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Name:
haha
Email: .
URL: .
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Xero and Abolin interview haha,Melbourne’s most prolific stencilist.
The interview was conducted at the old blender, in the alleys, and on the grass in front of the state library on an autumn afternoon.
haha dreams of living on the moon.
earth is boring he says.
he wants to do as much as he can before the next life.
haha was born too early.
x: are you an artist?
yeah
x: have you been to art school?
no
i studied mechanical engineering for one year. i built three robots. one was designed to follow lines on the ground and go towards light and avoid objects.
meow was drunk and broke my robot he trod on it cos he thought it was a skateboard
i wanted to take over the world with a robotic army
x: is that why you made robot stencils?
yeah well i realised my robots weren’t going to take over the world
so i made stencils of robots
in the future people will live forever as cyborgs
x: what makes you different from other artists?
i like to do all forms of street art, pieces, rollies on train lines, stickers, paste-ups, stencils. the most important things are diversity and to be prolific. the more you get out the more you’re seen. your friends know where you’ve been. you know how it is.
i like to help the younger artists, i like takin em out on missions.
x: what artists inspire you?
rone, phibs, lister.
lister’s inspiring cos he’s out doing something every night.
x: what about fine artists?
damien hirst. he’s the guy that chops up cows. and sexton ming, a british guy.
x: what about banksy?
banksy who? who’s he?
nah, he’s pretty good
a: what else gives you inspiration?
people who do the same thing as me
and when i inspire other people to go hardcore
a: anything else?
dr. who and starwars
a: what’s yr favourite medium?
3d canvases at the moment
[shaped canvases]
x: do you think stencils are played out?
no, they’re getting bigger, there’s new stuff up every day, there are young kids getting into it, there are graf artists who’ve never done it before getting into it
x: what are you trying to do with your art?
create an emotional response
a: what makes a good street artist?
street fame
x: are you the most famous street artist in melbourne?
yes.. ah, no.. i wish i was
x: so i hear you want to plug your new show..
yeah, it’s a solo show at the croft institute in croft lane in the city. it opens at 6pm on may the 20th. it’s called zero tolerance. it explores the theme of zero tolerance, tolerating nothing, it’s also a pisstake on certain issues like the banning of graffiti by suburban councils.. it’ll have a militant feel, an international feel, a political edge.
x: are you a vandal?
yes
when you’re drunk you go out and do things you normally wouldn’t.
you think no-one can see you & you’re really cool, but really you’re not.
x: do people have a right to have clean walls?
yeah
x: what would you say to someone whose wall you graffitied if they didn’t like it?
i’d say sorry. i’d tell them i’d clean it off if they want.
x: what about what you said in ‘cut-outs’ [short doco]
that you want your stencils to say ‘i was here. fuck you’?
oh did i say that? i don’t think i said that
i think they must have dubbed my voice in
no i’m older and wiser now
x: is there anyone who should stop putting stuff up on the streets?
yeah bill posterers
a: what’s better, on the street or off the street?
on the street
a: why?
it’s the thrill
vandalism is my favourite drug
x: where would you most like to bomb?
abandoned warehouses
x: why aren’t you on SR?
i’ve got no computer
oh actually i’ve got a pentium 2 i haven’t got a modem oh actually i do have a modem
i’m just not online
a: what’s haha about?
haha – i was here
i vandalised your building this is cool
my stencil is bigger than yours!
life is just one big joke
a: is that your philosophy?
no my philosophy is just to bomb hard.
x: would you take on the job of the president of the world?
yeah
x: what would change?
there’d be flying cars
and more science and scifi movies
i’d bring back dr. who
and further the cause of robotic technology
x: is this the best interview you’ve ever had?
yes
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