A few weeks ago, when we heard Cath Love (Catherine Grossrieder) was in town, we decided we couldn't miss the opportunity to catch up with the Hong Kong-based Thai-Swiss street artist. Find out more about her style, her signature cartoon character and her unlikely sources of inspiration in our interview.
What brings you to Bangkok this time?
I've been asked to do a mural at Beer Belly in 72 Courtyard. Previously, I designed the Beer Belly pig, their mascot. My client really liked the style and wanted to continue with it. I did my first mural here in April, and he decided to hire me again because there's another big wall there.
Where does your unique style of art come from?
I suppose it has to do with my cultural background. Growing up, I watched a lot of anime, like Dragon Ball, but I was also exposed to a lot of Western cartoons and appreciated both styles. I think subconsciously, it moulded within me. My mind is like a blender, and it somehow produced the style I have. It also has to do with my weird sense of humour. I still like Naked Gun-style, slapstick kind of humour. You know, very silly and very stupid. So I guess when I draw cartoons, I think of very silly things that people don't normally look at. For instance, when we designed that pig for Beer Belly, my client and I wanted something memorable, so we looked up terrible hairstyles and started with Donald Trump! Because his hair is so crazy! So we just gave the pigs the stupidest, stupidest hairstyles, and it was great! Sources of inspiration that are kind of unorthodox can lend really great ideas.
Who is the star of your works?
This character I have right now is called Jeliboo. She makes an appearance on the Beer Belly mural too! Jeliboo is a bootylicious character. I like drawing curvy things that have the texture of marshmallows. Jeliboo is bouncy, cute and bubbly. She's kinda like my alter ego, an extension of me. When I go to bed, I draw a little Jeliboo cosying up in bed with her bunny Fluffy B. Fluffy B is basically her inner best friend. That voice inside of you, looking after you. A personification of healthy confidence -- that's Fluffy B to Jeliboo.
What made Jeliboo stick with you?
People took a liking to Jeliboo. I see that there's a fanbase growing, a fanbase that appreciates her. They share the same views as me and the same sense of humour, and I just like giving them a laugh. Also, the great thing about Jeliboo is that I can draw her on a whim. In the past, even though I have a cartoony style, it still required more exertion. I would have to spend a day at least to produce something. But then I realised it doesn't have to be like that.
When did you start doing freelance and how did you get started?
Around September 2013, I went on my own. A while back I worked a few full time jobs -- some I liked, some I hated. The last one I really hated. Enough to go freelance. Sometimes you're thankful for the things that happen to you because if a job is good, you might become complacent. I had some help getting started though. My friend approached me just as I was leaving my job, to do some work for the hat brand Kangol. Doing that gave me confidence, and it just went from there. Secret Walls [an art battle community] also helped put my name out there.
It was obviously a big decision to do art by yourself full-time. Is it still tough?
It's not an easy life. There are still those who think art is just a hobby. Even when I talk to my extended family, they're like "so you do art…" like it's a toy profession. Because if you're Swiss, you're either in banking, hotels or food. Or watches. But you know what, "I can do something you can't." I'm not trying to come across as arrogant, but I have this talent that's something not everyone is born with and I just think the juxtaposition of respect is weird. But I think they're starting to see me in newspapers more and seeing that it's a legitimate job.
Can you give us a few hints on where we can find Jeliboos, anywhere in this region?
So there's one here in Beer Belly. If you go out in Hong Kong, you'll see a few Jeliboos in SoHo, Hollywood Road and Gough Street. There's a Jeliboo in Guangzhou, in a restaurant. And there's a tiny, tiny Jeliboo in a restaurant in Shanghai called Daimon.
See more of Cath and Jeliboo on www.cathlove.com and www.jeliboo.com.
