Remember Jim Horwat’s Scott Pilgrim art piece from the Crazy 4 Cult Show at Gallery 1988? Well, a little while ago, we got in contact with each other and he offered to show one of his other video game pieces on the 8-Bit Cubist website. He also answered a few questions I’ve had about his work. Interview below. 8 Prints have been made available in the Gallery.

Mr Benja: Why do work based on games?
I grew up in the early 80′s with a Commodore 64. I’m partial to that era, but I acknowledge video games on the whole as a creative expression of our times. Some of the graphics and designs are just brilliant and inspiring to the imagination. It’s great to see graffiti art and pop art inspired by games. EVERYBODY played that first Zelda for example, it’s like a universal secret language! You can connect with people, which is something I think art is really about deep down.

Sounds familiar. So how do you describe your work?
My work is varied, I’m not the most comfortable talking about it versus letting it be observed. I love drawing. My paintings from early in the decade were heavily inspired by Mayan art crossed with modern pop culture.

Ah, the Mayan art makes sense with the detail in your pieces. Can you briefly explain your process?
My process is like doing a puzzle or making a collage. I draw till my hand hurts. I like to then take these drawings and scale, shrink, retrace, rework them obsessively… I try and connect with the subject I am paying homage to… doing online research, studying the films for their messages and little quirky nuances. The process can be a little exhausting, but it’s also a ton of fun to do.

So what do you have planned for the future?
Future plans change so rapidly. There is a lot going on. I have pieces in the works for upcoming shows with Gallery 1988 going into 2012. I am a huge fan of the comedian Bill Hicks. In my free time I have prints in the works that celebrate his message. I am also quite excited to try out this Wacom Inkling invention coming out… I think it has potential to shake things up.

We’ll see about the Inkling. I hope it’s as groundbreaking as it sounds. Thank you for your time.
Thanks Benjamin!

8 Prints are available in the Gallery.
Find more about Jim at JimHorwat.com

Mr Benja.