5 Questions with Fezwitch

It would be almost impossible for the 2095'er to NOT refer to that "thing" she went to time and time again....you know.....PM3.  For this was the place that she spied THE most amazing sticker which was provocative, profound and hysterical all bundled in to one.

With each return to Cockatoo Island and as part of her mantra to 'capture as much as I can', the 2095 consciously sought out other pieces by this artist.  

So many amazing pieces to be had & captured in this extraordinary location, almost mind bending at times.  But deep within, the 2095 felt compelled to continue on this journey and rather than fight against the tide, she simply let this compulsion lead her where it may.

irony being this is now strangely appropriate given our current embarrassing political state of affairs

With the boldness and safety behind the fibreoptic, the 2095 made contact with the Fez and from there (once again thanks to social media) a connection was made which leads us beautifully in to the 5 Questions with Fezwitch

When did the world of Fezwitch begin

It all began in 2006.  Prior to that, I expressed my creativity through corporate Graphic Design and clients who I had no real connection with.

Street art was a great way to get my own ideas out there, so I printed a few paste-ups and went for it!

"Maggid" means storyteller and my name references like "The Maggid of Mezritch" is in relation to a respected Polish mystical scholar in the 1700's.

I use visual communication and humour to tell my stories and illustrate my obsession with classic computer technology.

Much of your work could be perceived as reactionary to current political events.  Is this the main drive behind your works, or is it more of an innocuous thought that "appears" from an off-tangent musing, observation or experience

My intention is to make people smile and rethink the accepted stereotypes that popular culture wants us to believe.

Many pieces of mine contain that cynical vibe that pokes fun at the consumer brands we all live and breath by.  Also personal interests and observations form ideas, which are then translated in to a piece.

Do you see yourself as a political satirist

Overall no, but I do like playing with politics as a subject

You had a fantastic project where there public were encouraged to send you the good old floppy disc decorated free form and then placed in various locations around your former stomping ground.  What was the inspiration behind that particular activity

I'm just slightly obsessed with used and abused floppy discs.  I use the disc as a tag with an easily recognisable shape and form that represents the speed of technological advancement.

They all hold some unknown piece of data (be that 100/200kb) and each time a disc goes up, so does a piece of information that someone needed at some point of time in their lives.  Including the public is a way to remind people of this and get involved in street art.  Discs also make cute canvases.

You recently relocated back to the UK.  Is there anything about the street art scene in Australia you miss, or are we somewhat lagging behind Europe and the UK

The sheer population of the UK allows for a larger volume of art, artists and exhibitions, but I do miss a small city with less CCTV cameras and easy parking.

Still early days, but I prefer the Melbourne scene as its more laid back and seems to be thriving with great art in the suburbs you wouldn't expect to see.

Ask me again in a few years

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And the 2095 will hold you to that!  Huge thanks to Fez for allowing this "international" interview courtesy of the fibre optics and we miss you already!

But we are safe in the knowledge that you are keeping a watch on the hood