When's the last time you played telephone. I honestly don't remember playing that, ever. Yeah, and how'd that work out for everyone involved? I can't obviously tell tell you the result on that... How does technology contribute to your work? Productivity. ...Take away from? Productivity. How have you achieved clarity in your own life? Pretty much unconsciously... Is there unconscious ritual in creation? Yes, very. Why distortion in your work? I used to play the electric guitar a lot. My first guitar pedal was a Boss DS-1. Since then, I've been hooked on the sound and the idea of artificially distorting things. Does that have anything to do w/ our limited perception of reality? Yes. How does Sibyl stand out to you amongst your other work with video? Because it represents what it's all about. What, if anything, is lacking? I could go for a nice nap and a few good tutorial videos on YouTube. Is it worth the money invested? Yeah, all the things I do are pretty much on the low budget side of things anyhow. Does fear prevent you from stuff? Yes, I suppose. I wish that I could say that I'm fearless... I'm not. Where have you seen the manifestation of your thought abroad? Everywhere to some extent... Thanks to the advent of the Internet. Is there a complementary growth achieved between your work as an artist and as a musician? Yeah, I can never seem to separate those two. What do you think would happen if you believed everything you saw? I'd be either very happy or very sad. New shows or exhibitions? I'll be in some group shows in the next couple months, and I've been working on some visual art commissions for some really good bands/musicians. I'm also running an experimental video art label, Undervolt & Co., with my partner, Johnny, that'll be keeping me busy for quite some time to come.
How has training contributed to your art? We have not had any training, so our work has not been learnt. Our art comes from our heart and is about life experience and emotion. What makes you smile? Aimee, our daughter. When were you first diagnosed w/ Dissociative Identity Disorder? 1995. And has art always been a part of your life? No. We did not start painting until '04, and at first only eight personalities were interested. Over the next 5 years another 6 personalities joined in. As you've developed as an artist, how have you benefited personally? We have gained so much over the years developing as artists. Not only has it opened up a whole new world for us, it has helped us to communicate through our paintings, and we have been able to learn from one another--what each experiences and feels. Being amnesic between the personalities, it has definitely helped us out greatly with communication and an overall feeling of togetherness. Have you managed to find relief in creating pieces like "It is rude to point"? As we are separate, Ria, who painted "It is rude to point," would be the only personality who would be able to answer that question. I would think she would of got some relief from doing such a painting, otherwise I feel she probably would of stopped painting. It is a way for her to communicate, and with her not being able to verbalise those sentiments, painting it must have been a great help to her. By creating through different identities, are you able to further develop upon style and technique? We are all individuals, and I feel (just like any other group of artists) with time and practice that we have all developed our own styles and techniques. Does each identity, then, accommodate a different need? With being different ages and having experienced different emotional developments, the personalities do have very different needs. W/ whom am I communicating now? Patricia. Would it be appropriate to complete this interview at various times? It would be possible to send or leave a message for some of the other personalities to fill in... The problem would be most of them do not accept they share a body, so would not be able to
answer the question/s. How have you protected you from yourself in life? DID is a protection, and also leaves us all very vulnerable. The best protection I have had has been therapy and our art. This has given me an understanding of the whole system, and helps us to better communicate. Do coping mechanisms allow for or inhibit growth outside of a controlled environment? I think coping mechanisms are the minds way of allowing growth. How does fear manifest itself into action? Fear can cause a switch to another personality--one that is able to cope better. Where do you go in memory to find peace? I have many happy memories, especially those with our daughter growing up. Being one of the lucky personalities that does not have any abuse memories, I do not have too much trouble in finding peace. Is that the same regardless of circumstance? Sometimes I worry about the other personalities and what they have been up to, but that is short lived. I have them, and they are here to stay, so we just have to do the best for one another that we can. New shows or exhibitions? Hopefully soon, but we have none planned at the moment... However, we might be making another book, and we are in talks about putting together a documentary about our art.
