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Apr 2020
This is the most difficult newsletter I’ve had to send out this far. And frankly, we doubted whether we should be sending anything at all. In times like these, I highly doubt that people are waiting for what Olaf Hussein has to say. It seems a bit redundant for a fashion brand to say anything right now.
Yet, here we are. I have this platform, and I want to use it for the good. I’ll leave the in-depth analysis to the experts. I want to focus on what I see around me. The various ways it affects us on a personal level. Among my family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and all the other people that are usually part of my daily routine. I think everyone is affected in one way or another. I’ve read about people getting sick, losing relatives, losing their jobs, and potentially losing their house. All that trickles down to others.
But at the same time, I see people getting creative. I see new ideas coming to fruition. I see people helping each other, picking up hobbies, and making music that some might consider beautiful.
It’s interesting to see what a human mind can do in times of need. But I hope you do see that a lot of these new initiatives come from a place of privilege. Look at the people who are alone, the people who work at our hospitals, and the kids who jeopardize their own health to keep our supermarkets filled and safe. How do we find a substantial way to support them?
Not everyone can be a hero. But you can help the heroes by doing your part. Supporting local businesses, freelancers, and other small entrepreneurs who might be unsure about how they’ll come out of this. Use the privilege of living in this era by FaceTiming, Zooming, or Skyping with lonely people. Order something small and have it delivered to a close friend. It can really be that simple, and sometimes a little effort is all it requires.
What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. So I hope that everyone who’s going through this and comes out healthy will learn something from it. Am I living for myself? Or am I able to share my wealth (in whatever form) with others? Let’s use this time to reflect and reset. Support those who need it and stay safe. We’re in this together.
Olaf.
Tiffany Chung
08 Aug 2021
Text by Tiffany Chung
08 Aug 2021
“I worked corporate for a while as a graphic designer for Gap. Corp, specifically Old Navy. Got some really great advice from my Senior Designer that I should pursue my creative endeavors outside of work. That working corporate could become a bit stale for someone as young and creatively driven as I was at the time."
“I wouldn’t call it a ‘starving artist’ phase but I definitely struggled."
“Most definitely. You learn as you go. The unique relationship I have with my Dealer and good friend Max has been fruitful in the sense that I’ve been able to learn as he grows. Having full transparency with your business and business partners is key."
“It all depends on the day and circumstance. I’ve noticed since I'm right handed it’s usually the upper right hand area of the surface that is confronted first."
“Hard to say. Paintings are like time stamps. I suppose when I’ve lived with a work long enough, when that time is finished the work itself is finished. Then again you could say it’s never finished until it’s realized in front of the viewers beyond my studio walls."
“Music, then sometimes silence. Focus."
“A lot of different things. From Hendricks to Miles to Jay Z. I’ll transition into Hans Zimmerman then to Lupe Fiasco to Mary J. Blidge. Depends on the feeling, time and day."
Last Laugh, 2021.
Last Laugh, 2021. Late 1800’s early 1900’s bronze slave transport, discarded car parts, rope, and black oxidized bricks..
“Painters pants, tee, and Rick Owens Birkenstocks."
“Without a sense of insecurity there’s really no need to feel as if you need to push your work forward. No room for what ifs."
Shoot for @plastermagazine.
These Songs of Freedom II, 2020.
“Create with humility."
“Possibly true to a certain extent."
“Navy blue, brown, and black."
“Artists that excite me are Janis Kounellis, Frank Bowling, Julian Schnabel, and David Hammonds to name a few. Artists to pay attention to today: Tschabalala Self, Spencer Lewis, Somaya Critchlow, and Coco Capitan.">
“No real thoughts on NFT’s pertaining to the world of art. I feel there’s other areas of focus that are more important to me at the moment."
“I think my dad is super inspirational in the sense that he just wants to build. That's all I want to do. So, the conversations that we have had as of late, or as I've been becoming my own man, they've really been based off of building belief systems, family, generational wealth, heritage."
“A place that inspires me is tough. It’s between Mexico City and Tokyo. They actually remind me a bit of each other. Tokyo is more of a grander place and definitely more industrial, but I think the things that I like about Japan are the little nooks and crannies. I like how things are kind of crammed together. I think with Mexico City, you find little essences of that. But the biggest reason why I like Mexico City is just the balance I feel between nature and city."
“The thing that inspires me is the act of making. The fact that you can think of something and use objects that already exist in the world in order to create something new. I just think it's like the closest thing we can get it to God, aside from women being able to give birth to children. Making something that didn’t exist at one point and then does for a minute, day, year, is just inspiring."
Article image by: Jesse David Harris