Features

First of all could you explain who Andrew Hem is and how you got started in the art game?

Andrew hem is an art addict. I love architecture, cultures, ninjas, anime, good designs, good compositions, colors and values. I started in the art game at 12 doing graffiti and took it seriously when I was 22 during my first figure drawing class.

What was it liking being Cambodian growing up in Los Angeles / And no doubt this has had influence on the way you paint and illustrate?

When I was young I wanted to be with my own kind. I figured if I was in a Cambodian community that I would fit in easier. People would understand me and relate with me.

I stood out like a sore thumb growing up in an all Hispanic community, so fitting in for me was out of the question. Indeed I'm inspired by my surroundings growing up. I remember one day in middle school we had to write an essay for my English class. In my essay I remember doing all my letters in a 45 degree tilt. I didn't know it at the time but this is considered a gangster lean. I saw the fonts everyday on the streets so without knowing their meaning I was inspired. I remember my teacher told me in front of the whole class, "so your a gangster now? Rewrite the whole essay again".

Last year you travelled to Cambodia, what was that like?

It was by far the best traveling experience for me. Usually when I travel there are places that remind me of LA. Certain districts that looks like Santa Monica or Beverly Hills. When I arrived in Cambodia it was like jumping into another world. Everything was new to me and the visuals were completely amazing. It was hard for me to jump right into the culture change, but once I did, the experience was one to remember. The first couple of days in the country side I bathe with avion water because i was scared of the brown water. I ate eggs every day because the village doesn't have refrigerators. A few days in I embraced the culture to the fullest and it was beautiful.

And how was your recent trip to South America?

I went to Chile and Argentina. I love both places. I like Chile more because it was less touristy and the people there are extremely friendly. I would constantly tell them no comprende, but they would still talk to me for minutes. The food in Argentina is amazing and the scenery is out of this world.

Any good travel stories from that trip? 

In Chile I met a friendly family in a town called Constitucion. They informed me that they were from a town called Talca, which was the next town I was heading to. Me and my friends called them when we arrived in Talca and were amazed by there kindness. It seem too good to be true. They invited us to their home and feed us for hours. It started getting really late at night and they wanted to take us to their other home in the country side. It's 11pm and we are driving to their home in the country side. The first thing that comes to my mind at that point was the movie Taken. Things were just too good to be true, so we told them to drop us off at the bus stop. Better safe than sorry.

When you travel how do incorporate your art practice into the trip?

I love being in different settings. Trying to understand the culture and people around me. I always carry my pocket size moleskin and document surroundings that inspire me. It's like my journal that I never leave home without. When I get back home I go threw my whole sketchbook and combine the best of every sketch to something big. The mini sketches is basically like brainstorming for an painting.

Knowing that you started off as a graffiti artist, do you have inspiration to paint on walls again? 

I'm always going have that hunger inside me to go paint on walls. There are so much great works done on the streets that makes me want to go out and paint even more 

I just don't have that many legal walls available and don't want to risk getting caught again from illegal’s, so my best bet is to stay in the studio.

Do you look out for other artist and their work? If so anyone that your really enjoying right now?

Right now I'm enjoying the graffiti of Revok, the drawings of Nicolai Fechin, etchings of Goya, paintings of Jules Joseph Lefebvre and the sculptures of Antonio Tantardini.

What is your weapon of choice when it comes to painting and do you experiment in any other mediums?

I love messing with a variety of mediums. I feel like I'm constantly learning when I change my mediums. I also feel like it is my duty as an artist to know how to use different types of medium. I currently love working with acrylic, oils, gouache, and watercolor.

What future projects or shows do you have in the works that you can tell us about?

I'm going to start on my next body of work. Once I have a solid body of work I will see what gallery fits it best. I don't like working under pressure. This is the reason why I produce work before I have a booking date. So for future plans, I'm just going to continue to illustrate and paint my butt off. I feel like I have so many things to get off my chest.

Your last show was called One Leads To Another. What was the inspiration and ideas behind this show?

Basically about how every event has it's own ripple effect. Every door I opened lead me to another path in life. I was always fascinated with the "what if?" I like to live my life with no regrets, but sometimes I just can't help thinking what would have happened if I'd picked another path. When I arrived in Cambodia the first thing I wondered was what might have happened in Khmer Rouge never happened. How would the lives of the Khmer people changed? What amazing things they would've have done if they were given the chance at life.

Any shouts outs or words of advice to your fans and future fans?

Trends will die shortly, your voice will last forever.

For more on the work of Andrew Hem you can visit his website.