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INTERVIEW: COLLISIONTHEORY
Recently Big Choppa had the pleasure of acquiring the talents of CollisionTheory in order to kick off the launch of our Guest Artist Tees. What follows is an interview with AJ Dimarucot, one half of CollisionTheory, and a quick delve in to the minds behinds the designs. Enjoy...
Hi AJ, you spent 7 years at the University of the Philippines studying Industrial Engineering. Could you fill us in with how you got from there to being the well-recognised, award-winning artist you are today?
Oh man, that goes way back. Of those 7 years, I spent 3 years not really going to my classes. I just stayed at home getting hooked on the Internet. It was during the pre-dot-com-bust and I discovered Photoshop and web design. So I spent all those years just trying to learn the software and building my own website.
In 2000, I left college to work for a start-up web design/development firm and moved on to multinational ad agency Ogilvy & Mather in 2003. I was hired as a web designer. In July 2007. I needed the extra cash because I was going to get married in December 2007. So I looked for freelance jobs in Craigslist of all places. Then I saw an ad for t-shirt design, applied for it and got the job. I realized that there was a demand so I started to just do t-shirt design. I quit my job as an Art Director in Ogilvy last February 2008. I won my first t-shirt design contest at Designbyhumans.com that same month. I haven't looked backed since.
What have been the main influences on your style and who, if anyone has inspired you?
As an influence, I'm a big fan of the DADA movement and their "nihilistic attitude towards the traditional expectations of artists and writers". I always try to go beyond the usual when it comes to my t-shirt designs. Stylistically, I can relate to the abstract expressionists whose art is about spontaneity and movement. I'd like to think my work is never static. I respect how artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Warhol, and the new guys like Banksy and Shepard Fairey have changed the way we look at art.
Is your current style something that you are always looking to refine and move on or are you happy with where you are right now?
I think I try to have a recognizable style but I don't ever want to be trapped in one. It's a tricky balancing act. I'm glad that people see my work as having a distinct style but I also don't want to be pigeonholed in that style. I know, it's pretty ironic really. As an artist, I think it's always our role to push ourselves and create new paths to new ways of thinking.
You have an extensive portfolio, how long does it take you to do a typical tee design?
A shirt design would probably take me 3 to 5 hours.
When Pandas Attack was an awesome tee and one that has a very distinct style and is a massive favourite here at Big Choppa! How long did it take you establish this style of artwork and what was the process?
Well I've always been a 'splattery/grungy/dirty/texturey' kind of designer. I guess that particular style has just developed over the years. The panda was actually a collab with the awesome artist Jimiyo. He posted the panda design on Emptees.com and I kept giving him unsolicited suggestions on how to improve it. Ha ha. He then just basically told me to take the file and do whatever I wanted with it, as long as we would half all the prizes if I entered it into a t-shirt competition. So there, I basically tweaked the image, made it look more pissed off, and just threw in all those elements to create a more dynamic piece of art.
What pc and software do you use to create your tee designs?
I use a Toshiba laptop and a mix of Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator.
How would you describe the art scene in the Philippines?
The art scene is pretty established; lots of galleries, young and old artists/masters are everywhere. There are even galleries in malls. You can basically go to an art show around town everyday. Design, on the other hand, is pretty new and I'd like to see more of it.
Out of your own portfolio, what piece of artwork are you the most proud of and why?
I really love Electric Sky because it's simple and works really well on a shirt. So I'd really like to see it printed someday.
The self-titled new tee 'Big Choppa' created by your good self for Big Choppa is a fantastic tee and has your distinct style smashed all over it. Could you tell us a little about the art and the work process behind it?
Well first of all, thank you for trusting me with doing a design for you guys. Glad you liked it.
Anyway, I always try to create energy and movement to any static piece of design, the design I did for you is no different. I approach it like a painter with rough, untamed strokes, splashing paint onto a canvas. I also started painting just recently and I just can't help but throw paint on the canvas. I can never sit there and just paint something with careful, thought out strokes. Because your design is computer made, the details, textures, and strokes, although uncontrolled, are actually more well placed and designed. There is more control to the chaos.
Have you ever had to turn work down for reasons other than that you were too busy? If so, what was it and why?
Yeah lots of times! Some people want to pay you $50 and expect all the bells and whistles.
What music are you listening to at the moment while you work?
Tough question because I am probably the only human being who rarely listens to music. But it's still funny you asked because I just bought The Best of Radiohead (first in many years) and have been listening to it tirelessly for a week now.
You have a new line going on with googoo&gaga, how is it going and how did it come about?
I started this baby/kids clothing business with my wife late in 2008 because we wanted to dress our baby up in cool clothes. There's no baby yet but we're working on that! It's been doing great and we have plans of printing in the US so I can expand into that market. In less than 2 months, we've had inquiries for distributorship in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Turkey, Singapore, and Australia. It's been a crazy ride so far and we are already planning to expand into toddler/kids shirts.
If you could do one last design tomorrow, who would it be for and why?
Great question! I'd do it for Imaginary Foundation- my favorite clothing brand of the moment. I'm just really digging their style. So much different and out there.
Finally, if there is one thing that you hate to see on tee, what is it?
Che Guevara.
AJ, as ever it has been an absolute pleasure speaking to you, all of us here at Big Choppa are great admirers of your work and we wish you all the best for the future.
Thank you so much for the opportunity.
If you would like to check out more work from AJ Dimarucot & CollisionTheory please check the links below:
CollisionTheory
Vote at DBH
Threadless
googoo&gaga
The coming months will see the launch of our next guest artist tee from talented Greg Abbott. Make sure that you check back to read the interview and buy the tee!
