Blackie Burns AKA Raptor Blood is an Australian photographer and street artist whose work involves that most joyous of activities – exploring. Art installed exploring, photos of areas explored when installing art, photos to record the instillation for posterity…
Aesthetically all the Raptor Blood art is cold. Icy even. From design, to street art, to photos, there is the sense of doom, decay, and industrialisation. Yet these are beautifully cold. They draw the viewer into the world. A visual ice bath invigorating the senses.
(A Raptor Blood photo, of a Raptor Blood paste up, below)
With a growing reputation, and lots in the works, now is the perfect time to get up to date with Raptor Blood, by reading the Art Talk below…
Basics/Getting to Know
Name + D.O.B?
* silence*
City, State n Country you’re from?
* silence*
Describe a memory from three stages of yr life ….basically trying to piece together your pivotal moments. Concerts, art, action-figures, girls, school, crime… ANYTHING man.
* age 5 – beginnings:
* silence*
* age 10 – continuations:
* silence*
* age 15 – getting serious:
* silence*
* age 20 – adult mode:
* silence*
Personal motto?
Just do it.
Favorite band(s)?
Hooded Menace
Thy Art is Murder
Electric Wizard
Sleep
Neil young… lol
(Pictures below of some Raptor Blood prints)
Favorite TV show(s)?
If you are the one…
Favorite sport(s) + teams?
The blood’s…
While we are on the topic of sports, my mate actually told me a good joke today…
A Collingwood couple gets married and are on their honeymoon.
The woman changes into a sexy outfit and lies on the bed. She looks at her husband and whispers, “I didn’t tell you before, but please be gentle Im a virgin”.
The man grabs his stuff and runs out of the house to his fathers house to tell him all about it.
The father, while comforting his son turns and says “Now, now. It’ll be okay son. If she wasn’t good enough for her own family, then she’s not good enough for ours.”
Favorite movie(s)?
2001: A space odyssey
Favorite books and comics?
I bought a couple of books recently that I’m really happy with:
Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs
Edward Hopper: New England
Art Questions
Favorite other artist(s)?
The lads at Fun Apparel produce some really nice tangible goods.
http://www.funapparel.com.au/
If you don’t mind me adding that in there haha.
Worst aspect of the contemporary art-hustle?
There’s a sense of false and forced meaningfulness, Iv’e noticed a trend of repetitive agendas that people already get.
Over complicating an issue to a point of complete obscurity doesn’t help anybody, especially if its ‘expressed’ through a painting nobody can understand unless they read your multi layered bullshit synopsis.
The “contemporary” to me feels pretty aimless and disconnected tbh.
(Pictures below of some Raptor Blood art)
Best aspect of the contemporary art-hustle?
China seems pretty in right now, I’m not Chinese but I like China.
Do you consider what you are making to be ‘art’, ‘design’, re-hashed crap?
Both art and design both eventually fall under “re-hashed crap” in the technological era.
When and why did you first start making ‘art’ (drawings, paintings, anything)?
Both my mum dad and two brothers work in the film industry, I guess that’s a pretty strong influence.
Any pivotal artistic moment/influence?
* silence*
Why + when did you decide to go in on the art hustle?
* silence*
Describe the method of making a ‘Raptor Blood’ piece? (dot point all o.k.)
* your street art?
* silence*
* your experimental photography?
* silence*
(Some of Raptor Blood’s more experimental photography, below)
* your documentation style urban photography?
* silence*
Why the decision to remix old VHS tape art for your logo(s)?
I wanted to develop my design work past B/W portraiture.
(Some of the VHS style Raptor Blood logos, below)
What did you take away from your recent group show at M2 Gallery – ‘Stray From The Path’ – held in August this year?
* silence*
(Picture below of the flyer for the ‘Stray from the Path’ group show)
Urban Exploration Questions
Worst and best aspects of urban exploration?
* silence*
When and why did you first exploring?
* silence*
Any pivotal exploring moment/influence?
* silence*
What are the best and worst parts of living and being an urban explorer in Australia aka ConvictTown?
Sydney’s sick, were so lucky to have so much influx from around the world.
I wouldn’t define Sydney as belonging to any one demographic now days.
I feel spoilt for choice living and growing up here whether that’s in relation to food or whatever, anything haha.
How, in your opinion, has the rise of platforms such as Instagram impacted the life of an emerging explorer, and the scene in general?
I like the fact anybody can get into photography now and enjoy it.
It’s not an exclusive activity anymore.
What are some of your favorite Sydney UrbEx spots, and why?
Malabar Bunkers, its pretty surreal there.
Odds n Ends
What role did toys play in your childhood?
* silence*
Who was your 1st crush and why?
Kyle Kwong
Does sex change everything?
nah
Please describe your latest dream in detail…
I watched a movie called ‘Enem’ Recently, Ive had a couple of dreams relevant to the movies content.
I can’t give you that much detail, for what I remember it had something to do with waking up to a spider crawling down the wall behind my bed head.
Have you ever tried psychedelics of any sort? And what was the experience like?
* silence*
Who would win in a fight and why: a punk as all hell boy from the Coast Vs. an inner-city-UrBexer?
* silence*
What were some of the highlights + lowlights from your recent trip to Japan?
* silence*
(Some pictures taken by Raptor Blood on his recent trip to Japan)
The Future
Any collaborations on the horizon?
Yeah, hopefully putting together a show with some other dope photographers.
I can’t really elaborate anymore than that unfortunately.
Any major projects you want to hype man?
Yeah definitely, making shirts ATM.
Keep an eye out!
(Some Raptor Blood photos, below)
Links
- Raptor Blood – Site
- Raptor Blood – Blog
- Raptor Blood – Online Store
- Raptor Blood – Instagram
- Raptor Blood – Facebook
