Butcher Interview



These were your first board graphics right? How did it come to be that you got the 2nd invite?
We were probably drunk at the Head and you blurted out that I could do a series, you woke up regretting that statement but couldn’t take it back because even a drunk verbal agreement is binding in a court of law. Hmmm… no I’m not actually sure, perhaps you can elaborate, but I assume you guys saw some of my sketches around and asked me…a bit risky hey, I haven’t got that much shit out there for reference.

Were you stoked on how the boards came out?
I was, I think they look pretty tit. Initially I thought the colours were a bit bright but I think in the end they complement the looseness of the ink sketches really well.

Were you trying to be Ralph Steadman?
I wasn’t actually, I like his stuff but can't say that I’ve ever thought about his work ever in the context of doing my own work. I am quite flattered that you see some similarity. If any influence, it would have come from Andy Howell or Jose Gomez, I loved those guys. When I was younger I would copy New Deal imagery everywhere. I painted murals on my bedroom wall of Jose’s characters, and at school you could always tell which desk was mine - there would be the New Deal sun everywhere I sat, kinda marking my territory, nowadays I just piss on things.







Tell us the method for your work, and although that's a boring question, try make it interesting.
I get black corpse paint from the mortuary and… no actually I used draughting pens (the best thing I’ve received from my career of architecture) and drew on panes of glass because the ink bleeds a lot, giving the line work a really good texture. Then I scanned the images into Photoshop and dropped some colour in.

Did your life of excess have any influence on the work?
The only way that my life of excess influenced the work was that excessive drinking resulted in the boards being a couple days late. Actually my life of non-excess influenced the work; these are themes that I feel strongly about (consumerism, environment, vegetarianism). I saw the concept of ‘Facades’ as human's vanity; people will selfishly destroy to portray a self-image that they feel other people will admire. It is very evident how we devastate our world and its creatures for selfish comforts, but to a degree where people become very self-destructive to impress others.

You're an architect by day. Why have you not designed any skateable spots for the Jozi sons?
Because all I work on is big corporate bullshit architecture with uber-paranoid tenants that need 17ft high laser fencing… skateboarding would be far from tolerated.

You've got a trick in Bang Chong... has this helped with the birds?
Totally, you wouldn’t believe it. Everywhere I go girls come up to me and say “Holy shit Butcher, your alley-oop fakie 5-0 is amazing, it's my favorite trick in the whole video, I put it in slo-mo at least 3 times a day… do you want to come to my house? I will cook you a fancy vegan dinner in just my knickers.”

You recently got a photo in a Blunt too... have you taken it to the Red Room and showed the girls?
You wouldn’t believe it. When I go there, I show all the girls on the dance floor and they say to me “Holy shit Butcher, your alley-oop fakie 5-0 is amazing, it's my favorite trick in the whole magazine, I put it in my handbag and look at it at least 3 times a day…do you want to come to my house? I will cook you a fancy vegan dinner in just my knickers.”

What will more likely result in a successful wriggle with a lady: Saying you're an architect or saying you're an artist?
Saying you’re an orthodontist.

You are known to quantify your successes with ladies as a percentage. What percentage of hook-up success have you so far experienced in '08?
Well it’s still quite early in the year, its probably only sitting around 17%. Last year was a lot better, but I think it being a leap year really helped.

Have you done any other pieces that people may have seen?
I highly doubt it, I’ve only recently started getting into art / design on this kind of level. I did do a board for the Iron Fist art exhibition, which reminds me: Hey Dave, where’s my pay?

Are there any other avenues of design / art that you are pursuing?
Does face painting count?

People have referred to you as the Familia mascot. How do you feel about that title?
I would like it a lot better if you guys would hook me up with big pink rabbit suit, a couple pom-poms and mega-phone.

You're are often vocal about the state of skate in SA. What is pissing you off about it today?
Not too much at the moment because I remove myself from all the industry bullshit. The only thing I'm hating right now is the lack of spots we have to ride, but that’s mostly my fault because I'm so goddam fussy.

Anything else you want to add?
Recycle.