Raised in Sydney, Australia on a super-diet of cartoons, comic books, and sci-fi movies, James Patradoon constructs giant candy coloured screen-prints and posters you can admire and adore but cannot devour. He is weird, wonderful, well-read and a whole lot more so we decided to send Errin Fawcett out on a mission to expose the creative artist he really is.
First off, who are you, what do you do and why?
My name is James Patradoon, I'm an artist. I make work about contemporary masculinities and sometimes I use my drawing skills for illustration to pay the bills. I don't know why I do what I do, it is just the kind of art that I would like to see I guess, no one else is going to make it. I like being able to do what I love, it is a real privilege. I'd be cheating myself if I didn't.
At what age did you start creating your art?
I think everybody started drawing when they were young, whether they be accountants or artists, every kid drew. Some of us stopped and others kept going. I draw the same subject matter I used to draw as a kid - made-up superheroes. I only started getting attention for my work maybe last year?
“He is the alter ego showcasing my masculine and aggressive side… that lacks in my real life”
What influences you the most?
Cartoons and comics. The impossible worlds where a used car salesman can snap one day and create an international terrorist army from the ground up. Where an angry rich kid can use his dead parents' inheritance to buy himself enough secret army equipment to become a superhero. I love these worlds where anything is possible - here people don't lead ordinary lives and do ordinary things.
I love how these fictional worlds can inspire and shape the real world itself, when things bleed together like in Who Framed Roger Rabbit and life imitates art.
“If I had a superpower I'd love to be able to create multiples of myself”
Is there any historical or contemporary artist that you specifically admire? And why?
Raymond Pettibon. His work is everything I love about making art. Seeing his work is the reason why I have one foot in the fine art world in the first place and haven't dedicated myself solely to illustration. He has so many ideas running through him and his method of working is the perfect outlet for him. He is so prolific and hard working, I admire his approach to art making. I am influenced by many illustrators, too many to mention, but as far as actual fine artists go Raymond Pettibon is my all time favorite.
What is your favorite medium for making images?
I studied printmaking at art school and specialized in screen-printing. I did that for four years. The problem with printmaking is that you need a lot of equipment to actually make prints. Of course, I didn't realize that until after I graduated. I found myself unable to produce any work. It is a beautiful medium but it is impractical for me, I see it as a ball and chain. I once spoke with Anthony Lister about his art practice and as a painter he can travel anywhere he likes and make art wherever he goes as long as he has paint and a wall or canvas, I envy that freedom that painters have, I am probably going to start making paintings from now on.
“I find it interesting how things can be so masculine that they become camp, like wrestling and bikers for instance”
Are you addicted to the American TV series Heroes? If you had a super power what would it be and why?
I tried to watch Heroes after a lot of my friends recommended it to me but I couldn't get past the first episode. I might give it a chance later when I'm not so busy, I don't have much time for TV anymore. If I had a superpower I'd love to be able to create multiples of myself like Madrox the Multiple Man from X-Factor. In life you never really get the time to do everything you want to do, maybe if there were eight or twenty of me I could at least try. I want to take a drawing course, join the army, earn some money, sleep, and travel more, I want to do all that immediately.
“The work I make is about contemporary masculinities so I am interested in the romanticism of the army”
Where would you travel and why the hell would you want to join the army?
I'd like to go to Mosco because it is so mysterious to me. I have friends who find South East Asia 'so foreign' and out of their comfort zone, that is the same feeling I get about Russia, which is why I'd love to hurl myself there. It sounds like a scary place, I don't know if it is such a good idea - but it is something I often think about. I like to travel to mythic cities like Tokyo and New York and Bangkok.
The next place I go will probably be Barcelona - I have heard so many amazing things about it - some friends lived there for a year and they haven’t stopped raving on about it since they returned.
The army was something my Dad always scared me with as a kid if I ever failed classes. He would be like "If you don't go well in this exam I am sending you to the army." I was always petrified with the idea of being shipped off to the army. The work I make is about contemporary masculinities so I am interested in the romanticism of the army, you know, that whole thing about having no direction in life and signing up to join the army and coming out the other end a 'real man'. I'm very curious about that whole process. Henry Rollins and Maynard James Keenan were in the army for a while - but they hated it.
A lot of your images feature an angry masked bandit (or is he a hero?).Why is this? What is his name? And how did you come up with hiscreation?
He's a bit of both, it is ambiguous. He is the alter ego i created for myself to showcase my masculine and aggressive side (that lacks in my real life). My work plays with ideas of gender performance, by separating him from me and giving him a mask I tried suggest that the act of proving masculinity is all for show. It is a facade, a mask.
“I think the kids at the JJ markets are the coolest in the world”
Tell us about your use of colour? (You seem to use a lot of blues and pinks)
It started out as just a joke. When i started drawing really violent images I found that I liked the way that adding pink would make the work a bit ambiguous. People would tell me "It would look better in another colour, why pink?? Pink is so gay!" but I find it interesting how things can be so masculine that they become camp, like wrestling and bikers for instance. It goes in a circle.
Which of your paintings has given you the most gratification of your career? Which is your favorite piece and why?
Probably 'She Was A Spy'. When i started screen-printing it everything went wrong and I was so frustrated that I nearly tore the edition up! I tucked it in my drawer and decided to work on it later. At the end of the year I took it back out and finished it and now it is my favourite from the series because it reminds me of the best and worst parts of being an artist. It is also one of the few horizontal images I have made, I had the working proof pinned up in my bedroom for a year.
Have you ever had an exhibition in Bangkok?
Never, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO. I love the Bangkok vibe. I think the kids at the JJ markets are the coolest in the world and I have seen kids from Japan and New York, none compare. Thai teenagers are gritty, unpretentious, yet stylish. Last time i went I spent days in the vintage section of JJ, such an inspiration. It is so damn hot but they still manage to look good. I wish that people knew that Bangkok wasn't just about pirated movies and Khaosan road. There is so much cool stuff happening there I can't wait to go back.
“Complacency and laziness are your worst enemies”
What training do you have?
I went to the College of Fine Arts UNSW in Sydney and graduated with First Class Honors. I know screen-printing really well, but it doesn't help me much unless I have all the equipment, which costs THOUSANDS. I wish I did more painting and drawing classes. I go to life drawing every week and plan to go to do a drawing course soon.
Which challenges do you confront as an artist?
Staying motivated is the hardest thing. Complacency and laziness are your worst enemies as an artist. It is good to surround yourself with other artists to stay motivated and get some feedback. Often people who don't do art will just keep telling you to get a real job and things like that.
What other interests do you have (besides painting)?
I don't really have any other interests, I guess everything comes back to art anyway, be it video games, movies, or fashion. Everything I expose myself to directly influences my art making. I enjoy sleeping a lot these days. It is the only peace I get.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In ten years I'd be 33. Gosh. I have no idea. There is so much stuff i want to do, ten years doesn't seem that far off at all. I should probably start.
Any last words?
Cheers
Check out his awesome work at: http://www.jiratpatradoon.com
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