Eamo is an inspiring Australian artist.
Coming from an industrial city down south of Oz called Geelong (or ‘Geebanger’ as the local’s call it), Eamo grew up down there and drew his way through school, got out and studied design in Melbourne in 2000.
He then worked at various fashion houses around Melbourne until leaving the game early on and giving illustration and art a crack. It has been for four years now that Eamo start killing it, developing a personal and shinny style with this je ne sais quoi of aussie flavor.
Interview originally published in Acclaim magazine.
More about the Australian artist Eamo.
WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND YOUR APPROACH OF A NEW PROJECT?
Often my first thoughts are “how can I add some Australian flavor into this piece?” These days I get approached by clients or collectives for the fact that my work has this style to it; clients are really receptive to it, which is a bonus. But it’s purely a coincidence that aussie stuff is in vogue right now. I’ve always had this weird obsession with it since my childhood. Fingers crossed when the trend dies I’ll still be able to get away with chucking a gum leaf or a prawn into an artwork. And Hopefully my work won’t end up in the same bracket as Yahoo Serious, Koala Blue or Crocodile Dundee, all of which I respect but they where unfortunately casualties of the international ‘Australiana’ fad of the 80s. Good times.
Artwork by Eamo
DO YOU RECKON THAT THE RECOGNITION OVERSEAS OF PEOPLE LIKE JEREMYVILLE OR BEN FROST IS OPENING SOME DOORS FOR A WHOLE GENERATION OF AUSSIES ARTIST?
No doubt about it. Those two are killing it around the globe; I agree with picking Jeremyville and Ben Frost as examples of aussie’s getting recognition overseas – can’t get any better than those blokes. Ben has been a huge supporter of young up and coming aussie artists, you just have to look at stupidkrap.com – being next to guys like him, Jeremyville, Lister (etc.) on the site is a huge boost for other guys like myself in getting seen by the same international audience as they are.
My interview of Eamo published in Acclaim magazine
TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE ART SCENE IN MELBOURNE… HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER AUSTRALIAN CITIES?
The Melbourne scene is a tough nut to crack, in the four years I’ve been doing this caper, the last two I’ve managed to notch up six or so shows in Sydney as opposed to one in Melbourne. It’s a classic, when I meet people from Melbourne they always think I’m from Sydney, they look at my art and instantly think “yep, he’s a Bondi bloke” I’ve been told those exact words. And the Sydney folk thought I was a local up until recently. It stems back to my up bringing, I didn’t grow up in the city, I’m practically from the south coast so my art has a distinct aussie feel which is stereotypically more Sydney, whereas Melbourne has a very European culture without that tradition of an outdoor lifestyle.
Fair Suck Of The Pineapple is a detailed artwork by Eamo
WHAT DO YOU USUALLY DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
Chill at the beach, go to movies, a pub beer and a parma, go for a cruise in the 74 XB Fairmont, barbies.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
I just finished three new prints for the SemiPermanent exhibition ‘Kids Today’ and a black and white wall installation at the Annadale Hotel in Sydney. Soon I’ll be starting a custom wallet for a new Poketo Australiana series, painting three decks for the No Comply show later this year and another deck, where the artwork is laser burned into the wood, for a group show at China Heights gallery in Sydney. Hooroo!
