Something real
Jessica Wassil, artist, born in Orlando, Florida.
I lived among the gators and juvenile delinquents.
Much of my inspiration comes from my dad Bill Wassil who can transform tables
into watermelons and carved a six foot whistle headed bird out of wood. If he
didn't let me draw pictures on his toes as a kid, I don't think I'd have the
love for drawing I do today. I love watercolors. I love mess. I like making
things that can sometimes stare back at you. I like making things that make me
happy and hopefully they can make you.
What does art mean to you?
That is a
tricky question. A lot of things popped up in my head. First was the need to
purely express myself. So, I guess I would say whatever is grabbing you at the
moment whether it's a jolt of your pen on paper or a ramble of words... as long
as it’s pure. Something real.
Purity and reality... In the current world, do you think an artist can
survive being pure?
When I think
of pure I think of letting "yourself" go... purging yourself... being
ugly and being okay with that. Forget reality... I take that back! Haha
But we live in a society in which the aesthetics is the most important
think. Is there a place for "ugliness"?
You can't
have beauty without ugliness, can you? There is ugliness in what we stereotypically
find beautiful. There is an absolute truth in the "ugly". That is
what intrigues me and pulls me the most.
Truth is another interesting concept because in society to tell the truth
is sawn as something ugly or impolite. Do you think it's easy to find a public
for an art that tries to tell the truth?
I think as a
society we are used to using this certain facade that makes "everything
okay" avoiding real issues or feelings because it just doesn't feel nice
or make for good dinner conversation. So we are living out our lives in a sense
how we are "supposed to". Who made these ideals for us? I think the
public is sick of wearing the veil more than ever. I see it on all sorts of topics.
Gay rights, women rights... Yes, to answer your question I most certainly feel
the public is ready to spill its guts.
One of the most interesting aspects of your artwork is the honesty and the
respect for the diversity. Do you love people?
I would say
I love observing people. I am actually an avoider of phone calls and love my
alone time. I do enjoy the special characters: the waitress that works the
graveyard shift, the guy that sings at the top of his lungs on the way to work
as he passes my window. No... I don't love people in general. I think most of
us are unaware of how we are affecting each other, including myself... I just
like capturing those contorted moments in our life. I love that part of people.
And you think your art talks us more about you or about the people you observe?
Maybe it's
my interpretation of how I perceive them. The way I look at a woman on the
subway may tell me a different story than what it tells you. If we asked the
woman on the subway her story we would both be wrong.
In one of my favourite of your works one can read "This look will
pass". Are you nostalgic?
Oh, I most
definitely am. I can get stuck in my head for hours to a fault. Not filled with
regrets just mostly daydreams. "This look will pass" really means
that everything will be okay. The awkward moments, the person that called you
an idiot in traffic... the breakups... It will all wash away. You will laugh
about it... or cry... then laugh. Don't worry; we are all on the same timeline.
Another work says "I wanna tell you how much I love you and that you
are doing a fantastic job". The image, as yours normally are, is so
tender. How important is for you to express your feelings?
It’s very
important. I have kept a diary since I was 7 years old. Don't keep it in or your
head will explode. Seriously, we are all still very human despite the ever
growing technology. Look into each other's eyes... you will still see the need
for tenderness.
And you consider you are really able to express them?
I'll be
honest. Sometimes I can cover up my emotions with being humorous. Laughing
things off to my friends and then walking home wistfully listening to music
then grabbing my pen to write in my diary or draw. For sure these are my
emotional outlets when I can't confront my feelings in person.
Art is then your exit door?
Art, music,
writing... and laughing. Honestly, having a sense of humour is probably up
there with art.
Your drawings seem to be as important for you as your writings.
They are
part and parcel.
What's the Modern Day Sisyphus?
That is a
story I wrote about a somewhat fictitious man in San Francisco. I was walking
to work and saw a man in a wheel chair approaching a hill. I was late for work
and kept walking but imagined him asking me to push him up the steep hill. What
the hell would I do or say? Then I thought of Sisyphus pushing the rock as his
punishment up and down all day long and related it back to this man somehow
using this punishment to his advantage by getting people like me to push him up
and then joyfully roll back down... day in and day out.
(In Greek
mythology Sisyphus was a king of Ephyra. He was punished for chronic
deceitfulness by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to
watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever).
It’s magnificent story, the classic one and yours. Do you create fiction
stories as a need?
I love
writing stories. Mostly I write true stories from my childhood or countless
adventures I have had with my best friend Hannah Welch. Growing up in Orlando,
Florida we have encountered characters and incidents that are actually too good
to be true. She lives in Spain where I am currently visiting and we are working
on a writing/illustration project that centres on those insane times.
I have been
approached to work on a children's book with a hilarious and dear friend of
mine. I have also created an illustrative blog called www.yelpyack.com
that accompanies reviews written by the public. Currently I have projects up my
sleeve that combine humour and art... my favourite components.
Are you a joyful person?
I am
definitely a laugher. We all have our moments. I am human of course but I have
to say even at my low points I will catch a glimpse of myself and laugh it off.
And what's your Rade Zone?
That is one
of the colourful characters from Orlando Florida. That is a real man that
Hannah and I encountered on one of our many nights walking aimlessly downtown.
We were in our late teens he was early 40's eccentric street
"comedian." Basically we were intrigued to the point where it got
scary even for the fearless knuckleheads that we were.
Love the sentence "It has to do
without witting your manipulator and being clever when someone is trying to use
their troll powers over you". What's behind it?
That was our
first experience with a man who invoked fear into us. Picture Kramer playing
the bad guy in Cape Fear. It was innocent banter at first. Then when he shows
up at your door, follows you around, calls your house... you realize this is
real life and not a character and you have to use your wits. Like calling his
elderly mother pretending to be a reputable newspaper kind a wit...
Fears or the dark side of human being is not shown in your artwork.
No, that is
because I see the ridiculousness in everything. That is what prevails. We are
above all pretty ridiculous.
Could you tell me a dream you have had while sleeping?
Oh I have
lots of those! I'll tell you a recent one. I had a dream I was on a pirate
ship. We were in a turbulent storm there were people there but I was alone.
There as a parrot that annoyed the hell out of me. It landed its sharp claws on
my shoulder I pretended it wasn't there to let it know I wasn't bothered by its
clutches. But these feelings changed when the boat capsized whirling us into
the undercurrents like rag dolls. All throughout the parrot remained with me.
Spread its wings around me which emanated warmth I had never known. When I
screamed it echoed but in a humorous tone to let me know that it too was not
bothered by my clutches.
Jessica Wassil | Selection of works here
An interview by Juan Carlos Romero
Photo courtesy of Jessica Wassil
All rights reserved