Exclusive: Eelus

We caught up with Eelus, one of the most influential artists within the current urban contemporary art scene, as he prepares for his debut London show, "The Colour Out Of Space."

Wigan born Eelus made an instant impact on the street art scene when he moved from Wigan to London 10 years ago. After catching the eye of street legends Banksy and Eine he was snapped up by prolific printermakers Pictures On Walls and has never looked back. His first screen print sold out almost instantly, temporarily surpassing Banksy's top spot position for the fastest selling print award, and his work still remains as highly sought after and collectable to art collectors and fellow artists alike.

His debut London show, The Colour Out Of Space, so named after one of the stories by his favourite author H.P. Lovecraft, features 25 new pieces. His intricate hand-cut stencils,  instantly recognisable style, and thought provoking images have taken on a new dimension with bold, bright, sharp colours, all of which are sure to become instant collectables.

We had a chat with Eelus about his inspiration, influences and ideal dinner dates.

Where did your love of art come from?
I’ve no idea really, as far as I can tell I was just born with it and my folks were always behind me, encouraging me. Without wanting to sound like a classic artist cliché, ever since I can remember I’ve loved to draw, paint, write and just create. As a kid I seemed to be much happier spending time alone writing and illustrating my own stories and comics rather than hanging out with other kids. It was such an escapist thing for me and I waited all week for the weekend when I didn’t have to go to school but would still get up around 6am and start drawing. I would save my pocket money and buy comics and books on art and illustration but was always into the slightly weirder/outsider artists and somehow felt like I could relate more to that side of things. So even at the age of around 10 my room was wall to wall with H.R Giger and Boris Vallejo and it’s those kinds of artists that I aspired to be like. Art has always been part of who I am and has only gotten stronger as I’ve gotten older so to find myself in a position now where I’ve left my original career path as a Graphic Designer (another cliché I know) to concentrate full time on becoming an artist is amazing, I feel extremely lucky.

Who or what would you say are your biggest influences?
Well like I said as a kid it was all about Giger and Vallejo but I take my influences from everywhere, inspiration can be found anywhere. I love film, especially sci-fi, fantasy and horror, so people like Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, and Steven Spielberg have made films that have become so woven into my life from an early age that they’ll always be a part of who I am and what I do. Other artists I love are people like William Blake, Henry Fuseli, and Aubrey Beardsley. All considered outsiders and rebels of their time and I’m very much inspired by their ethics of not giving a shit what others said or what their peers were doing, they chose their own path and bravely walked down it with their heads held high. More contemporary artists I love are people like Dave Kinsey, Titi-Freak, Word-to-Mother, Mr Jago, Mike Giant, Blu, Skinner, Ashley Wood, Mike Mignola, David Choe, Herakut, James Jean and of course Banksy who first got me into Stenciling. I also love reading and again it’s the darker side of reality that interests me so people like H.P Lovecraft and Clive Barker have had a hold on my mind for some years now.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Life, death, love, hate, friends, enemies, nature, science, history, future, beauty, ugliness, horror, romance, fantasy, reality, truth and lies.

Why did you choose street art?
I just loved the idea of so many people seeing your work without having to go through the judgment and acceptance of a gallery. Whether they love it, hate it or couldn’t give a shit either way, your work is there and if their eyes are open they’re gonna see it. I like the idea that it could possibly start discussion and thinking in someone who wouldn’t normally discuss or think about art.  I think street art, urban art, whatever you’re gonna label it took a sour turn very quickly and was pounced on and dragged to the ground by people who didn’t have its interests at heart. It boomed for the wrong reasons and became such a fashionable money making exercise not only by artists but galleries and now everyone seems to be involved in one way or another.

I think the current economic climate, as shit as it is, is also gonna be a blessing in some ways too as it will weed out the galleries and artists who don’t have the heart or passion to see it through, as soon as their money is up they’ll move on to the next thing that’s fashionable. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to place myself amongst the more established artists by saying this, I’ve only been part of this ‘scene’ for around seven years which is nothing. I didn’t grow up with skate or graffiti culture, Subway Art and Style Wars didn’t change my life when I was 10. I moved to London in 2000 when I was 21 and that’s when I had my eyes opened and I didn’t actually put my first stencil outside until 2002.

But I started because I was passionate and excited about what I was seeing and knew I could do better than some of the stuff that was already out there and I just felt a need to do something and be involved. From there I knew that this is all I wanted to do and I’ve worked my arse off since then to get to this point and I’ll still be doing what I’m doing when things have moved on to the next cool thing. So now I don’t see myself as a ‘street artist’ and the term leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I’m just someone trying to be an artist who sometimes puts his pieces outside but only when I feel they’re good enough and won’t add to the shit that’s already out there. Saying that I’ve got some big plans and ideas for purely street based projects that I’ll be kicking off this year with any luck.

If you weren't an artist what would you be?
If I could choose anything that wasn’t what I’m doing right now, I’d love to be a writer/director of films. Failing that, I’d love to travel the world as a photographer.

Where can we see your work?
It’s a strange time for me at the minute, Stella Dore in East London was the main place you could see my work in the flesh but unfortunately they’ve had to close the gallery down for now so all of my work is online which is frustrating but something I’m working on. As for outside pieces, like I said earlier it’s not something I’m concentrating on at the minute but one of my favorite pieces is still standing strong in Dublin.

If you were a piece of art what would you be and why?
‘The Vision of Faust’ by Falero. Naked ladies, bats, demons, cats, the moon, basically everything I love all rolled into one, beautiful.

If you could have dinner with anybody who would it be and why?
Probably Edgar Mitchell, the sixth person to walk on the moon who famously came out last year to say he was ‘privileged enough to be in on the fact that we’ve been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomenon is real’. Ufology and world mysteries has always been a big interest for me so I’d get him pissed and get some answers. Surf ‘n’ Turf with Scarlett Johansson would also be nice.

If you could save only one piece of work from your portfolio which would it be?
I guess I should say Shat-at because it’s the one piece that started me on this journey but to be honest I’m sick of the sight of it. The only piece I’ve ever bothered to frame and put up myself is The Visitor. As a kid I used to fantasize about becoming a comic artist and to create my own graphic novels and I guess this piece, to me, looks like it could be cover art for a comic so it’s always been a bit of a favourite. Plus the piece is about an alien who is waiting in the spotlight of her Mothership, waiting to be collected to go home after some kind of mission. Nerd alert!

Open Exclusive Competition

How would you like to own a highly coveted print by Eelus, one of the top artists within the urban contemporary art scene? We've managed to exclusively secure a brand spanking new print created for "The Colour Out Of Space." Click here to be in with a chance of winning.

Eelus' debut London show "The Colour Out Of Space" takes place at Blackall Studios, 73 Leonard Street, London from 25th February - 6th March 2010.

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