glenn manders volume 2, 2006, #026

glenn manders is a brisbane-based artist who likes to sleep in everyday and eat so much junk food that it's impossible that he is still alive and only weighs 60kg. a few months after self-publishing his own zine, bad teeth, he was able to quit workin' for the man and now lives the life of drawing cartoons and eating cheeseburgers for every meal, every day.

1. how would you explain 'art' - in 19 words or less? art is another, and possibly better, way of communicating besides talking and sign language and braille.

2. what is the first work of art you ever loved? probably a drawing by jim lee in his run of marvel comics' uncanny x-men. since then, he has gone onto building his own comics company, drawing runs on batman and superman, etc. but the stuff he was doing in the early '90s ruled so much … he really took comic art to another level. the stuff he did in the 'x-tinction agenda' storyline was dope.

3. how important is theory to your art? i never have been formally trained, so theory doesn't really apply to my art. and even outside of the academic idea of 'theory', there isn't much thought put behind my pieces/comics in most cases. i just try to make art that looks cool. maybe i just need to grow up and put hidden meanings in my pictures. then i would have more to talk about at art shows i guess.

4. describe your ideal art workspace. a sweet computer that works, a big nice 2 x 4 metre drawing bench, awesome carpet, an unlimited supply of posca paint pens, a big plasma screen with surround sound for playing music and art documentaries, a nice urban view outside my window … yup, i should have that in about a year, right??

5. describe your current art workspace. well, the only way that i could afford to quit work and push my artwork into the real world was to move back to my parents' house and set a whole apartment's worth of stuff into my old bedroom. it's a complete mess. it's about a 4 x 5 metre room i guess, with a double bed, bookshelves full of art books and vinyl toys and junk with canvasses and books and magazines and clothes all over the foot-wide area of walking space around the bed. there is a small desk in the corner that i produce everything on, and whenever i have to use the computer i have to remove everything off the desk and connect the computer up to the monitor and everything else. i cant wait to move out again. so please go to my website and buy some junk! support yo!

6. if you could be placed in suspended animation and safely reanimated at some time in the future with the sole purpose being to see how history treated you / your art, would you do it?
definitely not, because i still have so much to do i wouldn't even get to a point where i could abandon my progress. i have come so far in the past six months alone. i would never abandon growing as an artist. and it's always great to hear feedback about artwork, but if i travelled to the future i'd get bummed because i know that if i stayed in the present and worked i would have produced something better.

7. who are some of your favourite artists (contemporary or canonical)? ed templeton, barry mcgee, travis charest, jim lee, travis millard, mike giant, jeff soto, mike allred, dalek, jeremy fish, kaws … the usual suspects. through my zine i have been lucky to even become friends with and work with some of those guys through interviews or whatever. friends around brisbane like ben cee, 1337, ryan parsons, anthony lister, guz. not only for their art, but because they are sweet dudes too.

8. tell us about a gallery (online or physical space) that you think rocks, and why you think it rocks. i've only recently gotten involved in that side of being an artist during the past few months … like gallery spaces, representation, sponsorship, etc. i would love to exhibit anywhere that would let me paint on their walls. i've seen a great video diary of ed templeton setting up his show at the palais de tokyo (france) and that place looks amazing. super-high walls and a great place to show work. there is a local gallery named blacklab that would be sweet to show in. someday in melbourne is a space that rocks too.

9. would you choose the baked bean jaffle or the caramelised pumpkin and red onion tart with crispy radicchio and hazelnut salad with apple vinaigrette? i have no experience with healthy food. i'm probably gonna die soon. seriously, i have eaten cheeseburgers for six months straight - i'm not kidding. that super size me guy was a wimp.

10. finish this sentence: "the work of art can / cannot be considered separately to the artist because ________." the work of art cannot be considered separately to the artist because every piece of art is an imprint of their imagination. so once i am a fan of an artist's work - no matter what they do afterwards - i will appreciate, because it all comes from the same brain.

check out more of glenn's work at: www.glennmanders.com & www.myspace.com/badteethcomics

spaceman cha-cha is a wimp, ink + brush on cardboard, 2006

faceball, ink + brush and pen on cardboard, 2006

growing up page 4, ink + brush on cardboard, 2006

x-ray glenn, ink + brush on cardboard, 2006

don't get sick, ink + brush on cardboard, 2006