paints it’s own pictures. It’s a great outlet for me and I look forward to getting to share it more in the near future. I stepped away from the saturated music circuit here and play for friends and that’s about it. For a while I was getting really into looping, with tape delays, percussion, bass, etc., which is a lot of fun. Martha Ellen and I are also joining forces in this department as well and are playing music together. She’s a folkie violinist with a great Southern voice. Good times. We hope to be busking in the near future and playing at our shop.
I was fortunate enough to cross paths with Sweet Toof from London a couple years back here in Brooklyn. He’s a very inspiring artist and we link up when ever he is in town. We went to get a beer this last spring when he was in town and he ended up living at my place for a week. I got to go out painting with him and we were making art left and right. One of the best weeks this past year. He has a gallery over in London called the High Roller Society, which I’ve gotten to take part in a couple of exhibitions.
Whats the newest Hood in the shop? I’ve been experimenting with new makes and styles of hoods. My goal is to incorporate as much organic and sustainable hoods in the line as possible. I’ve been sitting behind the sewing machine more these days and have been sewing and altering hoods as well as collaging faces, which is fun. Working on constructing a hood from scratch one of these days.
Clintees is also one of your projects. What’s your idea behind the t-shirts? T-shirts are a great medium to get a statement out there I feel. It happened organically from printing hoods and couldn’t help resisting printing onto t-shirts. I have fun merging typography, puns and design. I have some fun ideas I’m looking forward to coming out with this spring. It’s inspiring to have people into my t-shirts as well as my hoods. As the hard working guy you are, what’s your best trick to relaxation? I was hoping you actually had some suggestions! Actually, religion and yoga help quite a bit.
TOUCHING
FROM A
DISTANCE Photography by Lasse Dearman Model: Maria Palm Lyduch - Elite Model Management www.lassedearman.com
THROUGH
THE
HAZE Photography by Hordur Ingason Model: Anna Sigrid - Unique Models Make-up / Styling: Louise Mas Frederiksen Photography Assistant: Carsten Nørgaard www.horduringason.com
www.michaelberg.dk