Today we’d like to introduce you to Zeek.
Hi Zeek, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has been a part of my life for as far back as I remember, since early childhood – drawing on the chalkboard in nothing but gumboots, sketching my friends’ portraits in primary school, and experimenting with different mediums in my early development really had an influence on how I approach art in the present.
As soon as I possibly could, I was enrolled in the visual arts at school and as soon as I enrolled I realized how much I disliked art history – a subject which has since grown on me.
My early artistic expression was subject to many influences, I was constantly surrounded by art, movies, photography, music, and raw emotion.
Coming from an intense cultural background, there would always exist a ‘rawness’ in conversation, emotions that are fueled by love, hate, and passion never seemed far from my ears, so I think exploring internally became my escape, but never a limitation.
My influences came from pop-culture interests and the odd influence of experimental synth wave from my father. I was interested in the general stuff most Y2K kids would be infatuated with; Starwars, Comics, Adventure Time, and video games.
But I found that I was particularly interested in surrealism, and this would be my catalyst for the beginnings of my own exploration into who I am as an artist.
Art showed me the variety of expression that takes place – and the varying mediums artists explored in order to tell their stories. That’s what I found art to be, my method of storytelling, my expression was a way I could interact with you deeper than a verbal connection, it was ethereal, and street art showed me how I would interact with anyone wherever, whenever I feel like it.
I was tapping into the weaponized methods of the culture shock of ‘Banksyism’ and using work by Shepard Fairey, Blek Le Rat, Invader, Keith Harring, and Andy Warhol (to name a few) as my reference.
Post College, some other facets of my life became more prominent than my exploration in art, though I never stopped – I began to explore Bodybuilding and travel the world internationally for sport(s), all the while wondering why things didn’t feel right, working, traveling, drinking, f*cking, taking different “recreational drugs”.
Something shifted in my mentality after I began to realign myself with art, working on different commissions in my local town would give me the confidence I needed to finally step into the bigger city of Sydney, my first time moving out of home to a place I had never lived and barely even visited but it felt right and once I made the decision I packed my small 2 door sports car full of everything would need (Mainly arts supplies & a f*ck tonne of fruits) and moved.
Thankfully I had the almost-full support of my family, but knowing where I would be a few years from making the decision to move, I knew it would all make sense to them.
I spent the first weeks walking around fumbling with posters, flyers, business cards, and a memorized artist’s bio, stumbling into galleries to introduce myself as “Zeek” assuring them that I would be “the next big thing” and asking “If they were interested in exhibiting some of my work”. It never hurt me to be turned away, which happened 90% of the time, the other times I would sit and absorb as much knowledge from whoever took the time to speak to me, and I have to thank a few older artists (who I won’t name for privacy reasons) who really gave me insight into the nature of the art world.
Only four months after moving and after selling my art my own way out of a shopping trolley at local markets around Sydney, I was invited to exhibit with ‘Gas Art Sydney’ in a group show at a local gallery space, it was a smaller wall, not even a meter wide (39Inches), but I filled the whole wall with a few pieces (among a consistently growing collection) that I thought would suit and showcase a perfect debut. I sold my most expensive pieces, two of which are currently always regarded well and both have been showcased at other exhibitions and internationally. Since then I have exhibited in a virtual show in Spain and hosted a solo exhibition night at a local bar. Most recently, I was invited back to exhibit with “Gas Art Sydney”, my first exhibition.
It’s important I mention that most of the art I produced in the span of four months (June – October) was conceptualized, created, and mastered while I was sleeping on a yoga mat above a restaurant in a back alley, this was my fuel, to emerge and connect.
Now every day is an adventure, as I continue to progress my artistry I am finding that Its easier to work with what I know, that being who I am, understanding that not everyone will like me, not even friends and family, and that ok – because as long as I respect myself that’s how I’ll project myself to others.
I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but I am creating and moving on a trajectory I feel is right for me creatively and as an entrepreneur, I’m often quoted saying, “It’s all about the progression” and I am thankful for the people around me who support me; documenting my journey through photography, visit my exhibitions, buy my art, posters, and clothing, and commission me for their creative projects.
It’s better to elevate everyone around you, it’s the only path to success (whatever that may be for you) as soon as you allow yourself to look down on another, you take a step backward creatively, which is ok – but be present and move past it, because time tells no lies and your hard work is what matters, through the monotony of the 9-5, and the bills to pay, and the friends and family who might need your support – what matters most is that you spend the time to work on what you want, on who you are and spending to time to talk with people you enjoy being around, and being respectful of their time because like I said time tells no lies, so only time will tell.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I hate that it seems an artist’s ill-fated tale to relay the same quote; “there is no rulebook/step-by-step guide to your own progression”. This applies with success, money and whatever else we seem to chase nowadays.
It really is about devoting yourself, not 100% at first, there are potholes that I have found you need to experience and progress through, take the loss, reflect, and move forward with your creative energy.
A personal challenge for me is the exposure, I do so many things and sometimes maybe too many, so I keep visual arts as my main pursuit. But I continue to search for galleries and what my outlet maybe that would allow me to 100% commit to my creativity, I already eat and sleep art, and balancing that with work that pulls me away from it is my challenge to overcome.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I mainly pursue a passion and desire to develop my visual artistry, my ability to story-tell through the use of layers of visual emotion to convey myself.
I practice in all mediums; Sculpture, graphic design, illustration, acrylic painting, and graffiti and find that an artwork has two narratives, the viewers and my own, and sometimes they contrast, sometimes they coexist, and other times they’re all over the place – a complete free for all, hence the subjective nature of the arts.
Recently I have been creating and writing music, which I have been experimenting with for as long since garage band exited on a Mac back in 2015 with my first experience performing live in Sydney, closing the night with a cover of Yasiin Bey’s “Umi says” to a great reception.
Of course, I was nervous, the same goes for when I am modeling for a photo shoot or doing a live painting at an event. I always want to put on a show – it’s who I am, and performance plays a big part in how I explore my creativity.
In 2017, I conceptualized a brand called “BTC” (Break The Cycle). I worked hard to produce a line of screen-printed clothes and hand-painted apparel, now the brand has expanded to a looser style and has been something I’ve been committed to working on, its how I connect to fans at a consumer level, selling online and at local markets, working on 1 of 1 unique piece for clients and selling select prints of my graphic design and original work.
My modeling is something that I enjoy; recently partnering with a professional photographer who shoots primarily on film means that our look is unique and marketable to anyone looking to curate a collection of vintage film at a professional level
I still don’t quite feel proud, although I am proud of how far I’ve come, I am beyond humbled that people even pay me peace of mind though I haven’t really checked many of my goals and that’s ok.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My fondest childhood memory comes more as a mix of emotions, a childhood filled with love and hate and fear and excitement. But when I truly think back the memories that are most poignant are all the times I felt 100% me; acting out Jerry Lewis, mixing music with basic understandings of chord progressions, copying comic book characters, and watching my favorite movies.
Those times you really do feel most childish are core memories to me, it’s why I feel that life is play and we should nurture those moments.
Pricing:
- Freelance design commissions via: Lemoineisole@gmail.com & Instagram: @Zeek.was.here
- Linktree: zeek-linktree.crd.co
- For all creative inquiries: Lemoineisole@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website(S):
Commissions: https://stylesbyzeek.crd.co/
Gallery Work: https://zeekportfolio.crd.co/
Linktree: https://zeek-linktree.crd.co/
Photography: https://zeek-folio.crd.co/ “
Image Credits
Polaroids & Film provided by @Onikamera
