Artist
TRAVIS FISH
Travis Fish, who is based in Brooklyn and Wisconsin, is a young artist drawing attention from the world art world.
You can learn more about the world of work of the artist who defines himself as 'a person obsessed with sweaters' through an interview.
Q. What were the most important things in preparing for the exhibition in Space Fountain, Seoul? I also would like to know why you chose the title of the exhibition, ‘ART TOPS’.
I think the most important thing for me was to figure out which direction I wanted to go with the show and find the right shirts, the right collection of shirts, and that's where I landed on to do most on art-themed shirts that led to 'ART TOPS,' the title for the show because most of the paintings here are art related tops.
Q. I read in another interview article that you referred to yourself as a 'sweater fanatic'. Since when or why did you start using sweaters or T-shirts as the main theme in your work?
The shirts came out of me doing portraits of Migos, which I started realizing, "Oh, wow! I love the clothes that they're wearing too," and it changes so much that allows more content thrown to my face where there's more to paint and more to fall in to. I think the shirts serve as a time capsule for our current moment.
Q. I read an interview article saying that you used to produce your work quickly just as fashion clothes are released quickly with the trend. What is your own swift way of producing artwork? You usually produce large-sized works. I would like to know the production process.
Sure, the production process for me starts with finding the right image. Usually, I will see a shirt or something on Instagram that will pop out to me that will just be, "I have to paint that!" Then it falls into a quick process of being manically obsessed with that sweater and figuring out how to paint it, seeing the painting through as quickly as possible because it hits me so fast that I want the painting to come out into this world just as fast.
Q. In each piece, various vibrant colors stand out. Are there any criteria for selecting colors? We’d like to know more about the process of how you would combine a variety of colors.
The colors are dictated most by what the image is showing, so I put those colors down first, but the last little bits that I fill in the background or anything I have to make up take quite a while to make sure everything is balanced and works well with the existing shirt and the colors that are there making the whole thing sing.
[Picasso series]
ⓒTRAVIS FISH all rights reserved
Q. In this exhibition, we can see T-shirts and hoodies with masters’ paintings. Is there a standard for selecting these clothes, and I wonder what they refer to?
The selection process hinges on how it will look as a painting, or how it will be for me to make that painting. There are three Picassos in this show that I love putting the brush down and painting. It really depends if I can see that shirt and know it will translate into one of my paintings, so that's the criteria I sit by.
Q. The artworks that combine old masters’ paintings that have been recognized for their value over time with T-shirts that are quickly consumed are very impressive. Your art makes the audience think about the value and time of culture. I would like to know what you think about diverse cultures' speed and value.
I think the shirts that have the imagery of them have a very high value, but to me, it's still a shirt just as an 'I♥NY' shirt or a billabong shirt. It's just another signifier sign of like where I'm at in our culture where everything can be on a shirt, be worn, and sold.
Q. In this show, there is an artwork to celebrate Pharrell Williams who became Louis Vuitton’s director this summer. Could you explain about this work? I could see your perspective on hip-hop music, fashion, and the speed of culture from this work.
That work is one of those that jumped out of me on Instagram, and I knew I had to make it immediately. I had the canvas primed for something else, but the show happened when I saw that piece and knew I had to make something quick to celebrate and mark the moment at that time.
Q. I read that you get inspiration for your artwork through social media. If there is an event that you are most interested in these days, please share it with us
I think social media allows you to consume things so fast and stay hyper and can tamper with everything, so I don't know that there is one specific moment but is always flooding you with more inspiration, more visuals, more stories, and holding on and keeping up with that pace.
Q. To match “fast” painting, what do you think is the fastest thing you usually do, except for painting? On the contrary, what is the slowest thing you do?
The fastest thing I do is probably walk around inside a Blick store to get my art supplies. I know exactly what I need and love to walk and get it in and out. The slowest thing would probably be anything official, like my taxes or getting my driver's license. I am extremely slow on those elements.
Q. Please tell us your thoughts about what you want to share with the Korean audience through your solo show.
I wish the Korean audience could see how much I have fun painting and take a second to look around and see something different.
Q. Message to the Korean audience
Thank you for coming, and I hope you like the shirts and there's more to come.
[Introduction to the artist's work]
ⓒTRAVIS FISH all rights reserved
Picasso 3
Loewe Zip
Basquiat
1) PICASSO 3
This is my ‘Picasso 3’, the long-sleeve Picasso shirt I found online. What I like about this one is how big the name Picasso is written across it. When I make an artist shirt for contemporary artists, I love seeing what their reaction from that artist will be and not being able to get his. I think Picasso will love knowing he has a shirt with his name so big on it. I did a black-on-black to make the top part pop out a little bit more and shine through.
2) LOEWE ZIP
This is the ‘Loewe Zip’. Inspired by seeing Stefon Diggs wearing this and knew I needed to paint it immediately. The scale of it allows you to fall into the monogram and be engulfed by the whole hoodie.
3) BASQUIAT
This is the ‘Basquiat shirt sleeve button-up’. This one was important for me to do in this show because Basquiat is the GOAT. I have been wanting to do a Basquiat shirt for a long time. I have multiple Basquiat shirts and Basquiat underwear that say Mary Boone. He really inspired me a lot of what I do in this whole thing - paintings on shirts and how it all plays in this world.
