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Seldon Hunt | 08.09.2005 |
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Your probably with Seldon, as he has designed posters and cover art for many contemporary musical visionaries including Neurosis, Khanate, Null, Hydrahead Records, Isis, Kid 606, Lotus Eaters, Troum etc
and has written apocolyptic liner notes for Sunn0))), Khanate and Whitehorse. He has also designed major outdoor signage and mural installations, including presently in construction a 55 metre long polycarbonate digital mural for the Lismore City Council. Here´s what he had to say in an e-mail we did via e-mail recently.
Q: Introduce yourself first, please.
A: Seldon Hunt
Q: As I got familiar with your work by the stuff you did for bands coverartwork, it would be interesting if this is your major job?
A: I wish it was. At the moment I work in a factory.
Q: You´ve been working together with lots of bands/ projects coming out of the doom and drone genre like SunnO))), Isis, Neurosis, Troum, Lotus Eaters or House Of Low Culture. How did this happen, as most of them are located in the US and your living in Australia? Is this your favorite kind of music, too?
A: I like this music a lot, although I wouldn¹t say it is my favourite, although im not even sure what my favourite music is actually. Its a weird set of circumstances, but essentially I did a cd cover for KK Null in 98 and it all stemmed from there, people in the scene kinda liked it and I got another couple of covers to do. From there I became friendly with some of the people involved in the doom drone scene as it evolved, and it really has stemmed from there.
Q: Are you also releasing your creativity in other forms of art, like music or films?
A: I go through waves, depending on the mood im in. I filmed a documentary of
the ISIS European Tour this year, and also screened a documentary about
subculture in Antwerp while I was in that city. I want to move into
exhibiting my art in a gallery environment, but here in Australia Im not
overly inspired to do it, as really there has been almost no response to my
work here, I have only done one cover here in 10 years! In fact with my work
I cant even find any design work at all, people really don¹t see the point
or like it for whatever reason.
Q: As you´re are doing different types of stuff, like drawings and computer stuff, who do you decide which technique to use? How do you proceed in working together with a band to create an artwork for them?
A: I tend really to do computer stuff for album covers, most bands that
approach me for an album cover have done so due to interest in having a
digital detailed piece. I usually ask for a copy of the unmastered album to
work with in regards to working with the band. Most of the bands are cool,
in that they seem quite curious as to what I am going to come up with so
leave me carte blanche to do whatever I want with art.
Q: You seem to be closely related to Stephen O´Malley, as you did some artwork for his projects and also wrote the linernotes for the SunnO))) "GrimmRobe Demos" Rerelease. So this is more than a kind of business relation?
A: Well im not related to Stephen... But we work well together on various
things. We chat on messenger a lot during the week and from there a lot of
ideas come to fruition. He has been really cool in recognizing certain
things in people and letting them have a go or be involved in stuff. We kept
discussing things after we initially made contact and did some projects,
when he eventually came out here with sunn0))) we hung out for a week and
did video and drawing projects. Im really happy that I have been able to get
some of the writing published in the liner note format, as it is something I
have not bothered to take seriously since I have written prose and scripts
since I was quite young.
Q: I also heard, that you and Stephen plan to set up a web store. What can we expect?
A: At this stage it will be t-shirts and other types of clothing goods. Pretty
low key at first as neither of us are millionares! But we have some
interesting concepts that we would like to pursue in regards to art and
style.
Q: As you were along on tour with Isis recently, did you ever think about setting up an exhibition to accompany the shows of a band, you´ve been working with?
A: As this was my first tour, I had no idea of the structure of a tour and how
it operated. I was also conscious that this was a business trip for the band
and that it could be unfair to compete with their merchandise sales or
provide a distraction from the Isis experience. I think it is important to a
certain extent that the band comes first and make the most of what is an
arduous and gruelling experience, especially when they are at a stage which
is still not a financial windfall. Perhaps if they are more successful then
this type of idea can be justified and I would definitely think it would be
a good idea.
Q: What´s coming up by Seldon Hunt next?
A: im creating some original artworks to be digitally lamda printed, which is a
high resolution photographic print. These will come in a couple of different
sizes and I will be stocking them on my site in a online gallery where they
will able to be purchased by consignment.
Q: Final words?
A: If there are any bands out there seeking some cover art or poster design,
then please contact me! Also if any galleries are looking for new works
Seldon, thanks for taking your time to answer my questions!
Further Links:
 Seldon Hunt
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| Author:
Jan |
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