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Alex Chiu Why do you use silly creatures to convey serious messages? In all honesty, I use silly creatures because it's what I know how to draw. For me, the characters are just fun to draw, but the message is what I'm trying to get across. I've also realized the way that I present the artwork has become a subversive form of communication; people are drawn to the fun characters and are forced to confront more serious issues.What's one of the most defining events (or likely events that have not yet occurred) of this our 21st century? I don't know. This century kind of scares me. People have sex through text boxes. I can see a picture of my house through Google maps. Organic food costs more than food with chemicals. Bush has been our president for almost 8 years. I don't get it.
What socio-economic system do you believe is best for the further development of mankind? (Capitalism, Communism, Socialism, Monarchy, Junta..etc...etc...) I can't claim to know enough about any particular system to declare which one would work the best. In fact, I'm convinced that no system is without its downfalls. I believe that a socio-economic system will only succeed if all members of that system begin to live for the sake of others. If humans stopped focusing on themselves and focused their energy on others, I'm sure that the world would be a different place. I don't know what that is called.That octopus guy is in alot of your works; what's his name? Where does he come from? What was his major in college? You're talking about my blar-octopus. I call him the "blactopus." I used to do graffiti. He was one of the first characters that I tagged on walls and stuff. He's a fob. I think he's from Hong Kong. He studies bio.
What's your favorite whimsical creature to draw? I don't have a favorite character. In fact, I never really know what character I'm going to draw until it's drawn. I kind of start with two eyes and see what comes of them.Which creature best represents who you are? I've drawn myself as a character before. I drew a comic about my adventures in a coffee / bicycle shop. It involved a bear with no hand and a giant scone.Who is your target audience, who do you most want to reach with your art? I don't really have a target audience. I mostly draw to kill time. I guess my art is for anyone who likes it. I'd like to think that it has universal appeal. I've had old people tell me that they like what I do. Little kids crowd around me sometimes when I draw. My mom thinks my art's scary though.What does "Blar" mean? What sort of idea or emotion does it express, state of mind? Blar is my graff name because I'm a vandal and a menace to society. It's lame. I thought it was cool; not very much anymore. I don't really know what it means. I once drew a monster on a wall. It said "BLAR." I guess it's what monsters say to be scary.What do you like to drink while you are drawing? I drink blood. Organic, herbal blood.
What's it like being a fellow minority in the United States? I am an Asian-American in Southern California. I do not believe that I am a minority here. I think all of my schools were like 40% students of Asian descent. I don't believe I was ever persecuted for being Asian either. In fact, a majority of my friends and family are pretty successful people. A lot of my friends went to I V League Universities. My sister is in Berkeley studying to be an optometrist. I feel like a minority only because I am the only one I know from my hometown who chose to be an artist.Do our children really need clean water? Can't they just drink soda or something? It's funny you say that you ask that. Have you ever seen the movie Idiocracy? It's a movie by Mike Judge about the future. Supposedly, in the future people are so stupid that they replace water with a Gatorade type liquid. As a result, the crops are dying and no one knows what to do about it. Just a side note…Anyhow, the issue of clean water is more than choosing a beverage to go with your meal. It's about the idea that without clean water, everything will die. Our bodies need clean water, animals need clean water, crops need clean water. If we continue to use high amounts of dangerous chemicals and pollute our oceans, rivers, and lakes, we will all die. You may not be concerned because it may not happen in your own lifetime, but how would you like to know that your kids will suffer the consequences of these problems? We must make some changes; if not for ourselves we should do it for the children. 
Where has your art been featured so far? Over the past four years, I've had a number of art shows at my school. I've also done a bunch of artwork for clubs and organizations. Only recently has my artwork started to get attention outside of school. I was asked to design t-shirts for a clothing company in Florida called Austrul Clothing. I am also publishing a book of drawings with a comic book company in San Diego called Neko Press Comics. I'm pretty much just starting to get my foot into the art world. Hopefully I will not be smothered too quickly.If you were allowed to hang a gigantic picture in time square (in place of that jumbo-tron television thing) what would be on it? (One of your current drawings or something new) I guess I would draw a bunch of characters. However the message would be clear, "use your mind, listen to your heart, and free your soul."Why do you make singular objects or creatures out of many creatures combined? I don't know. I'm sorry, I'll try not to do it again.
Who do you give the most credit to for the development of your art? Visually, I have been strongly influenced by experimental comic book artists, graffiti artists, and contemporary cartoonists. Check out the company Island Folds. I get a lot of inspiration from their work. In terms of content, I get a lot of inspiration from musicians and socially conscious thinkers. Props to Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Jack Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, David Bazan, Maya Angelou, Ann Matsushima, the list goes on.Have you ever eaten a potato chip sandwich? Anything else that's a little odd? Potato chip sandwiches are delicious. You tell me one sandwich that does not taste better with potato chips. YOU CAN'T!!! That's not odd at all, it's delicious.
What do you feel an older, established artist's duty is to younger, non-established artists or those interested in becoming artists? That's a tough question because I feel as if I myself am a younger, non-established artist. To any artist younger and more non-established than myself I would have to say stop caring about the art. The art does not matter nearly as much as the message. The art is only the vessel in which your message is seen, heard, experienced.What's the most charitable thing you've done? I rescued a princess from a fire-breathing dragon.
What's the least charitable thing you've done? I killed hundreds of angry giants.Do you still watch a lot of cartoon shows? Hell yea. I still love Nickelodeon.What was your favorite show growing up? When I was a kid, I freakin' lived for Garfield. I used to wait all week to see Garfield and Friends on Saturday mornings. I don't even know if I liked the show itself, I just loved Garfield. I also liked Gargoyles.
How many masses have you united so far? Are you well on your way to uniting them all? Dude, you have no idea. I have an army. The government should be afraid. You should be a part of it as well. I'm not talking to the interviewer. I'm talking to YOU. Follow me. We shall overcome.Any catchy phrases, slogans, or messages you wanna give us before we let you go? Art has the power to speak to the heart, challenge the mind, and depict the soul.Change comes from within. Love people. Respect life. Love God. Nothing else matters. << Back To Artist Interviews |
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