Chloe Kovska x Crawling Death
Chloe Kovska’s work spans colour and arousal in perfect stylistic execution. From cum-covered characters, cartoon peep-shows and sexualised fast-food objects, her work invites the viewer to “do it”, if it feels good.
For a while she kept anonymous behind the screen and behind her work, until now. We’ve been lucky to know Chloe for a long time though. She’s cheeky, calculated yet unpredictable and likes to live life as authentically as possible.
To coincide our collaboration, we sat down to get under her skin.
Interview and words: Taylah Kleid
Photographs: Ben Clement
Your work references a lot of tattoo culture and vintage cartoons. Can you talk us through your ideas and where they come from?
Mostly I get inspired by tattooers that I know and sometimes can have a similar aesthetic to them but it’s a lot more than that. The rest comes from the banned TV cartoons but I also think inspiration is constant and ever-changing.
I pull things from my surroundings but I wouldn’t even say it’s a conscious choice, it’s just something that hits you and stays with you when you see it, or conjure it up and grow it like a baby until you’re ready to birth it out.
So would you say your art is a creation of your fantasies, an extension of an alter-ego or something different entirely?
I’ve grown to believe in doing whatever one wishes, in every sense. Some of these pieces would be my fantasies, some may be other peoples’, some may be realities. I enjoy what I enjoy painting, just like I enjoy what I enjoy viewing.
And people are apparently often surprised to find out its female behind the work?
When I started, I tried to be relatively discreet about my gender because I didn’t want to be judged incorrectly. And I also wanted to be seen for my art, amongst other paranoia. So at that point, yeah people were surprised. But I’ve gotten over that and don’t care about hiding anymore.
You grew up in an artistic environment, it was your Dad who taught you how to paint?
I'm an only child and growing up my mother worked days and my father worked nights, so we spent a lot of time drawing and painting together. He has four brothers that all are painters too so I think it was just natural for him to want to do that with me. Growing up painting with him and getting to paint with him still now is something I wouldn't change for the world.
He taught me a lot of traditional techniques and styles like landscapes, portraiture, still life. Most people kinda assume I can’t do that stuff because I only parade cartoons. But I’m a loner and spending so much time alone, the cartoons just became my way of entertaining myself.
What does your Dad think of your art now?
My dad is my number one fan.
In the last year you’ve exhibited in Los Angeles (Top Guns, Paul Loya Gallery) and San Francisco (Acting Funny, 111 Minna Gallery), and at Miami Art Basel. Where can we see you next?
Who knows! Hopefully all over the world!
You’re very authentic and your creations seem to come from a very genuine place, even though the scenes are bright and exaggerated. What do you want people to feel when they see your work?
Arousal? (laughs). I want people to feel open and have a giggle. To not take things or life so seriously.
Alright, social media - the love/hate. It is how you started sharing your work with the world, connecting with people and selling your pieces. We’re in this era now where it’s almost like people are creating shit because they know it’ll get seen. Everyone is so desperate to be liked. How do you feel about that?
I try not to focus too much on the people advertising their desperate cookie-cutter egos and replications of one another. I don't really gravitate to those who grovel to be 'cool' or who tread on people to get where they need to be.
I focus on the people that are doing what they want to do. The ones where I look at their stuff and think, fuck! That's awesome! Spreading positive vibes and support to one another. It weirds me out that people use social media to create new personalities for themselves, instead of utilising it properly.
Have you had any struggles that are internet related?
Not really anymore. When I did they were with people who were pussies and wouldn’t actually speak up. They just suck the lime light out of anyone who’s got it. I hate seeing people follow trends, instead of following what they truly desire.
But either way I’m just going to keep doing whatever I want. My biggest problem with the Internet is not being ‘Internet’ enough or tech-savvy enough.
Tell us a bit about what inspired the Crawling Death collaboration.
I had seen Crawling Death around for a while and always thought they were well-presented, not cheesy like other brands become. And even better that they’re Australian. When they asked me to collaborate with them, I couldn’t possibly say no. I’m really happy with what we’ve done.
www.instagram.com/ckovska
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Interview and words: Taylah Kleid
Photographs: Ben Clement