TSL- NORM INTERVIEW
Posted by Omen514 | Filed under News, Street Art
(Originally done for NOMAG.CA)
I got to catch up with NORM at his show here in Montreal’s YLR gallery. PUSH & EKLIPS are in this too, albeitbriefly.
OMEN: What are your thoughts on the new generation with all the new caps and legal walls and internet…?
NORM: Um. I guess if you have talent you have talent. If you’re good with something it doesn’t matter what you have to do it with. If people like what you do they like what you do. That’s why you get fame because people like what you do. I don’t really think it has any thing to whether you paint with a spray bottle or if it’s the best can in the world. If you have style then you have style. If people care for what you do then they’re gonna show their friends and then show someone else. And if you suck… It’s all in the person not in the paint”
PUSH: Yeah, what he said.
NORM: At the end of the day the internet or whatever is what we have to use. Before we had to trade pictures. Before these guys (points to EKLIPS) …way before me You had to paint everywhere for people to see it
OMEN: So you have nothing but love for people that rock legal spots?
NORM: I really don’t give a shit about what anyone does.
If they’re happy with what they’re doing; then do it.
OMEN: OK. Fair enough
NORM: Everyone ones got something to do. Let them do it.
OMEN: As far as the gallery experience goes. Do you feel like new players in an old institution. Is this the NORM interview?
NORM: Yes. It’s the NORM interview. (laughs)
OMEN: [Galleries] had their first [graffiti art] movement back in the day in 1980 when they had their first exhibit…
EKLIPS: uh huh.
OMEN: It was socially relevant back then and now that graff is coming back, the graff esthetique, is being approved (OS GEMEOS, TWIST…). Y’know?
NORM: We’re just lucky we’re able to do what we do. We’re lucky people pople right now actually care about what we do. Me, as far as I’m concerned, I’m fortunate to live the life I get to live because of art. I mean everyone feels the same way about that (glances at PUSH & EKLIPS). EKLIPS’ business or PUSH’s paintings or whatever it is. It’s all because of what we’re able to produce. Funnily enough people like it right now. There are a hundred different artists out there that can paint a thousand times better than me but people like what we’re doing so we’re very fortunate.
OMEN: Okaaay. (all laugh) I had no preconceived notion of what you were going to answer. I wasn’t going to say “fuck this shit”.
NORM: You know what I’m saying.
OMEN: No, I get it. It’s awesome.
NORM: Being able to do a gallery show is awesome!
OMEN: It beats “would you like fries with that”.
NORM: Yeah, I don’t want to work at subways and luckily I don’t have to.
OMEN: what are your feelings towards…
NORM: I like subways though.
OMEN: …paintings as apposed to bombing. There is a certain satisfation towards that as compared to going into a studio. I sometimes feel its not the same vibe [as bombing] when you execute something. What are you’re feelings when comparing street to studio? (pause) someone?
NORM: (to PUSH) you. You paint the same stuff outside as you do inside. I don’t. I think that’s a good question for you.
PUSH: I think with everything that I do it’s a different idea for every approach. Whatever it is, it’s not going to be the same…approach I guess.
NORM: Inside or outside.
PUSH: Yeah, Inside or outside.
OMEN: I know you like bombing. What are your feelings towards bombing or painting?
NORM: I used to [bomb].
OMEN: I used to? (jokingly) Yesterday…
NORM: There’s usually no time in the day. You gotta travel outside the country to have a good time painting graffiti at least… Sometimes it’s forced because you have to paint something for a certain time. Then you just do it. This time I actually like the idea that I had, every thing just worked out and I had a good time doing it. It wasn’t stressful. Sometimes it’s stressful and I can’t find the place where it’s easy. Drink a bunch of coffee, smoke a bunch of -something- and make paintings happen.
OMEN: Alright, that’s simple. Ok, cool thanks.
NORM: Is that enough?
OMEN: Dude. This is my first interview. Fucked if I know.
