Tristan Ceddia is a talented artist from Melbourne, Australia. We recently picked up one of his publications at OC, THE hot SPOT, and were so intrigued that we needed to know more. It turns out Tristan doesn't just publish books, he also runs a website called THE BLACKMAIL and a creative studio called NEVER NOW, and is a part of an art collective called The Serps (along with other artists like Misha Hollenbach, Christopher Day, Martin Bell, and Brendan Huntley). Australia feels so far away, so I enjoyed hearing his perspective and having a look inside his studio.
Alexandre Stipanovich: So, which of your many projects came first?
Tristan Ceddia: I started working under the name Never Now in 2005, when I finished university. I had been mentored while I was at school by some older designers and artists who worked for themselves and, consequently, I didn't want to get a job working at a studio. It seemed more fun to work for yourself. Around the same time my friend Brendan Huntley and I started a group called THE SERPS, which brought together a collection of our friends who were making art, music, film, design, or whatever. Together we hang out, make T-shirts, and support each other however we can. It has always been a pretty mellow vibe. Through this I started producing zines under the name Serps Zine, which became an outlet for those of us who wanted to make books. The Blackmail began in 2009 while I was living in Sydney and sharing a studio with a guy called Gabriel Knowles. He came to me with the idea to do an online magazine and website. At the time, I hadn't had much interaction with the Internet, in terms of designing or maintaining websites, so this was my segue into that kind of work.
AS: Who are you collaborating with in Australia at the moment?
TC: I work a lot with my wife, Adriana, who has a cool jewelry label called Poms. A little while back I designed the poster for Hail, a film by Amiel Courtin-Wilson. It was the first Australian film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival in 10 years. I was so happy to be a part of that. You should watch the film—it will make you scared to come to Melbourne!
AS: What's happening in Melbourne these days?
TC: Melbourne is a pretty exciting place in general. It’s a great city to walk around and summer is beginning to call (sort of), so people are out and about. I am excited by my studio which is in the heart of the city: while I'm working I love to burn incense and listen to my friend Michael Kucyk's radio show, NOISE IN MY HEAD. Outside of the studio, I like visiting Brendan Huntley at his studio; seeing new work by Martin Bell, Dan Moynihan, and Riley Payne; and occasionally eating at my favorite Italian restaurant Di Stazio in St Kilda.
AS: Do you feel Melbourne is far away from New York and London but pretty close from a creative perspective?
TC: I try and get overseas at least once a year to clear my head. Melbourne is super far away from the rest of the world. Jerry Seinfeld called it "the asshole of the world" when he was here so that gives you an idea as to how far away we really are. With the power of the Internet we have virtual access to the globe and can see what everyone else is on about. But ther
Alexandre Stipanovich: So, which of your many projects came first?
Tristan Ceddia: I started working under the name Never Now in 2005, when I finished university. I had been mentored while I was at school by some older designers and artists who worked for themselves and, consequently, I didn't want to get a job working at a studio. It seemed more fun to work for yourself. Around the same time my friend Brendan Huntley and I started a group called THE SERPS, which brought together a collection of our friends who were making art, music, film, design, or whatever. Together we hang out, make T-shirts, and support each other however we can. It has always been a pretty mellow vibe. Through this I started producing zines under the name Serps Zine, which became an outlet for those of us who wanted to make books. The Blackmail began in 2009 while I was living in Sydney and sharing a studio with a guy called Gabriel Knowles. He came to me with the idea to do an online magazine and website. At the time, I hadn't had much interaction with the Internet, in terms of designing or maintaining websites, so this was my segue into that kind of work.
AS: Who are you collaborating with in Australia at the moment?
TC: I work a lot with my wife, Adriana, who has a cool jewelry label called Poms. A little while back I designed the poster for Hail, a film by Amiel Courtin-Wilson. It was the first Australian film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival in 10 years. I was so happy to be a part of that. You should watch the film—it will make you scared to come to Melbourne!
AS: What's happening in Melbourne these days?
TC: Melbourne is a pretty exciting place in general. It’s a great city to walk around and summer is beginning to call (sort of), so people are out and about. I am excited by my studio which is in the heart of the city: while I'm working I love to burn incense and listen to my friend Michael Kucyk's radio show, NOISE IN MY HEAD. Outside of the studio, I like visiting Brendan Huntley at his studio; seeing new work by Martin Bell, Dan Moynihan, and Riley Payne; and occasionally eating at my favorite Italian restaurant Di Stazio in St Kilda.
AS: Do you feel Melbourne is far away from New York and London but pretty close from a creative perspective?
TC: I try and get overseas at least once a year to clear my head. Melbourne is super far away from the rest of the world. Jerry Seinfeld called it "the asshole of the world" when he was here so that gives you an idea as to how far away we really are. With the power of the Internet we have virtual access to the globe and can see what everyone else is on about. But ther