Espira

Kicking off the VOLTCASE.co.uk features this month is the hugely original computer generated artwork of Espira, whose world is populated with chicken crucifixions and tank headed women. And a lot of meat. Lets just call it punk rock for the art world.

Creating (in their own words) a mix of "fashion,costume and uniform with the mundane and commonplace of modern life, resulting in a supermarket assault on the senses", check out the interview and imagery below to make your own minds up. Still want more? Then check out Espira's own site here.

How are you? And where did the name Espira come from?
I'm not very well. But I guess I never have been.
The name is taken from a small French village where they make digestive biscuits.

If you were talking to a stranger, how would you describe yourself in three words:
Rock n Roll.

As well as art / films etc., ear bleedingly loud rock'n'roll is a major part of life here at Voltcase. Do you listen to much music when creating your art, or is it all done in total silence?
Music is actually one of the main influences on my Art. Its a great stimuli for the imagination. Many of the titles of my pictures are taken from song lyrics, so in theory you could work out what I was listening to during the creation process.....

There seems to be a strong anti-capitalist theme running through your work, would you describe yourself merely as an observer to these things or as somebody who is actively trying to make a change in the world?
Merely an observer. I may not agree with the way the worlds going, but I'm not here to preach to anyone. People get preached at enough from all quarters. I just notice how contradictory society and us as humans are. Me included. I'm not sure I could change the world if I wanted to. Its all going to Hell and I'm just along for the ride.

Plus, there’s a hell of a lot of meat in your images - coincidence or intentional?
Meat to me has always symbolised our connection to our animal sides, our baser natures. I like that. However civilised the Human race thinks its become, we still head straight to the fast food place for some dead animal at the end of a drunken saturday night out.

Who would you say are your biggest influences, and is there anyone in particular that we might not have heard of that you think we should check out?
Check out these artists....... Matthew Barney, Heather Nevay, Gottfried Helnwein, Ray Caeser,Gilbert and George...

What software do you use to create your artwork? (or is that 'top secret'!)?
Photoshop CS (made of meat ).

Some artists love the Internet as a way of showing off their material, others just moan about people stealing their images from them. What are your thoughts on online art?
I think its a great way to get your work out there. I guess if someone steals your work then its a compliment in a way. People moan about places like MYSPACE etc, but if you have something to put into the world like music or Art then its a powerful tool.

Do you censor your own artwork in any way? Any personal guidelines on what you will / wont show?
Well I mainly leave those kind of decisions up to the magazine or gallery that may be showing my work. There are different rules for different countries. If they are happy to take a risk then I'm happy with that. Where I'm based in London you can pretty much get away with anything, so there's no need to consider censorship.

If you were interviewing yourself, what question would you ask yourself?
What's your favourite colour?

Why should the lazy general public make the effort to check you out, and what have you got planned for the future?
I don't want the LAZY people to bother checking me out. Don't you know rewards only come to those who WORK for it?!
The Masterplan for the future involves life sized marble sculptures of my work......

And finally..... what does the word 'Voltcase' mean to you?
Sounds like a cure for cancer.