Over the past year, me and my next guest have taken the time to get to know each other as artists and friends. When we first met, Richard showed an interest in my work and who i am as a person. Upon discovering more of his work, I realized that he is a brilliant artist and one of my new favorite filmmakers who carries on a creative vocabulary that Warhol, Harmony Korine, and the No-Wave filmmakers would be proud to call a fellow maker. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Richard Perkins!
Marlos E’van=ME
Richard Perkins=RP
ME- Ok Richard,So my first question is, how would you define yourself as an artist? Photography, film making or more?
RP- So on instagram I just put an artist, but when I’m into writing poetry, i’ll do that for a while. I’m always taking photos constantly tho; forever taking photos. I’m doing films right now but after I’m done with these, I might not do anything film wise for years.
ME- Oh really? Why is that?
RP- I need the right people to be with me to do it. I can’t do it alone at all. I always need at least one person/ partner to work with me doing films
ME- Ok, so making art and films is more like a community thing for you then?
RP- Yea, there’s no fun in doing it by yourself
ME- Right Right Right. So you’re cool with the idea of not doing films for a while.
RP- Oh yea, I usually shoot things in a big patch. Like we’re doing 3 films now with my creative partner John Mulligan; the Zodiac Skater, The Melancholy Case of Bobby Travolta, & we’re tryna do one with John Stamps. Then after that, I dunno (haha) John Mulligan went to film school and worked with Tom Savini. He’s been great to work with!
ME- That’s Lit actually and is enough to keep yall busy on the film circuit for a while.
ME-So what inspires you as an artist?
RP- Uh, other artists! I got inspired real early by a group of certain group of people and that shit still inspires me.
ME- Like who?
RP- Um, like Larry Clark, Harmony Korine, Vincent Gallo, Chloe Sevigny, Macaulay Culkin was a big influence
ME- Macaulay Culkin? How so?
RP- Because he was one of them dudes that wasn’t an artist but was an artist. He did a colab with Harmony called the Bad Son. It’s a bunch of blurry ass photos of Macaully hanging out with a bunch of ballerinas in an apartment.
RP- John Sebastian Vitale is another artist that inspired me. He moved from NY to Virginia while I was living there. I ended up making a short film with him called Magick Margaritasville. He is one of my main inspirations of all time. He used to tell me all these stories from back in the day of NY during the Dash Snow era and 9-11. Dude used to do everything from making storefronts, photos, films, and essays. That’s exactly what I wanted to do!
ME- So when did you realize that film and photography was the main way you wanted to express yourself?
RP- around 2009. That’s when I started finding shit. Finding movies and getting into a lot of writing like the beat poet dudes. I was going thru photo books and finding shit. Back then I could go to Walmart and get a case of disposable cameras for like 20 bucks. Now it’s like 30 bucks for one.
ME- Daaamn thats some wild shit! So i hear that skateboarding is another one of your influences
RP- Yea, I feel like the freedom in skating translates to my work. Bam Margera inspires me and his movie Haggard is one of my favorite films. He made it with his own money, wrote the script, and shot it with his friends on like 16mm film.
ME- Who is your audience..Who do you make work for?
RP- Maaan that’s hard. I’d have to say like Virginia hip hop and skateboarding culture. They helped me establish my artistry and I’m still in conversation with them in some way.
ME- So you brought all these journals with you, where do these fit into your life and your practice?
RP- In high school, I would pretend to be doing work by writing in the journal (haha) When the teachers would be looking at me, I’d be writing my ass off in the journal. They’d come and ask me what I was writing and I’d say “oh I’m just writing” then I’d get in trouble. These journals are my way of documenting and remembering everything. My poetry and memories are in them. I wrote in this one what it was like to go to the Wendy’s salad bar back in the day. They don’t have salad bars at Wendys anymore.
ME- I noticed that you’ve made several zines and books. Wanna tell us more about that?
RP- Yea, so some are out of print, but i made, Come Down Off The Cross, We Could Use The Wood (a photo book), ANTICHRIST+ (reissue coming soon) and we got Video Poker which is full of all new poems. Swan Princess is more of an experimental book.
ME- Ok So you’re a poet too?
RP- Yes. There was an early phase of my life where I was always writing. I used to always watch Def Jam poetry and listen to Saul Williams which used to blow my mind. I was like damn, this dudes a genius! I like people who aren’t technically poets, that’s some of the best stuff to me. Like the Bob Dylan poetry that really dont make sense. DMX and Tupac’s poetry are dope.
ME- Rich, i can talk to you for hours about art and life but i guess we gotta wrap it up for now. Got any life advice for our readers out there?
RP- Yea, life’s advise is MAKE ART EVERY FUCKIN DAY. EVERYDAY MAKE SOMETHING. WHETHER YOU’RE DRAWING ON A NAPKIN, OR YOUR THINKING ABOUT WRITING, SCRIBBLE IT DOWN ON A BOOK. EVEN IF IT’S ON YOUR CELLPHONE, TAKE PHOTOS OF WHATEVER YOU THINK YOU NEED TO. ANYTHING! JUST DO SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE ART EVERYDAY TO BE HAPPY!
ME- Damn right! Well we preciate you Richard! Thanks for doing this interview brotha!
{This Interview is dedicated to Doug Youree}
Photos by Marlos E’Van and Tabitha Perkins
