COL: What do you want to communicate through your work? Is there a message - political or otherwise?
EAN: I like to shoot people from all kinds of nationalities. In the fashion industry in the 1980’s and 1990’s it was so much more diversity and now you see two non-white models per show just so the brands don’t come of as racist really makes me mad.
COL: Do artists of today have some kind of of social responsibility?
EAN: Art is a very powerful tool to communicate what’s going on in the world and it can make people question society which could be a good thing.
COL: What does uncontaminated mean for you?
EAN: Not being affected by your surroundings and staying true to your own vision no matter what it takes.
COL: What is the most important thing in your life?
EAN: Friends, family, music and art.
COL: How do you feel right now?
EAN: Content and blessed.
COL: If you could change one thing in the world today, what would it be?
EAN: Prejudice, injustice and inequality.
COL: What are the main reasons you are joining us for the festival this year?
EAN: Showing my first video.
COL: What is the most important drive for you to create and why?
EAN: Playing around as much as I can, in between some of these more ‘’planned’’ shoots.
COL: Who or what do you value as a great inspiration for you creatively?
EAN: Nick Knight is God, but I find inspiration in people on the street, random conversations, pop culture, art, movies, travelling and just following my intuition.
COL: Can you elaborate on an important moment in your life where you experienced a big change, chose to make one or another event which altered your way of thinking or your approach to creativity ?
EAN: After school I really cultivated my own and I started to trust my own vision. Purely focusing on myself and not compare myself to others. You can only do you and I can only do me.
COL: How does digital and social media affect or inspire your life and creations?
EAN: It’s a way of reaching people that might not have seen my work, so I think it’s great.
COL: What do you define art?
EAN: Someone who dedicate their whole life to something in some sort of form.
COL: What is your definition of artistic freedom?
EAN: When you don’t have sacrifice your vision.
COL: Is there a difference for you between art and commercial/commissioned work?
EAN: It doesn’t have to be. Look at Ryan McKinley who got his break from doing his personal projects and now barely separate his commercial work with his personal work. I personally think that one doesn’t exclude the other. Commercial or even fashion can be such a ‘’dirty’’ word for the art-scene, but one doesn’t necessarily exclude the other.
COL: Do you struggle to find artistic freedom in the span between commissioned work and your personal needs to express yourself?
EAN: So far I’ve barely done any commissioned work.
COL: What do you aspire to? In the near future? In life in general?
EAN: To continue pushing myself towards unknown fields and territory.
COL: How do you feel art and fashion intervient?
EAN: Many people in fashion forget that behind a spectacular dress by a designer it lays a lot research and some reference art more than you would think. Certain people think of fashion as ‘’purely’’ fashion, but I think that could lead to something generic. Ultimately fashion is about selling clothes and art is commenting on the society we live in. Fashion can be used as fronting issues in society but can also help the branding - whereas art is much more free.
COL: What is a great example of a fashion art collaboration in your view?
EAN: Jean Paul Goude’s work with Grace Jones.
COL: Where do you think art and fashion is heading in our digital age?
EAN: We already see tendencies but much more moving images if my prediction.