When'd you jump off the porch? At 9 years old with a slingshot and a brain, like Bart Simpson. And how has that improved your quality of life? Let's just say I got the plug. [laughs] My quality of life never stops improving... Do ppl take "the life" too srsly? Maybe just a little too seriously... ...Themselves? Of course you have to get the job done, but you can have some fun doing it. Damn it. Is it TU, 24/7s at this point in the game? Good question. I've created a turn-up switch, for specific moments when you need it, just hit the switch. [laughs] And how has not giving a fizuck improved your quality of life? Oh, I give a fizuck... Just about money, God and family. The rest of the bullshit can suck my balls. Could you be w/o organization? I'm organized in my mind naturally. So nah, it would be chaos. What's the real reason you rep the streets? I rep Pomona bcuz that's where I'm from, that's where I got all my game, and that's where I learned the tricks of the trade. Product of my environment, bro. Why? I'm proud of my area. Real talk. Is the lifestyle represented in your music your reality? They say it's not where you're from, it's where you're at. But where you're from got you there... [laughs] Trust me. Do you really know what you really want? I do. Right now I'm putting together my best project yet, and I plan on shopping that to the labels. And how much fun is it to watch others in their perpetuation of a projected lifestyle? [laughs] I try not to judge. Faking the funk usually backfires, though... I just know my folks and I are very thorough. Why don't they call it thizz anymore? Idk y they don't call it thizz anymore. I do tho--'bout to pop 1 rite now! (Checks shoebox full of drugs.) Why pump game on Twitter? Only Twitter mackin', just for the chicks... Does anything else compare to performing live? Performing live is my shit! Maybe the perfect nut, or 5,000,000 bucks--other than that, the stage is my home. New shows or exhibitions? New shows coming up... Currently tightening up this project, Cosmic Soup, that I got coming out with my homeboy, @kornbread800. That should be ready by Christmas time. And this next year is all me, my brother, solo project, plus some mo' shit...
How's structure emphasized in your own life? I teach art a lot at universities and manage to spend 20 hours in my studio, too. It demands organization and some discipline to work so much. As we approach infnty, what can/will change? We already passed infinity with the Internet, we're just trying to understand it now and adapt to its speed. How do you see sci-fi influencing the world today? Science fiction has undoubtedly predicted so much of our future, time and time again. I see it as both, ridiculous, and relevant, especially when we witness the subtleties of psychology involved in its human side. How would you like viewers to interact w/ your work? I would like my viewers to be completely captivated, to approach each installation in exploration of something new, and to not judge that experience, but, rather, feel it. When you take that step, perceptual psychology can be a motivating, metaphysical force. And how is that complemented? I create work for people to discover its point of view often --each installation has a sweet spot to view it from. People hunt for this because I don't mark it--instead they are lured by clues of perspective and alignment to find it. To what benefit? To discover a phenomenon of vision with your own deduction is very rewarding, exciting,
and demonstrates an intelligent path of observing something 'til it's solved. When is your mind at rest? Not often, but meditation's a great tool... I can zone out on purpose; I call it stoner meditation. It's the opposite of clearing your mind: instead you put on headphones, close your eyes, and focus on the electronic music generating the sound waves crashing into your brain. What direction do you see digital simulation taking in the future? We will have a wave of hyper-technology, where we will try to apply moving image, interactivity, and bio sensory environments to our world so that we live in technology. And eventually, over time, there will be a reversal back to a craft-based focus and a re-simplification. This will be the golden age of technological intellect, without all the technology needed. And how does that pertain to reality? Reality will become almost entirely based on simulation, as a good simulation of reality gives us all the mental and sensory satisfaction we need. How do you fit into society? I look fairly normal and act fairly legal... I try to maintain social fluency, but I'm tripping out in my head. Lasers: friend or foe? Friend 'til death... I'm making a lot of laser art right now--it's amazing! BTW, how's "Scanner" coming along? That's what I'm talking about... Laser scanning art studios, and developing immersive installations so people can play with lasers in pitch-black rooms. How would you care to help others' perception of reality? I can tell them to take psychedelics, understand the limits of perception, become humble, and read a ton. When exploring, what guides you intuitively? I need to be perplexed by work--to see the unseen or simulate digital worlds... How do you feel while creating? Terrible. It's hard work thinking so much. But when I'm just experimenting, that's the best freedom in the world. Much time spent in prep, or do you just have at a space? I prep a lot. I start with a lot of sketches, then refine them in Illustrator, project or map out things on site, then change them intuitively (about 30% or so) 'til it's right. New shows or exhibitions? Not yet, and super excited not to! I've been busy. They'll start arriving shortly--always happens. I'm working on my laser book featuring a series of photographic laser works, and on creating an installation/exhibition for its release.
