Alessandro Mendini

Real excited and proud to announce my small interview with the legend that is Alessandro Mendini. Mendini is an architect/designer and was also former director of magazines like Domus and Casabella. He has also won the Compasso d'Oro for his work. His work is just a beautiful mix of art, intelligence and humour.

GVSE; What first made me a fan of yours was the playfulness and humour in your work. It made me see that art can be applied to all aspects of our lives. That love of colour and playful lines made me see that your work was planted in art and rebellion. Can you say what influenced you and your work when you were starting? Did you have any set objectives when you began?

MENDINI; Since the beginning, my work has been influenced by Cubist and Futurist paintings. As for theory, I am interested in Symbolism, Expressionism, Arte Povera and the Transavanguardia. In short, animistic culture.

GVSE; What are your opinions on modern design? In my opinion, it seems that a lot of modern design lacks soul and character. A very cold and metallic world. Do you think it is becoming harder to become an individual with companies taking less risks?

MENDINI; Yes, it’s true. Designers and industries today are focused on technology instead of humanism, and that is a terrible mistake.

GVSE; Does literature have an influence in your work?

MENDINI; My design work follows a literary matrix, meaning that my objects and myself are part of an autobiography. I use “visual alphabets” that are like words layered onto objects. My favorite writer is Marcel Proust.

GVSE; I see some spirituality in your work. Is this the case? Would you say that you were a religious person?

MENDINI; I am a spiritualist and believe in religions.

GVSE; What are your thoughts on the, so called, ‘creative process’? I like what Luis Bunuel wrote about how his dreams influenced him. How he would put part of his dreams into his films. I, sadly, never remember them. Are you somebody that remembers his dreams and are influenced by this subconscious part of ourselves?

MENDINI; My dreams do not influence my work directly, but I pay much attention to psychic factors. I am fascinated by “psychological space” as opposed to geometrical space. I consider surroundings and objects as extensions of the mind.

GVSE; Of all the work you have done what are some of your favourite projects or objects and why?

MENDINI; Naturally I am more attached to certain projects. But what I like to think of is the woven story of all my characters (pretty and ugly, good and evil, rich and poor). Then I try to forget about them.

GVSE; What do you think of art and design magazines? Do you think they are doing enough in their roles?

MENDINI; Today, these magazines can give only information, not ideology. They are good at informing.

GVSE; Finally, as the magazine is called Good vs Evil. Can you tell me what pleases you and what scares you?

MENDINI; I like generosity and am terrified by violence.

Please have a look at his site at http://www.ateliermendini.it/

A big thank you goes out to Beatrice Felis for helping with the interview.

IMAGES

Image 1: Alessandro Mendini Poltrona di Proust, armchair, 1978

Image 2: Alessandro Mendini, Anna G. Alessi, 1994

Image 3: Alessandro Mendini, 100% Make up, vase, Alessi, 1992

Image 4: Alessandro Mendini, Casa Antonello, bedroom, Milano 1989

Image 5: Alessandro and Francesco Mendini, Groninger Museum, Holland, 1994

Michaela Colette Zacchilli

Michaela does awesome sinister work. Evil comic strips that just burn my eyes with greatness. Also does lovely silk screen stuff. Do yourself a favour and get a look at her site at http://www.michaelacolette.com/

She must do something for issue 4....

Mr Red

I love this guys work. Really fun and interesting work. The bear pic was one of the greatest pics I have seen this year. Have a look and make a friend of Mr Red....

http://www.flickr.com/people/24821647@N02/

Dario Molinaro

Some good work by this Italian fellow. Have a look at his really nice pen and ink stuff. Have a look at http://www.flickr.com/people/dariomolinaro/

Vincent Broquaire

The very nice Estelle from Delkographik sent me work from this really great artist. I really love all his work. Playful pieces that remind me a little of David Shrigley but without being so contrived. Lovely stuff indeed. Have a look at his work at http://vincentbroquaire.com/

Jason Overby

Jason does abstract comics. Brilliant pages of faces and dialogue put together in a way that has me staring at them for ages at a time. I get lost in the abstract world and for that it makes the comic experience that much stronger. Go have a look and become a fan http://www.flickr.com/people/discretefunk/ and website at http://www.discretefunk.com/

Jorge Galvao

Superb characters from Jorge. Love all this guys sketch book stuff. Really great use of shape and colour. Evil eyes and savage teeth make it a world that I like! Have a look and see for yourself. Nice..................http://www.flickr.com/people/jorgegalvao/

JJBZ

Lovely work from this Brasilian artist. Really love these surreal characters with their undefined bodies. Lovely stuff indeed. Go have alook and see some great work http://www.flickr.com/people/jjbz/

Virgilio

Virgilio is a Brasilian artist who does these beautiful ink and watercolour pictures. Lovely flowing lines with hints of psychaedelia and colour. Nice stuff indeed. Have a look at his flickr at http://www.flickr.com/people/virgilioneto/ Nice right?

