Thomas Walk is good buddy of mine and we’re lucky enough to host his very first solo exhibition at kind of — gallery, opening the 25th October, 6pm. Get more event details here.
I did a little interview with him the other night, check it:
You there bro?
I’m here.
You busy? You want to do an interview?
Right now?
Yeah man.
I was kind of hoping to go to sleep, but fuck it.
It won’t take long.
That’s what she said.
Ha! Well, lets do it!
OK.
So, how come you’re so good looking?
I had no idea I was, this a good start to an interview….. Because I’m French, it’s in our blood. What can I say? I’m just a lucky French bastard.
Good answer! What made you pick up a camera in the first place and how did you afford one? You started shooting at school right?
I was an only child and my mum would always take me travelling when I was young. I became the family photographer, the one that documented the travels. But what really got me started was my mum was a film journalist, which meant I was always surrounded by movies and movie magazines. It made me want to become a filmmaker, but I never had a video camera, closest thing I had was a camera my mum got me on my 9th birthday.
So I began to frame everyday life, like I would if I was filming for a movie. I got my first film camera for my 9th birthday, then a series of 35mm and medium format cameras from second hand shops. Then got my very first digital camera after a summer of working at Target.
Your mum sounds like a steeze lady. It seems like she’s been a pretty big inspiration to you and your work?
She is, she’s got mad steeze!
She’s always given me freedom to do what I wanted. I owe her a lot in the sense that she’s always helped me to do what I wanted, never telling me what I should be. Plus, in terms of work ethics my mum is number #1! You ain’t seen hard work till you’ve seen my mum! So that’s always been inspiring to me.
Killer man, very respectable. I remember her not being that psyched on a recent little motorbike crash you had?
Yeah, that sucked. Nothing worse than having a motorbike crash, opening up your knee and getting taken to the hospital where your mum works. I was in the worst pain I have ever experienced while my Mum was shaking her finger at me.
In saying that, she was the one who pushed me to get my bike license! So yeah Mum! NICE ONE!
Ha ha ha! The knee is a real bummer hey, no time on the shred board?
You never realise how much you need your knee until it stops bending. Oh, the stupid things I do.
Having not kicked pushed in over a month is very annoying. But at least I’ll enjoy it like never before once I’m back on.
Mega bummer. How long have you been shred boarding?
It was an on and off thing for a while, but for the last year or so it’s become a real interest of mine again. I started when I lived in France, none of the kids my age wanted to hang out because they thought I was weird, probably because I had a moustache at the age of 13. So I’d hang out with the older kids who skated.
You must be pumped to get back on the board. Be good to have you back on the team.
Are you nervous about your pending exhibition and book launch?
I would be.
I’m super nervous! But also very excited. Actually, it’s hard to tell what I’m feeling. I’ve been working on this for so long now it’s almost a relief to see it being put out there. I’ve never pushed a project that far. Most projects I’ve worked on before get shot, edited then published on the web. This was actually a lot of work, and it still is at the moment.
I’m looking forward to your show bro, I know how much work you’ve put into it.
Let’s wrap this up because I got to call my girlfriend back and it’s getting late!
I can remember when I first started talking to you I had just started shooting it and now a year has gone past and you’re curating my show!
You always said you wanted us (kind of —) to show it, I was always down fo sho! I’m proud of you dude, you killed it!
You’re a heck of a friend Dan
AAAAAAAH shucks! Homies fo life!
One love!
Yeeeeaaaahhh muther fucker!!!!!
Ha ha, this is going up word for word!
Hell yeah it is!
Word man, bed time! Speak to you soon.
Beholden
Debut solo exhibition and book launch by Thomas Walk
kind of — gallery
80 Oxford St, Darlinghurst 2010.
Opening Thursday 25th October 6pm
Until Sunday 4th November
kind of — gallery is open Thursday – Sunday, 12pm – 6pm.