How does beauty influence your world? Beauty is the perfect opposite to the darkness in my work. I like to merge and combine opposing elements in each piece. I also like to push what people consider beautiful in my figures. I think life is beautiful in general: moments in time, lyrics to songs, people you meet, places you see, smells in the air, memories, dreams, love, romance. Beauty can also be found hiding in the least expected places... Beauty is a cactus sprouting up through the dirt. Beauty is your lover's morning yawn. Beauty is trust. Beauty is a dark autumn night at a beach covered in slimy seaweed. Where do line and form intermingle within your work? Line creates form. It creates soft form and hard form/s, depending on how sharp each line is. But if you throw color into the mix, it's a completely different story... Color is what really defines line and form. Essentially, each and every piece of the work is important, but some shapes are meant to stand out, whereas others are meant to sit quietly in the background. Outside of a particular moment in time, what is it you remember and why? I remember how I felt when I stepped foot off of the subway and onto the streets of Manhattan when I first moved to NYC. I wanted to be there so bad; I was awestruck. The sunlight felt warmer and brighter; the people walked faster,
dressed better, laughed harder; galleries everywhere. I was free in the city! Definitely got a high from that... How much self-exploration is involved w/ your work? I'm actively engaging my innermost thoughts and feelings within my work. It's obvious when you look at my current work and compare it to my work from some years ago... The work has changed, the handling of the paint has changed, I have changed-it's all a reflection. Is this clear to others? I hope so. Does your work define you, or is it the other way around? I have posed this question to myself many times over, and I've come to the conclusion that the work and I do not define each other--we are one. How has your definition of beauty changed over time? The more I see and the more I create, the more I broaden my perception of what beauty is... Do you actively push yourself to create? Yes, because there are always ideas running through my head, and I just can't help myself--each has to materialize. It’s just something I have to do. And when it gets to the point where it starts to feel like a chore, that's when I change things up by just messing around in my studio. When is it best to leave things unsaid? When the person receiving the information is impenetrable. Does each piece contain a piece of you? Most definitely, each is a timeline to my development. Where does progression occur? There's progress made with every piece. There's a feeling I want to capture, an element I want to build upon--that's done each time around. Have you been able to accurately convey the thoughts or sentiments involved of a particular piece to its audience? Yes. Why or why not? I want the work to reach my audience, but I don't want to put limitations on how or why it affects them. I'm actually curious as to what their take is on my work, because while creating these pieces, I'm completely zoned out. So when talking to people about my work, I like to see how each has reached them all. Who do you create for? During creation it's for me. After creation it's for the people. Will this change? So far it's working out well. New shows or exhibitions? Yes. I'll be a part of BACG's (Bushwick Art Crit Group's) booth at SELECT Art Fair at Art Basel Miami Beach, December 2-7, '14.
When does infinity end? I know, right? Infinity pops up in some different places... Is time infinite? Is space infinite? Are numbers infinite? Is scale infinite? I was thinking a lot about infinite scale around the time I started this project. I was trying to imagine what it would look like zooming in on something closer and closer forever. What is it you're showing us w/ each new piece? I wanted to create images that were difficult to understand. I wanted to make things that were both 2D and 3D at the same time--coming towards us and moving away. Some of the GIFs are impossible to completely understand at first glance, there's too much conflicting information for our brains to resolve. Does any of this exist outside you? I have no idea why existence exists; I've stopped trying to figure it out. Now I just draw hexagons... How'd you choose upon the hexagon? It was a convergence of three completely separate events. For a while I'd been casually researching sacred geometry-basically patterns and shapes that ancient cultures considered important or interesting or magical. The hexagon appears quite frequently in sacred geometry: the Tree of Life, for example, or the Seal of Solomon. Around that same time, I was collaborating with my acupuncturist on some designs for a water bottle he wanted to make. The shapes of snowflakes inspired some of the ideas, and I drew a few different hexagon-based logos. The hexeosis logo is based on a photo of a snowflake that came out of that process. And then, finally, I was at a friend's house one day when I looked at a grid of hexagonal tiles in the bathroom, and it all instantly clicked into place. I saw a way I could use the symmetries and tiling abilities of hexagons to create an endless scale loop in time. And where did apotheosis peek its head in the door? I wanted to come up with a unique name that would be "googleable," and link only to my project. So I spent around a month or so brainstorming naming ideas. I always liked the word apotheosis as it applies to art: The idea of elevating a subject to a divine nature. So the name hexeosis just made sense... What would you like to accomplish w/ your work as hexeosis? I'd like to make things that are beautiful to look at, and that can create a moment of happiness for each viewer. Do you feel like you're on your way? I've gotten a lot of really great, really positive feedback from people. All the nice comments have made the project worthwhile. Can things keep getting exponentially faster and fstr? I guess, yeah, until your speed becomes infinite or smthn... What happens then?
It's full of stars. What does that even mean? Dude... Wait, what?? Sorta like "tumblr_ ndh7tz4NU31sb5osho1_500.gif"? Exactly like that, yes. Are there enough colors in the world for your tasteses? Yeah, but someone should invent some more anyway. Do you ever get the feeling that maybe, just maybe, we're missing out on a whole lot of cool stuff that's going on w/ our limited senses and capabilities? Yeah, there are all kinds of things happening we don't really have access to... How do the same things keep happening again and again? If time's actually infinite, then everything has to happen over again and again. This may be the 209,994,885th time I've typed this sentence. Also, if space is infinite, there are infinite copies of all of this out there somewhere. What is it you daydream about? When I close my eyes, I tend to see elaborate interlocking, evolving geometric patterns. And how often does that become a reality? Not the wind, not the flag; mind is moving. New shows or exhibitions? Soon, I'll have some longer format, full HD videos on YouTube. After that, I have a couple of apps I want to put out. And the biggest thing I'm planning right now is an Oculus Rift experience. If I can get it to work the way I'm thinking, it should be really fun. Or it will induce massive nausea. Either way...