May 1st 2007 
Name, age, location:
Christophe Remy, 25, Brussels / Belgium / Europe
Q: Can you give some info on your background where you grew up, went to school and all that?
I was born in a small town along the water called Dinant. Then at 7 I moved to a bigger town (but still small), Namur. There I spent all my teenage life. I went to the same school all the way. I was more into music than anything else. I started playing guitar at 12 or something then the drums at 15. I didn't have really big interest in visual art, I mean I wouldn't have thought I would do that some day... My mother moved to New Zealand, but I stayed in Belgium. I went there only for a few months. Now she's back but I wish I'll have the opportunity to spend more time there! So, as a musician I wanted to study something which had something to deal with music. I attended the sound engineering school entry test. I was refused and went to a cinema school where you could specialize in sound (and no test). That's when I moved to Brussels at age 18, which leads me to the next question...
Q: How did you get into graphic design?
So, I went to this cinema school and realized I had no affinity with sound. I got interested by the direction of photography and was jealous of people attending the photography section of the school. I didn't even know about graphic design, about making images with computers, etc... Then I had my first Photoshop lessons and simultaneously discovered "Dave Mc Keane". That was it! That's what I wanted to do! I finished my studies (4 years) without getting involved. When getting out of it, I joined a band called Zaccharia, we played a lot, toured a lot, recorded stuff. It was almost a full time job. At the same time I continued learning graphic design by myself, with tutorials, etc.... I got some little experience by working for the band, flyers, posters, cd cover, t shirts, etc... then some other bands asked me... some more little and bigger jobs until 7 months ago the band split and I am know fully involved in my job / passion which is illustration and design stuff.
Q: What's life like in Brussels?
I really love Brussels! It's like a small big town. It's the capital of Europe but it has something of a village feel. It has only 1 millions inhabitants and life is not very expensive, compared to cities like Paris and London. But it might not last long with this European machine going on. It's not over packed as other big cities; everything is pretty quiet I would say. Brussels is very interesting by its history and culture. I can spend hours walking in the streets and watching the architecture of old buildings. I also read a lot about it and go to as much exhibitions on the subject as I can. Some people would say that there's not enough going on here... depends on your interests, It's just fine for me, no stress here, and everyone chooses his own pace... Anyway, when I get old I'll go to live in the forest :-D
Q: You do graphic design but do you also work on more traditional forms of art like painting?
Yes. I basically started working with the computer and photographs. Then got a scanner and put everything in it, searching for textures etc. After, I got myself some painting material. I've never been happy with a painting I've done, but I use it a lot mixed with the computer. I like to mix things, like, ink, painting, stencils, pen, and collages; I think it's a natural path. At some point you feel the need to have a more "physical" approach to the work I guess it's some kind of human instinct. Now I like to give less importance to the computer but it's still a very powerful tool!
Q: What are some other interest do you have besides dealing with just design?
I'm still really into music life would be more difficult without it! I recently got a little deeper into classical music and discovered something wonderful and new to me. I'm really into history of art and fine art in general. I love going to exhibitions and going to the museum all day. I go to the university from time to time to follow the courses. We never should stop learning. Culture is a major skill to have when you want your work to make sense. I read a lot. I'm getting really concerned by all this shit going on, like environment, economical issues, poverty, over consumption, religious conflicts, education, etc... All that deserves that I take a part of my life to think about it and act... I'd also like my work to go that way. Humanity is heading toward a wall...and really quick!
So, beside artistic activities, I'm becoming some kind of intellectual, haha! :-D
Q: Do you think being in cinema school help mold your skills differently than most graphic designers?
Well I guess it did help me in some way, maybe in the approach of movement and lighting. Anyway I feel like everything you can learn in very various fields will end up in your work at some point. If I hadn't done cinema, I wouldn't have come to design! Now I don't know if I made differently that others, but I was driven by the desire to make images with emotions.
Q: Music seems to be a major part of your life but after breaking up with your band, and taking design full on, do you feel it's not getting the attention you may want it to get? Also, how does it fit in your life and career goals now, do you wish to become a full time musician, I guess inside we all want to be rockstars.
Haha, that's right! I'm sure it has something to do with ego. We all want to be seen and loved. But when you spend too much time looking for it, you get tired and realize you looked at the wrong place. So I'm totally alright with my "discreet illustrator status" even if we're still looking for a bit of fame as designers. I guess it's a natural reaction, you put a part of you in the work and you want it to be recognized. As a musician, you depend on the other band's member. Any of them can drop the day after... Now I feel free, I manage my project myself, I express myself fully and in the future I still can form or join a team of designers/illustrators ( I guess I won't work alone all my life).
Q: You say you're into politics, environment, economic issues, education, religious conflicts, and other issues among the same course, do you have any ideas or plans to use your art, design or music to try and impact or just give your views on such issues?
I'm really thinking about it! When you're dealing with subjects like that, you easily get recovered by the system. Like anti-advertising movements often get re-used by advertising itself. The environment is becoming a top priority issue in public opinion, so every brand is using the argument to sell products. Even though the ecological performances in question are very, very, poor what I want is true information which is not motivated by money. So I guess I'll try to develop that in my personal work as an artist, or as a volunteer for associations trying to make a change to this world and in which I believe. If we all do a little something and spread it, at least there can be hope...
Q: And being we're on this topic now, what are some of your concerns for said issues?
Since the beginning men have been mean. There has been poverty, sickness, and natural disasters, but now we're causing most of our problems to ourselves. And it seems like it's on purpose we might destroy this wonderful planet we live on just because the (tiny) rich part of mankind wants to be richer. Everything is linked, you can't say I'm concerned by ecology but not by the way economy is ruled. We've come to a time where industries are over politics, over democracy! It's a big, big mess!!! But it's interesting when you start to have a global view on all this shit. On top of that we have more and more technology which is making people lazy and selfish. It's killing real social life. Our minds are cluttered with technology and advertising. This ensures that we don't think about what really matters: live with people and build together.
Q: Can you explain how in just 7 months you've been able to grow at such a rapid pace?
I work a lot, I enjoy myself doing it, I make contacts, I try to be a better person :-)
INTERVIEW BY: MANNY BLOCKER / THE TASTEMAKERS SOCIETY
