As an art student about to enter my sixth year of university, I’m getting antsy. I keep a constant watch for new artists and their works, so I’ve put my observations to good use: here’s the result. I’m helping to spread the word. Recently I had the pleasure of chatting it up with Acorn, a very modest West Coast artist, whom I’ve been following for a couple of years now. His style has unfolded into intricate magical imagery; he’ll use it to lure you into his world.
MONDO: Age? Current location?
Acorn: 21, Vancouver.
MONDO: How did you start drawing?
A: I guess I doodled as a kid or whatever. I remember trying to re-draw characters from the Zelda: Ocarina of Time instruction manual, but I didn’t really start doing my own work until I had my own computer and fell into pixel art. Played some budget online games where we made our own graphics and things like that. Spent a lot of time in MS Paint zooming in and out. Eh, then finally got a blackbook in late high school and started drawing more traditionally and tagging as well. Pretty much it.
MONDO: How’d you get into graffiti?
A: Just started tagging because I was walking and taking the bus often late at night. Just kind of fell into it.
MONDO: Any post-secondary education?
A: Well, went to ECIAD in Vancouver but didn’t last much longer than a couple of months. I’m weak.
MONDO: You have been travelling since you got out of school. Being from Vancouver, do you miss the ocean?
A: Oh definitely, and the mountains, and I think it annoys my mates saying it so much.
MONDO: You described Barcelona and Bucharest as good times. Care to share?
A: Well, I guess that was the last leg of the trip after Berlin, and the whole time I was in both places I really enjoyed myself. Stayed with really sound people, got to paint a lot, started eating better, etc.
MONDO: Your Berlin experience was ghetto?
A: Well, my mates and I were staying in what are considered the two ghettos of Berlin. Apparently on one of our streets a child was burned inside a suitcase left on the street, related to crystal meth or something. It was quite nice never going out, and no responsibility, but I think we had mild scurvy from only eating noodles and drinking beer.
MONDO: What are some observations (art-related or not) you made while travelling in Europe?
A: Seemed like people co-operated more and public displays of drunkenness were fine, which I enjoyed.
MONDO: Finally, what inspires you to create the work you do?
A: Eating and relaxing.
MONDO: Current favourite artists/musicians?
A: Boards of Canada, Ulrich Schnauss, M83.
MONDO: So you’re working on a book?
A: Eh, well a couple. One is with my writer mate, for a short story, and the other is just a compilation of the forest I’ve been making.
MONDO: You just finished a visit at Islands Fold. How was that?
A: Frisbee golf, amazing food, hand cramps, good people.
MONDO: Other current projects?
A: A few zines and shirt type things.
MONDO: What are your future plans?
A: Heading to Melbourne in June for a few months to do a residency at Wardlow. Win the lottery and build house in the mountains.
MONDO: Any plans on showing in Toronto?
A: When Toronto gets mountains.
For the record, Acorn just hasn’t had the opportunity come his way yet. For more images and Acorn updates, visit here.
