Today’s Christmas card comes from Lee Basford. PingMag already noticed his works when he took part in the ‘Meme’ exhibition for JUN in September 2006. Now he just made a lovely christmas animation for Adam et Rope and created a long christmas card for download for PingMag. Here is what he was up to in 2006 and what we can expect of him in the future.
Written by Uleshka
Lee, please describe what you do in your own words.
I’m an art director at Fluid in England, but my own work tends to fall in and around the overlap of art and design.
I think that because I usually work on tight deadlines, in the high-pressure led design industry using computers most of the time, everything always feels very digital, even though a lot of the time I try to make things appear analogue. The work I create outside this work environment tends to be a lot more handmade (and usually ends up with my hands in a mess with cuts and splinters).
A large part of this work is created pretty quickly with whatever materials are around or can be easily accessed, which at times can be a guiding force in the outcome of the work. This, together with the organic growth and exploration of an initial idea and its possibilities. I’m always ready for happy accidents, where it’s nice not to have the option of an ‘undo’ key.
How was last year for you (highlights, downers, what did you learn…)?
A lot of good things happened in 2006. I had my first exhibition in Tokyo as part of the renewal opening of Adam et Ropé’s modular gallery space/store in Shibuya.
Since then I’ve worked on a few projects together with Adam et Ropé and others in Japan, including the Christmas Illumination animation which was created with some friends here in England.
For Capcom, earlier in the year I worked on the largest advertising project I’ve created so far, which involved filling a shopping mall with thousands of zombies for the Xbox 360 game Dead Rising. I think the main highlight for me is that a lot more of my personal, handmade working methods are making it into commercial projects. I recently finished a series of 7 illustrations for Paper Sky magazine which I’m really happy with. I’d like to do a lot more work like that - combining analogue with digital. In many ways this is what we did with the Paper Christmas animation…
Also I just got a phone call from UNIQLO. I made it though to the next stage of their big t-shirt competition. Apparently they had about 15,000 entries and selected just 28!
Wow! Good news at the end of the year!
What are you looking forward to in the next year?
There are so many things to look forward to… But I think the main thing for me is pushing my personal work. Its grown and developed over the last few years, but this year has pushed me and shown a little more of where I’m heading, which is something I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve been art directing the packaging and advertising for Resident Evil/Biohazard for the last 4 years in Europe, and next years release is going to be a big one. There’s also a big performance arts festival in England we’ll be starting to work on quite soon. Outside work, the Outcrowd Collective have some interesting exhibitions and group projects lined up which I’ll be taking part in.
I’ve actually been studying Japanese for quite a few years now, but focusing on this is something I really need to do. It’s very easy to let work get in the way though…
blocky typo at the Meme exhibition
Lee Basford in his garage working
Anything else you’d like to say?
I’m a PingMag reader myself, I really do wish a great new year to PingMag and all of the readers. I hope it continues to get better and better.
7 Comments
- Share and Enjoy:
As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.
Important Notice
31 Dec 2008
Ryu Itadani: A World in Colors
29 Dec 2008
Magibon: From YouTube to Japan
26 Dec 2008
Benedetta Borrometi: Cheerful Paintings for All
24 Dec 2008
Nakagin Capsule Tower: Architecture of the Future
22 Dec 2008
Cute and Pop! 60s Girls Comics by Eico Hanamura
19 Dec 2008
Japan’s Hi-Tech Toilets
17 Dec 2008
Amusement: Gaming Culture Meets Art and Fashion
15 Dec 2008
HIROCOLEDGE: A New Tradition that Blends into Modern Times
12 Dec 2008
Masato Seto: The Sweet Allure of Betel Nut Beauties
10 Dec 2008
-
None found
I love this work..!
A very big Thank You to Pingmag, for their excellent selection. It’s a real treasure what you can find on this page. Pingmag has been my homepage for a while now and i’m always so happy to discover (usually at lunchbreak) what’s been cooked for us…keep the good work !
all the best for 2007***
Posted by: cecile on December 30th, 2006 at 1:40 am
Great as always!
You guys keep making us ping pingmag!
Have a great new year!
See ya till 2007!
Hugs from the brazilian!
Posted by: Eriksen on December 30th, 2006 at 3:15 am
[...] Weitere Informationen dazu gibt es bei PingMag. [...]
Posted by: Euge.de - make with the reading » Blog Archive » Silvesterfeiern mit Stop-Motion on January 4th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
[...] This is Kind of old news now but you may have missed this really nice interview with fellow Outcrowd member Lee Basford in the fantastic PingMag. [...]
Posted by: SelfCtrl » Blog Archive » on February 10th, 2007 at 9:41 am
[...] Lovely beats and bits selected in Tokyo by Digiki. Art by Lee Basford. [...]
Posted by: +digi nikki+東京 » Blog Archive » Polypunk love on November 3rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm
[...] Some magical sounding zines coming from Lee Basford, Art Director at Fluid in England, and awesome artist and designer. Great interview of him here from PingMag. [...]
Posted by: Participant #6: Lee Basford « The Homework Show Assignment 2: Book Report (Zine Swap) on June 20th, 2009 at 12:40 am
[...] Who is you favourite Birmingham artist? Ben Javens is doing some really great stuff lately, Lee Basford, Log Roper… all the Outcrowders, really. I still have a lot of respect for Chu, I used to [...]
Posted by: EXHIBITION » Archive » Newtasty Interview on April 20th, 2010 at 11:40 am