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...KABU
MBll..artist |
"RESURRECTION"
acrylic on canvas 72" x 84" 2006
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Art
for me is problem solver and nourishment for the soul.
The light
in the dark and hope where there is none. If my art can change
one mind or influence one child, it would have served its
purpose. It's a spritual thing.It is not about money, fame
or recognition. It is about creating pure, unadulterated
art. Art free of commercalization and economic manipulization.
Uncut, unyelding and full of truths and freedom. You will
not find my paintings in the furniture store or some trendy
gallery with the ''Art De jure''. |
Kabu
MBll Interview for StreetLevel.Biz 3/02/07
Who
is Kabu?
Kabu
is a 58 year old man. The real '' O.G. of ART ''. ''The
Master of Diasters''. Straight out the hood of South
Central L.A.and didn't come to play. I've been
getting down seriously painting and sculpting since
1970.To clairify this statement: Making art
was a priority, like eating or sex and I have not lost
my passion or energy for either. Life without art or
sex would be pretty dull. Can you feel me ? Money
or recognition was never a thought or goal.
I
was aware that I had stories to be told, inner feelings
to express, that I could share them with others. In time,
I found my audience and collectors or they found me .
People began to appriciate my willingness to speak with
my brush on issues that others would not. |
How
would you describe your art?
It
is art that pretty much comes from all sources. People,
places, stories that I am told, music, and things
I read or see. Places that I walked or quite contemplation.
I put on my Tupac, Roots, Coltrane or Notorious
BIG and get down.
My
art is pure, uncut, rugged and raw. It can be gentle
and soft like grandmas hands or it can take you down
like a body slam. It just depends on what I am doing
or feeling at the time. It is full of emotions.
Art really does have to have feeling in it and that is
what mine has . If you ever saw a Van Gough, you know,
it has those qualities. Chuck full of content like a
'' Famous Amos'' chocolate chip cookie, with nuts and
shit. You know before he sold out. I not only
tell you a story or give a commentary, but if you get
up close to the painting ; you can trip and appriciate the
colors building up, the layering of glazes and abstract
qualities. I can provide you with a whole another
world and sensory experiences.
I
mean, I am not cutting off my ear; but I ain't taking
no prisoners or being politicaly correct either. |
"The
Beat Goes On" acrylic on canvas 40" x 50" 2006 |
When
did you realize that art was your way of life?
The day
that I found a childs watercolor set thrown away in a
trash can and saw my first police beating outside the
draft board. The moment that I picked it up in 1970,
I never stopped painting. I was Zapped!!! I felt energy
flow through me. It was as if I had been spoken to by
God. You know like Moses on the mountain and the burning
bush. I had a purpose in life, a calling so to speak.
I was hooked on pigment and canvas.
Who
have been some of your main influences as an artist?
As a person?
My
main artistic influences have come from artist like the
great Mexican Muralist. Jose' Clemente Orozco, Diego
Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros; then Max Beckman
and Hieronymus Bosch. Without a doubt my wife ! She has
always filled me with emotion. These cats were not afraid
to paint. And because they did, it made the world a better
place.
What
would you tell someone contemplating pursuing art as
his or her way of life?
Do
it out of love. You do not have to suffer and be poor.
Do it everyday. Your art is your art; so don't let anybody
change you. Don't prostitute your art just to make money
or change it so people will like you. The rewards will
come if you learn the business end. Quit your day job.
Like Jay- Z said, '' I had to get off the boat so I could
walk on water''. |
|
You
have said that, " I decided to investigate the
chaos of society". What has this investigation
revealed?
That
you should always stay optimistic and positive about
life. Because ;Mankind can be cruel and greedy. Out for
him or her self intrest, but also Careing and Loving.
Look here brother, ''Chaos'' is part of the whole mix.
Don't fool yourself. Get hip. Somebody is always
getting paid. Somebody is going to take a beating. If
you want to know the cause, just follow the money. When
you see what is going on, ain't a damn thing funny. You are
getting jacked. It's all about the business. You
know sooner or later somebody is going to try to stick
it to you. Don't get mad. Strickly business baby, it's
only business. So don't take it personal.
''Chaos''
is out there. Always lurking in the shadows. I am just shinning
some light on the situation. We allow ourselves
to be lead like sheep. Why ? Because, we want to
have leaders to make things right for us. We want the
illusion of peace and that comes with a price. We don't
wanna think. No matter what form it may be in, give me
peace. Haven't you noticed, civilizations come and
civilizations go, but business remains? We get caught
up in the mix with separations like religions, colors,
drugs, rags on sticks and politics. Big business
sells the raw materials, science and technology. Pulling
strings of politicians and nations world wide. Nancy
Regan said ,'' Just Say No to Drugs''. Now everytime
you turn on the TV they tell you about buying drugs.
Throw your shit away, beat your ass and buy theirs.
Boy, That's so Cold. Peace comes with a price. And
people pay. We will always have ''Chaos'' and somebody
is getting paid. I just paint about it.
|
"Where
Will Children Play" acrylic on canvas 54" x 62" 2006 |
Looking
back on almost four decades of painting, has Kabu met
his goal of arousing empathy and compassion in humankind
and the human condition?
