Interview with EMOL

Emol, How did you choose this name? Can you introduce yourself to us ?

EMOL is a shortcut of EMerson and Oliveira, my first and last names.
I was born and grew in Diadema city (part of metropolitan’s São Paulo area). Since I was little child my playground was the streets (like almost all the children from here), and that was a big contribution to me to do street art.
I use to say that I’m one more “AfroEuroAmericanIndian” in this concrete jungle, living and searching to think the life without the standard and values that the consumer’s order imposes us.



How did you start working with paint?

My mother supported me since I was little child, giving me pens and papers. I used to draw at lot at school.
Since very early it was necessary to make money to survive and after some different jobs I started to paint soccer time’s flags and a few marketing to the neighborhoods, always to keep myself near what I wanted: painting.
By this way I kept studying and soon I started to teach painting in social projects. Than I started dedicate to some of my own creations, developing my own language.



Who or what influence you and your art? Where do you get your inspiration from?

The cities, the streets, put me in contact with different elements, that influence a lot in my work, like architecture, designing and propagandas. It’s something that I even need to search for because when I come out from home it is present all around.
Brasil is a country made by three etnies, where the colony one try to hide or appropriate yourself from the very present here African and Indigenous cultures, distorting them.
This process happens over the centuries. I grew up in the middle of this under the influence to fear these cultures like they were devils or something. I understand this racist process today and I believe that this child’s fear has an influence in my creative process; I add some of what I fear before.
Inspiration I got all the time, drawning a lot and always restudying my own works.



Do you prefer to paint outside or inside?

There’s a moment, a purpose for everything. I like to be alone most of the time, producing inside me, in contact with myself. But I believe that the richest way is to paint outside because it isn’t just painting, its live unpredictables process that influence straight away in the results. You just find yourself in some different environment.
This is a reason to find out new connections between Art-Artist-City. Its put this three universes together. To paint outside is the best way to grasp what’s happening at the moment and to know how your art goes to people.



The colours in your painting/drawing are really vibrant, are these colours a big importance in your art?

The colours are very important. There’s a different vibration in each color than the combination between them results in a different and powerful energy’s combination.
I value lines and forms in my art too and if you put them with the colors it will arouse others sensations.



Do you work in collaboration with other artists? Do you travel a lot?

I painted with many artists for friendship but I like painting alone because I’m very demanding with myself with the things that I do. I also work with my friend “Cena 7”, because we share a big commitment with our art, and other ideas that we share too. We’re always keeping in contact.
I travel to some Brazilian states and to Chile, but right now I’m dedicating myself to some projects and soon I’ll travel again.



How do you see the Street Art movement evolve in Brazil and South America in the next few years?

The economical situation in South America still difficult a lot the access to materials and technologies that proportionate some innovations, but with creativity people are developing something different, overcoming difficulties.
I believe that we’ll have lots of news becoming, especially when the artists pay attention to the riches and cultural diversity that exist here, references that a lot of times are uncovered by the imperialist propaganda that hypnotizes the most part of the population in the poor countries or the countries in development.
We have already a few good artists with world’s recognition and I believe this will influence positively the new generation.



What are your plans in the near future?

My mother always says “don’t tell your plans before they happen, make them first and tell people after” (laughing).
So, I’m just going to say what’s already right:
June: Exhibition in Gallery Collective, in São Paulo City called “Street Art: New Airs”.
July: Exhibition in São Bernardo City - Brasil



More my artworks:
www.flickr.com/emerson-emol
www.fotolog.com/emol12