Nomi Chi
April 8th, 2008 | Published in Interviews
Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Nomi Chi: I usually feel that reflecting on my own style is a bit of a self-centered practice, so this is a tough one. I know there’s a definite ‘Asian’ influence, which branches out from my earlier Anime days – hahaha. Right now I think I find myself comfortable somewhere between Japanese block printing and early anatomical etchings.
CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
NC: Mostly people, their lives, their stories. I know it sounds cheesy, but when I hear a good story from someone who’s speaking from experience, I often get a very clear image of their scenario, constructed out of motifs and images from my own life. It makes me laugh. Life is a silly game.
CM: Do you listen to music when you create? Describe your perfect creative work environment.
NC: It’s not so much music that sculpts a comfortable work environment for me, but food. I need to have the perfect snack, and lots of it. It varies from day to day. I’m trying to eat healthier, so recently I’ve had a lot of fresh fruits, smoothies, maybe some humous with pita. I’ll listen to talk shows on the radio as background noise, but that’s about it as far as music goes.
CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Why do you use them?
NC: Oils. Oils because it’s fun to blend, it’s like painting with butter. I like the smell too.
I’ll use acrylics and graphite in my sketchbook – acrylics dry father than oils and they’re fun to sketch with.
Skin, ink, and needles are fast becoming one of my favourite mediums. Tattooing is great, such an intense experience on both ends.
CM: Name a few of your favorite artists.
NC: Huang Yong Ping, Cai Guo-Qiang, Makoto Aida, Joel Peter Witkin, Sam Weber, Walton Ford, atilla richard lucaks, Justin Cherry (nivbed), The brothers Quay.
CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up what would it be?
NC: Taxidermy.
Find Nomi’s artwork at these places on the web:
wormw00d on Livejournal
God-Of-Insects on DeviantART
The Fall Tattooing (Under Tattoo artists > Nomi)
Some artwork from Nomi Chi:
