Matt Maust

"It's funny because most of this art is created digitally but the
fight to make it look analogue is what I really enjoy. Like as if
it existed before the digital age, that is kind of my biggest
challenge is to make this stuff look like it is not digital."

Lets start with an easy one, how did you become interested in art?

Skateboarding and listing to The Clash. I listened to the clash a lot as a kid and soon came to realize they all did art as well as music. Also all the old skateboard art, like the Vision models and Gator boards, got me interested.

Can you talk a little bit about your style and where it comes from?

I am really obsessed with type and written word. However, I am not not so much concerned whether or not it makes direct sense. I am a fan of the dadaists from the 20's-30's. But then I am also really into people like Dieter Roth. The work is best described as a really organic type of scribble. What I am trying to do is mix those two things. I don't know how to do a drawing of any kind, I hated illustration class. I wish I knew how to draw, but I think my style comes from faking it, and faking it, and faking it, and then from that you start to get a style. I think a lot of contemporary artist approach it that way, or at least I know I do. Sometimes the word "fake" can sound like a dirty word in the art world, but I know what I like. I believe that if you keep going with your gut feeling it will start working for you. So yeah faking it.

Do you still skate?

I had an unfortunate accident where I broke some bones and had to stop doing that. I stopped skating right after High School.

Where did you grow up?

I am from Ontario but spent more time in Claremont (at) Rhino records.

Being a Long Beach resident, how do you see the cultural climate of LA and the surrounding area?

Hmm... Being in Long Beach... This is not a direct response to your question, but just today I heard that Long beach is the biggest city that is not part of its own county. We are like Hong Kong because of our port but there is no Long Beach County, if you look at a map, Long Beach has an actual bigger font on the map I was looking at than Los Angeles. I think that has something to do with the culture climate or maybe not at all. I just learned that today and was thinking about that. Umm this is a hard question to answer. I usually only go to LA (proper) once a week.

Where do you spend most of your time these days?

I hang out a lot in my studio and play a lot of music in San Pedro. That is where we ( The Cold War Kids) practice. A lot of the times I am tried from playing in the band so I kind of just like hanging out at home.

I was looking at your blog and I noticed a lot of puns and comedic references in your work. How does humor play out in your art?

The humor is like a fruit, it is just secondary, Its kind of like a slang, but using the word slang gives it a disservice. It may come from the way we talk to each other. I find it annoying when we start to talk to each other with all this "slang" (for lack of a better word) and try to out do each other. So when I name the pieces I think I name them the way we talk to each other through out the day.

So where is this "slang" dialogue that you referenced taking place?

I think more with my inner-circle of friends and myself. It is more about having fun, I am still figuring out what I want to say. It is more about the images, the type treatment, and layout right now.

You get to travel a lot because of the band you are in. How does that influence your art?

Yes it does. Probably 90% of these images (the ones laid out on the studio floor) are from out of state. I guess it is trying to make sense out of all these places that I didn't live, I have lived in Italy for like two months and Texas for two months. Other then that I have not lived anywhere else but here. I have toured with the band for months on end and I think all this stuff tries to make sense of living that way. There is a lot of dressing rooms, a lot of "4 a.m.'s", not knowing the specifics of where I am, other then the city name.

What do you wish to accomplish with your art?

The visual art is more of a fruit, I am much more serious about the musical stuff, this is more "jivy" or something, like a fringe benefit. The music is what really matters but if this can point to it then that is all I really want to do with it now.

What do you see yourself as first a musician or artist?

I think both, if you have too much of either of them, they start working against you. I think I find my chaos in both of them. Most of this art starts with the music. If you want to look hard at most of this stuff (my visual works) you will see a lot of it comes form the music first. That is much more important to me.

What do you think of other musicians that do art like Brian Enno, or like the Clash's Paul Simonon?

I think Paul Simonon was the first guy I noticed that was a fine artist and musician as a profession. There is another guy name Billy Childish that is one of the main guys that I think is doing good things. He has done a whole number of recordings sense the 70's and also does a lot of woodblock prints and poetry. He is pretty inspirational. But for the most part you have to pick between art and music. For right now this is kind of like play time for me, Because the music is the most important but it also doesn't mean that I am not serious about this art right now. I know it can really mold the way you listen to the music by using visuals. But for the most part I have not enjoyed most art that musicians have made.

Ok last question, what is your favorite thing to discuss? Women?

Haha! Women is a fun topic! But I think I am going to go with films.

Ok then. top three movies?

1. "81/2". It is a Fellini film. I think it was made in 1966. It never gets old.

2. In terms of new films, there Will Be Blood was really good.

3. Planes Trains and Automobiles.

Very nice thats a classic.

To see more of Matt Maust's works visit his blog
www.mattmaustaction.blogspot.com

After thought: If you are unfamiliar with Billy Childish, as I was, take some time to look him up. Pretty amazing stuff.