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Calling Mr Brainwash

one small seed — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 07:09:42 +0000

From his California home, LA street artist Mr Brainwash – born in Paris under the name Thierry Guetta – gave one small seed an exclusive phone interview. Originally published in issue 24 and now featured in our ‘Best Of’ Ten Years one small seed, in partnership with PUMA.

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Cocaine-Snorting Oscar Statuette placed on Hollywood Blvd.

one small seed — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:31:21 +0000

Los Angeles-based street artist – Plastic Jesus – often crosses lines with his controversial art, where is known for using satire, criticism and humour to engage and make accessible various political, urban and socio-economic issues. And lines it was, when on Thursday, 19 February 2015, the artist placed a life-sized cocaine-snorting Oscar statuette on LA’s Hollywood Boulevard. A pre-party laid to rest, the statue’s location and arrival time was no co-incidence – it was placed at La Brea Avenue, at the edge the street which was closed prior to The 2015 Oscars | 87th Academy Awards that took place on Sunday, 22 February ’15

Nick Stern, a photographer who works with the artist, tells us that the statue is also a commentary on Hollywood culture. He speaks on behalf of Plastic Jesus:

The piece is intended to draw attention to Hollywood’s hidden problem of drug addiction that effects hundreds of people in the showbiz industry and is largely ignored until the death of a high profile A-list celebrity. (Stern)

He publicizes the picture of an in-and-out life in excess and gross gratification… hedonism and narcissism. Nonetheless, we’re all pawns to the system – (k)nobs that keep the capitalist wheel rolling – be it waiting out a regular late-night corner shift; or for that bond to be approved; 5pm to arrive; Better Days; a quick fix; freedom, bought; or for someone to talk to you while you sit making the Big Decisions. Ultimately, Plastic Jesus creates art that is ubiquitous – and he’s got bravado. Boundaries overstepped, perhaps. But, that happens every day, in mediums or journals that the public cannot get hold of or are not accessible and thus we don’t look for them. The Financial Times, The Economist – they might come across as elitist – and there are articles which indeed are. Oh, yeah, you also have to pay for them – unlike this piece of public art that pulls the middle finger at Capitalism.

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Mike Miller: West Coast dialogues

one small seed — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:05:22 +0000

Born in ’64, Mike Miller spent his early years inspired by the skate, surf and film industry in his home town, Los Angeles. Heading to Europe to work on fashion photography, Miller soon found himself back in LA and right in the middle of a booming music industry. Juxtapoz’s photo editor Estevan Oriol sat down with the LA photographer, here’s what happened.

Hollywood, image: © Mike Miller

At first glance Mike Miller appears to fit the profile of what a slightly older poster-boy for Los Angeles should look like. Complete with a seasoned beard and a checkered shirt, the type made famous by the city’s native Latino’s. It is about midway through his fourth sentence that I assure myself that this middle-aged man has seen most of it, if not all. Name dropping hip-hop heavyweights such as Eazy-E, Tupac and Cypress Hill could not have been any easier as this filmmaker/photographer made it seem.

Cypress Hill, image: © Mike Miller

Tupac, image: © Mike Miller

Pamtera, image: © Mike Miller

His clientele list could well bring peace to the Middle East. After studying film at UCLA, Miller’s first gig was as assistant director on a Warner Brother film set. During a short-lived hiatus from film, Miller made a transition to photography, after which he went on to shoot album covers for hip-hop groups who sprung up from the inner city.

It’s only when you tight with the band, you start to click with them and you see them developing, then they always put you down (Miller)

It’s evident that Miller’s ability to rise up in the industry grew from his familiarities of the West Coast scene together with the subcultures it prided itself on. Behind him – in what seems to be Miller’s editing suite – sits two monitors along with a dozen of hard drives dedicated to commercials and short films. At that moment, Miller withdraws a black and white portrait of Jack Nicholson of which he thankfully reclines mentioning too much about, the mystery in which it now lingers in is appealing.

‘I have a book I’m working on now, it’s about living in New York Miller,’ says Miller. Since this interview, the book – titled West Coast Hip Hop: A History In Pictures – was published (February, 2012) with an exhibition that followed in April.

It is on that notion whereby I label him as a truly gratifying artist considering that Miller’s bread and butter was the City of Angles. Miller is also currently working on full length feature film. I’m uncertain as to whether or not Mike Miller prefers to continue his work incognito or if he’s doubtfully still trying to catch a break. Because not being mainstream is mainstream right?

West Coast Hip Hop: A History In Pictures

Mike Miller archive

Badazz, image: Mike Miller

words: Kurt Mullins

source: juxtapoz.com, youtube.com, estavanoriol.com, michaelmillerphotography.com