Snail Booty

Snailbooty has one of the most interesting array of artwork I have come across. A mix of collage, clay dolls, photoshop manipulation and everything else. She has kindly sent me these pics for the blog. Say hell to the strange world of Snailbooty. All hail Snailbooty! See more at http://www.flickr.com/people/94177846@N00/

Jovixu

I usually am not a fan of computer art but every now and then something comes along and I change my mind about it. Jovixu produces these amazing and darkly humorous pieces. She seems to like to fuck with peoples ideas on feminine roles and submission. Check her stuff out at http://www.jovixu.com/ or http://www.flickr.com/people/jovixu/

seize happywallmaker

Seize is a French artist who does some REAL interesting geometric artwork. A maze like structure that pulls you in with its powerful colours. It's all painted, no vectors (thank God) I like to think they are some alien messages and if we follow the lines we can get the message.... Whatever, still this guy is great so go have a look at http://www.flickr.com/people/seizehappywallmaker/

Confessions of The Film Director Part 6

Confession by XXXXX XXXXXXXXX

The woman is all fat and bad skin. The light shining on her naked flesh. She gyrates herself badly to the music. Judah looks on and laughs.

You like? He asks.

Yeah, why not, I respond. He lights his cigarette and the woman squats and opens her legs to us. She starts pissing and laughing.

You’d have loved Thailand, he said. I saw it all there. I was fucking a boy only twelve years old who had an 11 inch cock! Wild nights man, wild. He laughs again as he remembers. Asshole like a mouse’s ear, he recounts before another belly laugh.

About the film, I say, do you think your client will back it?

He pretends not to hear and keeps looking at the woman. Come here, he says to her. She walks over with a slight limp. She spits in his face. The spit dangles on his nose. His face elated. He slaps her hard and they both laugh.

Maggie is such a cunt, he says, I had to marry her, just had to. She sits on his lap and spreads her legs. He fondles her pussy and she moans a little. All show and tell. Her pussy looks strange. Like it'd been bastardised in post production.

About the film, I say trying to get back to business.

Your last film didn’t go so well, he says. Disaster in fact, right? Difficult to back you old man.

I call him a prick and down my drink in anger. The woman gets off his lap and sits in her piss on the floor.

You want to fuck her? He asks.

Sure, I say and walk over to her. The light shows up the scars on her face and she looks slightly balding under the harsh light.

Great! He says with some excitement. We’ll all make it together, he continues. The woman works at my zipper and giggles.

I hear Judah behind me.

mermelada de vainilla

I know nothing about this guy apart from his work is rad. Check him at http://www.flickr.com/people/arcoiris_testicular/

Mitchel Spider (chicken dinners)

Really liking the work of Mitchel Spider. I love all these strange characters and love even more the names of the work. My favourite being 'sanitation prevents shingles'. Which has to be the title of the century to me. What I really like is he uses everything in his artwork, pen, charcoal, paint, biro.. Great work to see on his profile. Take some time to see it all. Check him out at http://www.flickr.com/people/chicken_dinners/

Flogging a dead horse

Capitalism is repetition.

Good vs Evil 2 is still for sale. If you haven't bought a copy, shame on you. You should buy it now before it's gone. Good vs Evil isn't a corporate cock suck like Computer Arts. We don't bore the life out of you plugging the same fucking people with the same boring shit. Good vs Evil brings you the rawest and most interesting work out there. No ads, no high gloss, just new art from great people.

You can buy from the button on the side of the page.

good vs evil 2. 80 pages, a5, 100gsm insert, and 200gsm cover.
47 artists all for £5.50. Beautifully printed and a run of 150 so get yours quick.

FRANMO, MARK, ANGO, BRECHT, ARN VLESSPAPIER, SHISH TICK, RANEE, LL COOL JO, MIRUKI TUSKO, HERRSCHULZE, DAV GUEDIN, YVA, CAROLYN ALEXANDER, RYAN RISS, DEREK BALLARD, CARAKTER ATYPIK, ZEROTEN, HEIKO MÜLLER, FLAT 33, KATE COPELAND, FARMER BOB, JASON ATOMIC, PASCAL NICHOLS, KOOPA, THE HORROR, KEVIN CORNELL, JOWLS, KAPRELES, TOMASSO MELI, GETLIFFE, HIROMI NAKAJIMA, CHRIS STANTON, STEPHANE PRIGENT, ERIC MEYER, DELME, ABIDE VISUALS, PLUNE, NOODLEHORSE, MARCUS SCHAFER, JON VAUGHN, MR KLEVRA, STEVEN DAILY, G, GEMMA CORRELL, HELL'O' MONSTERS

Hitler Mouse.

Great picture by Deer Man. I came across this via flickr and it made me laugh. Check the great stuff of Deer Man at http://www.flickr.com/people/heavy_armored_deer/

Sean Aaberg

Sean's work is too damned cool. A nice psychaedelic mix of shapes and colour. Every picture has me staring at it like some magic eye picture. Trying to see all the great little details going on.

He must be a goer for Good vs Evil 4! Have alook at his great work at http://www.flickr.com/people/seanaaberg/ adn website at http://www.goblinko.com/