Contemporary artist Mediah discusses his graf roots, technology, futurism and the mystical inspiration behind the Decimals Rebuilt Universe.
Interview by Brandon Hocura
F13: What first got you interested in painting?
Mediah: In 1994 the Toronto graffiti scene was innovative, vibrant and filled with talent. This left the east end of the City (Scarborough) covered with amazing pieces and murals. I remember taking the Scarborough RT from Kennedy to Town Centre and seeing the VIBE WALL close to the Lawrence East RT station. I was always really inspired and set ablaze to paint graf. After that one thing led to another and now I’ve taken the principles of graf and applied them to contemporary art and media design.
F13: You mentioned having trouble being accepted as an artist in highschool, how do you think this affected your work?
Mediah: Yeah, back then I was looked at as a riff-raff by my art teacher Joanne Quigg. It all started when we took a class trip to the AGO and they told us NOT TO VANDALIZE THE BUS OR MAKE A MESS, but I just had to be a ‘big man’ and show the pretty girls in my class that I couldn’t be controlled…so I vandalized the bus. Stupid eh?! I got suspended for a good while when I finally got caught for it, and nearly got expelled because the bus company didn’t want to deal with my school anymore because of it. In future years (after I had long smartened up and had a vision for my future) I went on to take all of the required art classes that were pre-requisites for the Digital media program I was trying hard to get into. On the first day of OAC I was stopped by Ms. Quigg at the door of the class. “NO NO, THIS CLASS IS NOT FOR YOU…AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WONT GET THIS CREDIT”. I had to have my Father deal with the school to have her allow me to be in the class. She gave me 51% because she has no choice. If it was up to her she would have failed me. These situations have made me resilient in my progress as an artist, so I will always try to push the boundaries.
F13: What benefits/disadvantages do you think an institutionalized art education provides?
Mediah: It really depends on what you’re doing. If you’re studying Digital media, animation, Interactive Design I believe education is crucial to giving you the foundation to excel in the field. I really don’t see the point of programs that only deal with the theoretical principles of design. These programs give you the ability to conceptualize ideas for the industry but fail to provide you with the the technical ability to develop and produce work. As for painting and drawing, I wouldn’t recommend for anyone to owe big money to OSAP to learn that. Those are important skills that need to be fostered and developed passionately by the artist on their own.
F13: Where did you study after highschool, how did that change your view of art?
Mediah: I was accepted into the first DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS program at Seneca at York. This opened my eyes to the unlimited possibilities of art and design quite apart from the limitations of graffiti. It really taught me that Technology and art belong together hand in hand, instead of being considered two separate entities. I began to study the works of the Italian Futurist painters at this time and I realized that I shared many of the same ARTISTIC ideals, not political ideals (the FUTURISTS were Fascists and believed in war and violence). They glorified speed, motion and force and I pursue to depict the same components in my work.
F13: What are some of your inspirations outside of the artworld?
Mediah: My major inspiration outside of art is the artwork done by the CREATOR. I look around me sometimes and I stand in awe. Two weeks ago I went for a walk on a Friday evening and the sky looked like it was made of a purple and pink inferno. It was beyond remarkable. All I could do is revere God’s artistic work. I long to learn from his artistic genius in every project I undertake. I believe that when I die (or when I’m born into my afterlife) I will be assisting in the creation of Supernovas and constellations. I have felt this for my whole life, as if everything that I do here is just training for when I graduate from this life and get promoted into the next. It’s ineffable really.
F13: With artists like Evan Roth (The Graffiti Research Lab) really pushing the boundaries of graffiti, how do you think the artform will evolve over the next 20 years?
Mediah: First off, the Graffiti Research Lab are pure genius. I believe that a new generation of graffiti artists is emerging that will continue to push the boundaries of the culture. I think technology will have a major part to play in its development. For instance, when I was coming up in the early 90′s I couldn’t have imagined spray paint companies RUN BY GRAFFITI ARTISTS, nor dual action, high pressure, low pressure systems of paint, and now look where we are. I also think that projection based graffiti will gain popularity while traditional graffiti art will continue to stay underground. I’ll help to evolve the culture as long as I am here.
F13: How does technology affect your work?
Mediah: Technology is now a major player in my artwork. From my graphics to motion animation projects, computer technology and MEDIAH go hand in hand. I like to keep up with the new technological trends and techniques that are out there so that I can apply some of them to my art. I have some really big ideas, but I feel limited. I can see myself getting into holographics and open frameworks in the near future. Interactive immersive artwork really tickles my fancy, but for now the second generation of DECIMALS REBUILT is where I’m at.
F13: Many people criticize artists like Shepard Fairey, who now has a full-on brand identity and clothing line, as selling out. Do you think that this is the case, or rather the a condition of the modern artist?
Mediah: NOPE. It is the mark of a wise man the one who can take his art to place where he can live off of it. The artists who have a problem with that sort of thing are usually the ones that are considered ‘starving artists’. I don’t think there is anything cool about starving as an artist…it just means that you lack the resources to do the projects that you were born to create.
F13: Now that most artists are required to be multidisciplinary, do you think that affects the quality of artwork being produced, a result of the jack-of-all-trades / master-of-none syndrome?
Mediah: I dont think that most artists are really required to be multidisciplinary. Most of the artists I know stick to what they are good at. I mean, many do some sort of graphic design but still lack the fundamental understanding of what they’re doing. Its best that people stick to what they are good at and work with people that are strong in areas where they are weak.
F13: What inspired the Decimals Rebuilt Universe and its myriad of characters?
Mediah: There was no inspiration, only instruction. DECIMALS REBUILT feels like I’m being pushed, encouraged and instructed to create this world for some reason. It hasn’t been fully revealed to me. I was in Jamaica in 2007 when I heard ‘Hinitaar bin Hinitaar’ in my head over and over and over again. I began to write notes…ten pages worth of notes and drawings. I have not been released from my responsibility of building this world so I am not able to create much artwork outside of this concept. Hopefully those reading this interview will come out to one of the installments and see for themselves. One thing though, DECIMALS REBUILT seems to evolve and rebuild itself with new and more powerful generations of imagery. I’m only in the beginning of the 2nd generation and from what I’ve been told there will be 9 generations all together. I’m not even 30% into it…SHEESH.
F13: What is the next step for Decimals Rebuilt?
Mediah: The next step is the creation of the short film we’re working on titled ‘Hinitaar bin Hinitaar’. It will be catalyst for a series of animated films that tell the story of their world. Also, I plan to do installments in other cities, provinces and other countries within the next little while so stay tuned. My heart feels to push it to London and Barcelona for some reason. We’ll see.
F13: Any advice for young graff writers?
Mediah: Yeah..don’t only look to graffiti for inspiration. It will keep you trapped in a box of limited concepts. Rather, use outside art influences to bring INTO YOUR GRAFFITI ART. It will cause you to be innovative and actually contribute something to the culture instead of just being a drone with a bottom 3D or Vaughan Bode characters. Its time to STEP UP kids!!!!!
Oh yeah, one more thing. PAINT CANADIAN GRAFFITI. Writers from other parts of the world laugh at you if you bite LA or New York…because your from CANADA. Paint like it!
Mediah’s DECIMALS REBUILT will be in Function13 Gallery from July 11th until August 3rd.