5 Questions with John Forno

It would be nigh on impossible to NOT refer to PM3 for this particular article for that is when, dear readers, the 2095 met said artist John Forno, albeit by way of a pasteup!

And given that this was also the impetus to forge the connection (thanks to the wonderous delight of social media), the 2095 chick has followed the art of said Forno both with delight and complete frustration in that she simply could NOT jump through the fibre optics to capture some works digitally.

We first "met" via PM3 as it were.  Can you give a little bit of insight into the world of Forno the artist

Hmmmmmmmm....before doing my Undergrad in Fine Arts, my work was an exploration into the pitfalls of Consumerism.  This idea of stripping away the ego that mass media target and continually cascade in front of us.  The usual "you need this, want this and are not whole without it".

Inspired by the likes of Ben Frost, Fairey, Banksy & Ron English, I firmly believe that there is a therapy in art, so I gradually flogged myself through Undergrad, shifted more to my own personal history, my childhood, exploring psychology, ego, memory, Gestalt Principles, items of nostalgia and of course POP Culture.  I'm a POP culture kid through and through.

I believe if I have experienced something in my life, then someone else has more than likely experienced something similar.  Through the medium of art I hope to raise questions for the viewer and encourage self exploration.  But sometimes it just looks aesthetically pleasing.

If art is deemed as "representative of our inner self", which of your styles would "fit" this description and why (or not as the case may be)

POP art!!!!!!  Growing up with Atari, Commodore 54, the first Mac (dare I say it), Amstrad, 8-Bit arcades, anaglyph 3D, Transformers, Speed Racer, Scooby-Doo, Nintendo hand helds, Sega, BMX, skateboarding, Star Wars, Buck Rogers, Batman, Wonder Woman etc etc...

These all had a lasting effect on me and were my escape as a child.  As an adult these items remind me of simpler times: times of fun, exploration, no fear and no boundaries.

Being somewhat of a collector of Pop culture as well as an artist enables me to re-live that simpler life and embrace my inner child.

Are there times when you become completely frustrated with time restrictions for production OR is it a case of "stuff it, it'll be ready when it's ready"

hahahahahhaha!  Every show generally!  It's usually a case of both but at the end of the day I wig out, frustrated, riddled with self doubt, saying "F#&IT", get an attack of the guilts, madly trying to complete the work and, usually an hour before the show I'm putting the finishing touch on.

I formally studied as a graphic designer 10 years ago and it wasn't until I was under complete pressure (generally 2 days before the job was to be presented) that I would get it done.

Procrastination can be my demon!

My art practice is a little different as it is fuelled by the theory, so I get a bit of a heads up.  At the end of the day I'm putting myself on show to be critiqued so there's always pressure.  

After my first solo show 2 years ago the "come down" the following day was on a par with my worse self-induced imbibed hangover.

Festivals vs Live Art vs Solo vs Collab.  Which (if any) do you really find yourself being extended and pushed out of your comfort zone

They all have their advantages.  Each presents their own particular scrutinies.  Festivals and live art: there's the pressure of creating in front of a crowd...that's always a tough one.

Solo's and collabs present a different set of parameters: following gallery conventions, but also trying to break them and being critiqued and scrutinised by critics as well as the public. 

They all push me out of my comfort zone.

When can we expect to see world domination by Forno

Well I've just been invited to a show at the 2 High Festival at The Powerhouse Museum in November so the road to world domination is moving like a bus from the movie "Speed".

In all honesty, it's all been pretty fast paced considering it was only four years ago I started to seriously consider art as a career.

I've just deferred my Honours Research until next year and wish to complete a PhD, so there's another four years of study.

Hopefully world domination will occur before I die

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Hell to the yeah on that score and a MAAAASIVE thank you to the man known as Forno for sharing some time, flicks and more with the 2095 chick.

5 Questions with Asio Gidup

For my encounter with Asio Gidup was at .......(insert obvious).  The piece somewhat confounded the 2095'er as it appeared to be a paste up which comprised of mini-pasteups but then presented as a single paste up (and if you can follow that thread then you are obviously well entrenched and familiarised with the 2095's "expressionism"s).

Ironically it would also be the day that her ISD was full by full, I mean 4G full AND she had left the second in the confines of her abode for reasons yet to be identified.

Aarrrrghhhh....total frustration, given that the nature of PM3 was to be a (at least this is how the 2095'er wanted it to be) quasi-street-art-hunt where it's a case of "here one day, pasted over the next".

Fortunately the artist in question has provided the 2095'er with a photograph to include in this somewhat rambling intro.

How long as Asio Gidup been part of the 'street art' movement

I started pasting in 2010.  I began making photo collages a year or so beforehand.  I was a toy at tagging in high school but always loved going on missions.

Your technique is incredibly complex yet when one sees the final "product" it has the appearance of being deceptively easy.  Can you explain the methods used from start to finish for these incredibly impressive masterpieces.

Well thank you!  What a lovely thing to say, you're very kind.  I take lots of photos from multiple perspectives and angles of the same object (a landscape, object, person etc).

I don't use a tripod (to which the 2095 cheers loudly!) I try to take photos in the same sitting because I find I take the photo sets differently depending on my state of mind.

The task involves concentration, so if I am in a depressed mood for example, I'll possibly experience anhedonia (slowing of the thoughts) and I'll take a set of photos differently compared to when I am in a state of joy or love.

I sort the photos out and take them to print. Depending on the location I have in mind, I will make the poster in to segments or at times will put together on the spot.

What has been your largest installation to date

Largest to date would probably have been a beach landscape at Holloway Eye-ware warehouse in West-End (Brisbane) for Lost Movements in December 2012  (4.6 x 5.2)

What drives you to create

I'm driven by torment from obsessive thoughts and compulsion to realise them.  Music and women inspire me most.

Do you Asio Gidup as having a certain "shelf life" or will you continue to create for as long as the desire to do so exists

I guess I don't really understand the question.  This is the way I have found to express my ideas and feelings that comes easily to me and brings me joy, peace of mind, satisfaction and much more: all as essential forms of introspection and self-healing.

So to say "shelf life" implies I will only want to continue to visually express myself for a short period of my life, which is not the case.

It's possible that your philosophy of self expression differs slightly from mine, and if so that's ok (nb: as a personal aside the 2095'er believes that as long as there is a person there will always be self-expression in whatever form it may take)

An element of disagreement in any conversation is a good thing.  It means everyone's paying attention and participating.

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My thanks to Asio for sharing part of his life with the 2095'er and allowing photos to be reproduced for this article.