ALSO KNOWN AS MAISON HEFNER, ARTIST MONTY RICHTHOFEN CHALLENGES CONVENTIONAL POETRY BY TRANSPORTING TEXT FROM ITS TRADITIONAL PLACE ON PAPER, ONTO OTHER MEDIUMS
Richthofen composes short, profound phrases, communicating through painting and writing in public spaces as well as tattooing.
His work tends to lean toward social commentary about class, consumerism and commodification of art, however his tattoos are a bit more personal. Often his clients ask to get a tattoo without knowing what the subject will be. After having a conversation, if Richthofen feels a connection to the person, he will create the tattoo based on something he learned about them.
If I could describe myself in one sentence I wouldn’t have started writing.
I see my work as a reflection of the events, places and people that I encounter in my life. I just write down my thoughts whenever I can, it’s something that I do and don’t even think about too much. It just happens. This could be while in bed or sitting on a cliff in the middle of nowhere. Can you describe what plays an important role for you while creating new work? Playfulness and stupidity. I let the mistakes plaster my path.
Playfulness and stupidity. I let the mistakes plaster my path.
I was tattooed by my friend Daan when I was about 18. When he finished he said now it’s my turn. I told him that I had never tattooed before. He replied, “there is always a first time”. So I tattooed him and here I am.
Any reaction or feeling is legitimate. When it comes to perception there is no wrong or right; especially when you work with text you begin to understand the ambiguity of the form of expression. The intended meaning can be understood totally differently. That is what makes it so intriguing for me. It can confront, it can connect, it can be indifferent. You just don’t know how it will be taken.
