INTERVIEW WITH MILES JACKSON AFTER DUDE, MONSTERS!
Miles Jackson was an artist that got a great response during the Dude, Monsters! show last month at Think Tank Gallery in Los Angeles. Selling out all of his work, the intricate styling and concentrated subject matter left room for interpretation in a show full of expansive takes on a centralized theme. We interviewed the artist via email from his current locale in New York, and got some insight into the ideals of the up and coming illustrator:
Your work takes a meditative concentration in its linework. How does that relate to the subject matter?
Both my subject matter and line work in my recent pieces have been focused around labor. The uniformed figures in my drawings are often interpreted as peasants, mechanics or builders of some sort. There facelessness takes away any kind of personal identity and they become representations of larger ideas—symbols of craft and construction and a sort of intense beautification, which mirrors the mark making itself. The symbols and lines I use suggest a mood and though my work is narrative I don’t try to convey any structured plot. At the end of the day what I’m most interested in is how the work functions aesthetically. Is it visually stimulating, is it something that I want to look at.
What kind of work were you doing before and how did that transition into the style of work we saw at Dude, Monsters!?
Before dude monsters I was making similar work but my content was much more grotesque. I was drawing piles of dead pigs and crying children and odd scenes like that. When I was making work for the show Luke told me that the show was going to be more about celebration and positive energy, so I kind of flipped it and decide to draw more cooperative “constructive” scenes.
How old are you? And how old do people usually think you are after seeing your work but before meeting? We thought you were much older…
I’m 19. People usually think I’m much older, maybe because the colors and motifs I use feel old, my work is not very loud or teen-like. I take it as a compliment though.
How did you enjoy your experience in LA and at the opening?
Yeah LA was ill. It was my first trip to California and I had a good ass time. It was cool to meet all the other artists and kick it with Bryan Peterson and Luke Pelletier who I work with in Chicago. The show opening had tones of energy and good vibes. I really liked the Think Tank Gallery space too. Im planing on doing more shows out on the West Coast.
What’s next for you after Dude, Monsters! At Think Tank Gallery?
Right now I’m working some in New York. Once I move back to Chicago I’ll begin my next semester at SAIC and I’ll be planning and being apart of the next shows there, and around the country. Check out my tumblr for my most recent projects and hit me up on Facebook if you got questions or want to collaborate on something.
(video via: milespkjackson)
