An artist profile of Nicholas Aoki.

'Goodnight; sweet, hearts' is your first solo show outside of Team Macho, what was different about your process when working on your own?

Like removing the net from a circus performer. There is a lot more decision-making, and less people to blame if it goes evil.

What kind of environment did you create for yourself while working on this show?

Seclusion: it’s funny what you can get done by turning your phone off and accessing a library of audio books. I recommend sci-fi.

Do you predetermine meaning in your work? Do you feel the need to justify or explain what you have done?

I tend to let the meaning develop in parallel with the work, while working within a broad framework or general idea. I don’t feel the need to justify or explain anything I have done. It would be folly for me to contradict anybody’s personal interpretation of the work. Then again I do produce narratives so, I couldn’t count my works successful if they did require an explanation, for me the work should stand on its own, and if anybody wishes to know more, they could ask. Dialogs are better then speeches I think.

Do you find yourself more attracted to work that is not like your own, or work that has similarities to yours? Why?

I find it is healthy to only be interested in work that is dissimilar, you get to be very opinionated about any field your involved in, and the temptation for assimilation is a null point.

Do you think that artists create over-the-top personas for themselves? Is this a good thing?

I think other people create a persona for the artist. The artist as far as social roles are considered fill a non-space, neither that of the intellectual or that of the poet, It seems their lot to be dictators to; but, never members of society, that is to say admired but not to be emulated, whether or not it is a good thing is a zero factor, as any notice is better then naught, it is unfortunate that artist along with the academics must compete with the celebrity for recognition, it is a shame, but, sometimes the best way to stick out in a crowd is a funny hat, people notice you; however, they also make fun of you, and sooner or later someone is going to step on your feather.

What are some risks you have taken as an artist?

Do you mean in the context of the artwork, or being an artist? In terms of work there is no risk after the first showing. More accurately you (the artist) have a pretty good idea of whether or not something is going to turn out. If it doesn’t turn out then you hide it, and if it does then it wasn’t a risk. As for being an artist, you take that leap an never figure out if your toes are off the ground. I think most people just end up doing it; I don’t recall ever making a choice, maybe it’s fate or maybe I’m lazy, either way it’s probably the latter.

How much of your life is taken up by your work? Do you try to separate the two?

My time is entirely given over to it. I tried to make an omelet once by separating the white from the yoke, this way I thought I could have two equally good omelets each having a distinct flavor. I tasted the first one and it was bland, so I tried the second, it was stiff and dry. I decided to fold one around the other in an attempt to make some sort of layered homunculus. That ended poorly, I managed only to make something devoid of flavor, and roughly the shape of a hot dog. I learned my lesson, the next time I made an omelet I just beat the eggs together, and gave it a bacon belt, and ketchup shoes.

Other than being an artist, what else could you see yourself doing?

I always wanted to be an astronaut, traveling through space and touching virgin soil. Then I found out what they actually do, and well, I guess you could just buy a trampoline. I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else, maybe that’s why all artists die artist, and why they hate working real jobs.

Describe your show at Narwhal Art Projects in three words:

A good Start,
Point of origin,
Practical wish fulfillment