I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Saturday February 14th — —

The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Saturday February 14th — —

“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Saturday February 14th — —

Inspirations — Raymond Lemstra

The Amsterdam-based Raymond Lemstra has been one of our favorite Dutch artists for some years now. The creatures he creates (mostly drawn) show his interest in distortion as a result of selective emphasis; parts of interest are emphasized, unimportant parts reduced or left out. His distinct characters therefore often come out big headed, with focus on the faces and the body trimmed to its essential properties, all marked with his personal style, tough often very different in specific form. As he has stated on his vision and aesthetic: “The contrast between my naive and at the same time sophisticated approach to my work gives it a somewhat awkward taste. It is a clash of intent, simultaneously assuming simplicity and complexity, randomness and reason, flaws and perfection.” We’ve been following Raymond since the very beginning of Another Something & Co and feel extremely grateful to have collaborated with him during the first Our Current Obsessions. Having been this inspired by his work for all this time, we now ask him about his inspirations.—

Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Raymond Lemstra.
I live in Amsterdam and I mostly make drawings.

Who is the most inspiring person in history and why?
It’s tough to name just one person.
So many people have walked around doing so many different things.
I find inspiration in little aspects of many different people.

Who is the most inspiring person in your life and why?

My mom is the most pure and positive person I know, she has influenced me a lot.

Who is the most inspiring photographer?
I don’t have one.

And the picture that will always stay in your mind?
The portrait of my family made in the 80s. Great stuff!

Who is the most inspiring artist?

Willem de Kooning and Moebius.

And what is the most inspiring music?
At this moment:
Inoyama Land – Danzindan Pojidon
Laurie Spiegel – The Expanding Universe
Interior – Interior

The thing you never go without?
Matcha and my sketchbook.

Your favorite city?
I enjoy myself in many cities, but especially Berlin.
I have some lovely friends living there.
But I like coming home, too.

Your favorite hideout?
Possibly the library.

The website you often check?
Gmail is the only one I can think of.

The books on your coffee table?
‘KABA‘ and ‘GENGA‘ by Otomo Katsuhiro.

The books on your bedside table?
At this moment: ‘The Possibility of an Island‘ by Michel Houellebecq.

What is your dream?

To stay curious and find motivation and confirmation within my personal growth, be it personal or work wise. And to travel.

What would you do if you could start all over again?
The same.

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Portrayed with the questions are some of Raymond’s more recent works. Among which is the cover of the fourth title in Nobrow’s ‘Big Mother’ graphic novel series, which Raymond created and is still available for sale here.

For more information and more work by the very talented Raymond see here.