He Came, He Saw, He Concurred: An Interview With Artist Chase
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]here’s nothing more admirable and inspirational than an artist who’s able to contribute his success to staunch passion, talent, destiny and drive. Born in Belgium, Chase made his way to Los Angeles, California at the ripe, young age of 17. Living by the motto, “always do what you love” Chase’s murals cast an almost omnipresent shadow throughout the streets of the biggest cities in the world, with the majority of them in Los Angeles and London. Hundreds of eyes watching you as you stare back at them, and simple text reassuring us that everything is interconnected, and remaining true to one’s self is important. His murals possess the ability to cut right through the jaded, self-involved reality that is society today and remind us that we are a collective entity with a cumulative conscious. Here at CULTURE, we find these images and messages to be refreshing and a much needed memoranda, and as pleasant pauses in our often overly busy lives. We sit down with Chase and discuss the meaning behind his work and what keeps him so motivated.
You often incorporate messages dealing with self awareness, connectivity and unity, things of that nature. Why are these important to you?
I’ve always been interested in philosophy and Eastern thought, so that plays a part. But other than that, when I was a kid, conscious hip-hop really sort of saved me. I was in and around a lot of bad situations and Tribe, Gangstarr, Krs, Pharcyde and all these other guys really influenced me to keep an open and positive mind, to make something out of nothing and to maintain and keep focus. Once I started painting on the street I wanted to sort of do the same because now I had an immediate audience. I started putting universal messages in the work that were motivational in nature, as a way to do my part. Things like “goodness is the only investment that never fails,” “remember who you are” and “nothing to it but to do it.” People responded to it so I kept going with it. No one else was doing that at the time so it felt good. At the same time keeping myself involved with these ideas ensured that my focus stayed clear and I was definitely able to weather some storms because of it.
What are you most often trying to communicate with your work?
Lately, I’ve been trying to create trippy vibes based on some psychedelic experiences I’ve had. I’m trying to point to how weird this whole thing of being alive is, how strange that we are on a rock ball in the middle of nowhere, revolving around this spherical fire. What a situation.
What are your thoughts on medical cannabis?
I’m all for it. I’ve seen it really help people with all kinds of conditions.
You travel a lot for work. What has been your favorite place?
I really love Tokyo; it’s like visiting a different planet. It’s such a trip. Every time I go I want to stay forever. Everyone’s style is so on-point and everything is just so weird and different. I’m a fan.
What role did skating play in your life/ in your art?
Skating was everything. It completely formed me and influences everything in me since I started skating when I was 11. The mags, the vids, the graphics, the clothes, the style—all the adventures on the street. It informs me to this day.
Favorite piece you’ve ever done would be? And why?
Putting Legs on a Snake, one of the pieces I did for the “OutSide/In” show at Art Center Pasadena is one of my faves. It’s about the redundancy of idea that you need to be anything other than what you are.
We’re so prone to buying into the idea that we are somehow not right, imperfect, not pretty enough, that something is missing, that we need therapy, that we need self-help, that we need religion in order to become who we really are, but there’s something to be said for just accepting who we are right now with all it’s flaws and shortcomings. To truly being you, now. To see through the programming and say “Nope, you’re not going to get me to feel like shit about myself in order to sell me something.” In Zen, they say “Don’t put legs on a snake,” it’s fine the way it is if only we can stop fidgeting around with everything.