No.
Not really. The goal is never met. At least not
on a world wide scale. It's about one person at a time. That
would be too Utopian. The world and it's problems are
just too great. Remember, '' Chaos " is part of
the equation. Once you understand this, life gets more
peaceful. Once you embrace this fact, you can savor every
moment of life and live in peace with yourself and
the world . You come to understand why people suffer.Then
your true needs will be met. You begin to move away
from ''Chaos''. Putting it simply, You don't know
what is Peace, but you know ''Pain''. Stay away from
Pain. That is my message. I think that in and of itself
compassion for others is the result.
If
you could meet anyone living or dead, who would that
be?
David
Alfaro Siqueiros. Because he was always doing new things
and using different materials and techniques. A Master
of his craft. That's who I would want to sit down with.
|
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What
is your favorite discipline in art?
PAINTING!!!
Why of course. You know brother just like I do, art
is purely subjective. And for me that's kool. I want
you to be thinking things, going within and acting like
you know art and playing off my brain. Being the ''art
critic''. I can dig it. You go away shaking your head,
telling others what you saw.Then sneak back for another
look. A painting allows that to happen. For that
moment in time you are mine and once you see some
of my art up close and personal, you will not forget
it. My paintings are not a 30 second soundbite.
Every time you look at it you will see something new.
Do
you choose your subjects or do they choose you?
It
is more like I am drawn to them and they sometimes come
to me. It may take months to put all the pieces together
for a painting. Even years before the composition is
what you want, so be patient. Just like today we hear
about '' Hurricane Katrina '' Rainforest destruction,
''911'', ''Blood Diamonds'', gangs, wars, police shoot
outs and all. People say, ''Oh my God '', it will never
happen here. In the words of the late Marvin Gaye, ''What's
Going On'', are we blind. Even Stevie Wonder can
see this. Hey, Kabus' been trying to tell you something
for a long time. I ain't no 30 second soundbite. I am
'' The Master of Diasters '', the real '' O. G. of Art''.
I don't take prisoners.
Can
art be as deadly as a gun?
Let
me say this, '' everything is good ''. It is all about
how it is used, under what circumstance and
in what quantity. That is what can make something
not good for you. For instance, I remember when '' Hip
Hop '' came out. Guys like William Calhoun aka ''WC,
The Killer '' now of the ''Westside Connection with ''Ice
Cube '' and my son were rapping and running
together. The black preachers nationwide and press
were saying how bad Hip Hop was. Rolling over CD's with
asphalt rollers. I had a choice, to go negative or stay
positive. I didn't diss, I went positive and saw the
good in what they were doing and today they are
strong good men. Doing good in society and helping people. That
was their art.The Genre today is embraced worldwide
and commercialized. I spent time with the ''Queen
of DADA'' Beatrice Woods and listened to what she had
to say and to a folllower of Gandhi. They all had
met with negative public opinion of their art at first.
Dada the art and anti-art and Gandhi the new art
of resistance for change. Later embraced by Dr. Martin
Luther King. The establisment felt threatened. Is it
a spray paint can or magic marker scralling on a
subway wall ( Keith Haring ) or a mural of Saddam
Hussain or The Last Supper, it is all subjective. Let's
stop the censorship. What kind of a mind thinks that
another mind is behaving badly ? Look for the good in
all and do not disrespect others rights. Raise awareness.
Who's fooling who ? |
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Finish
the following statement. Good artists borrow, great
Artists.....?
Great
Artist strike out blazing their own path. Undetered by
the critics. Reinventing the current state of contemporary
art. Like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Monk were
to Jazz. Great Artist are always pushing the boundries
of their art. Good artist settle for the safety of pleasing
the audience and critics. They tend to borrow and cover.
Good artist do usually what is trendy or commonly accepted. They
are usually more money focused. They are easily forgotten.
I guess, I don't want to be good. I could sell a few
more paintings, but finances are not a big thing. I am
blessed. It's all about the paint and substance. Baby,
I am for real !
Where
do you see yourself in 10 years?
God
Bless. Here on this mountain, Mount Taylor painting and
sculpting. Traveling as much as possible with my wife,
doing more exhibitions than ever. Pulling off some museum
exhibitions.
What
is the biggest misunderstanding about yourself?
That
all I paint is what they see. You know, I spent 8 years
living on a bluff overlooking the ocean in Malibu, California.
I can not begin to tell you how many seascapes I've
done or landscapes, paintings of musicians, children
playing, still lifes, cityscapes, industrial landscapes
and ethnic people. I always say, ''I have more paintings
than the Getty ''.
If
you had to live in one room for your entire life, what
would it look like?
My
painting studio only larger; like a wearhouse with plenty
of natural light.
|
"Where
Things Go" acrylic on canvas 64" x 64" 2004
All
Artwork and graphics courtesy of KABU MBll
and published with permission.
You
can see more of KABU at: www.kabumbii.com |
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