BEN TOUR

INTERVIEW BY JUSTIN TYLER CLOSE

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ILLUSTRATION BY BEN TOUR

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Here is a list of words that might help you find Vancouver artist Ben Tour: Water Colours, Women, Toronto, Francis Bacon, New York, Lifetime Collective, Graffiti, Marvel Comics, Ballpoint Pens, Porn Star Sasha Grey, Germany, BLK/MRKT Gallery, Gibsons, Blue, Red, and Beer. Alone they mean nothing but together they form the experiences and views of a very metropolitan artist who spends his days on BC’s remote Sunshine Coast. We sat down with Ben and watched some of these words come to life.

JUSTIN—Hey Ben. I am really excited about this interview. I can honestly say that your work has influenced my own creations with photography and I constantly turn to it for inspiration. I mean, you’re just really fuckin’ good [Laughs], a true innovator and someone who has stamped a style not only here in Vancouver, but in the world. All in all, I think everyone should know who you are and see your work. I am so stoked that you’re in our first issue of The Lab. Thank you!
So to start it off, Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, where were you born, how you started? Maybe something crazy people wouldn’t usually know about you. The uncensored version!
BEN—I was born in Toronto—mid Seventies—Virgo. The uncensored version? You had to be there. It was suburban, big city life. I’m an only child raised by older parents —cartoons got me into Marvel Comics, listening to my parents classical music got me into N.W.A, Hip-Hop got me into graffiti and graffiti got me into illustration and Fine Art. I enjoyed being creative as a kid and had the opportunity to be. So, here I am.

J—Why are you an artist?
B—Because I have to learn everything the hard way. I’m an artist today apparently, tomorrow —I’m unemployed again. Some people call it freelance. It’s good work if you can get it.

J—I can relate. Being an artist today isn’t easy. But on the other hand, I actually think it’s an exciting time because so many people are getting fired from their jobs because of the economy crashing, but as a result focusing a little more on their personal ambitions. I am seeing it more and more, which I find rejuvenating. What is your major inspiration? Where do you search or does it find you?

B—It’s everywhere. I wish I could just tell you, but I can’t. Inspiration is only one part of making paintings —the other part is work. I haven’t even started yet. I always want to make a painting. I look through websites, magazines, and old photo books. I doodle, make notes, watch movies, take photos, and climb trees, whatever.

J—[Laughs] Who is your favorite artist and why? This could be anyone, painter, filmmaker, director, graffiti artist, actor, juggler, anyone at all.
B—There’s really too many to name. It’s impossible to really jot down some names and call it a day. There have been times in my life where I hunted for images like crazy —I lived in libraries just to stumble upon artists I’d never heard of or seen before. Now with the web, obviously everything is right there and everybody knows about every dried up dead illustrator there ever was and you can make a tool in Photoshop and do their style overnight. Last time I was in NYC I saw Francis Bacon at the Met. I’m into Francis Bacon, throw in some Schiele on the side there with a little Rauschenburg to dirty up the edge of the canvas a bit with a goat head or two. Then get William S. Burroughs to write a quick manifesto about it and then Akira Kurosawa to direct, starring Sasha Grey.

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