Caspin Interview Beverly Hills, California
This is a reprint of an interview I did last summer. Enjoy.
Caspin is a talented and successful musician, lyricist, and painter. Today we are going to focus on his work as a painter. Caspin’s visual art straddles the genres of Graffiti Art and abstract Modern Mexican Art while fusing urban themes and sensibilities.
Twin Warriors
The bold and bright colors are reminiscent of early Mexican Folk Art of the post-colonial period, but the subject matter is truly drawn from ancient Mayan deity hieroglyphs dated to the 1st century during the Classic Period. Caspin amazingly juxtaposes these hieroglyphs and the need to address current social issues. He celebrates his indigenous heritage and calls for awareness and responsibility.
Caspin has used a number of mediums to express his talent including stainless steel, wood, and canvas paintings, tattoos, and in various opportunities incorporating the urban landscape.,
Blue God East
Caspin’s paintings tend to be very large making a definite dramatic statement, but he has incorporated his oversized personality and evokes humor and playfulness in the art. Many of his original paintings are held in private collections focusing on contemporary ethnic art.
Caspin believes that his art is for the people. “Art in a museum is great, but art in the street is perfect”, he recently told me over coffee. To that end, he is “putting my art in the street” in various forms and mediums. In a nod to his urban street culture roots, he is presenting some of his paintings in wearable forms such as t-shirts, caps, leggings, shoes, and other ordinary everyday items. He believes that putting art in the middle of urban culture is a way to preserve that art and the culture it represents. Visit his website, CaspinComa.com, and check out some unique amazing art.
I called Caspin to setup a time and place for us to meet to discuss his work and to explore his feelings as an artist. He suggested we meet at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. I thought it was a little odd that a “street artist” would pick this venue, but I had wanted to go there since it had opened so I was stoked. I gave the valet my Prius and smiled at the doorman as I went inside. Before the door closed I heard an incredible rumble approaching. As I turned, I saw a beautiful white M5 BMW arrive at the door.
The Beast
I recognized the E60 classic and thought to myself: I should live in this neighborhood. While I was drooling over this automotive unicorn I saw the driver pop out. I realized it was Caspin. The white tank top exposed massive arms covered in a beautiful mosaic collage of ancient Mayan hieroglyphs.
Caspin on Wendy’s terrace
The tight white jeans, held up by white leather suspenders, lead down to an incredible pair of crystal studded Christian Louboutin high tops. Wow, this was going to be interesting. After hellos, we settled into a comfortable sofa just off the main lobby, and an apparition, in the form of a server, appeared. He knowingly asked Caspin if he wanted a Stella; I ordered iced coffee. I was very aware of his boundless energy and humor and I was eager to begin.
Me: I love your car. How did you find one?
Caspin: Thanks man. It just sorta dropped in my lap. I saw it driving by a lot in the Valley. I stopped and bought it. I was driving a 545 at the time, but this beast had me at first sight and have you heard it. It’s really a love-hate thing though. Driving it is phenomenal, but the insurance and maintenance is a bear.
Me: Tell me about your name.
Caspin: It is a nick name I picked up by in my early days rapping.
Me: Rapping?
Caspin: Yea, I was in a group from the Valley, “Overkill Outfit”. We were pretty good. We had some cool songs and videos. We played all the hot spots: West End, Gabba Lounge, Shoestring Factory, and Key Club. It was fun, but the group broke up. I did a solo album. I still write and I’m working on a new album,
Studio work station
I’m doing a show with my brother in a few weeks.
Me: So you work with your brother?
Caspin: Yea. Temper, my brother, and I do music and rap together. We were both in “Overkill Outfit” together. He also had other projects he works on too.
Me: Is your whole family artist?
Caspin: I guess so. Not everyone is into visual or performing arts, but they are all artist in their own way.
Me: I understand you youngest child is an award winning artist, tell me about it.
Caspin: I love my kids and they are all talented, and Zion got the artist gene. He won this big award and got to introduce Octavia Spencer at the award show in Hollywood. I was there yelling and cheering; totally embarrassing him. I am really proud of him.
Me: I really interested in this new project your working on. Tell me about it.
Caspin: Thanks man, I glad you’re interested. I’ve been fascinated by my heritage and culture all my life. I grew up in a very large and close extended family. My immediate family has been in the United States for generations, but I grew up with the stories, art, and history of my Mayan ancestors.
Mayan Calendar
I was this little kid in the Valley going to Catholic school dreaming of being a Mayan chief. Early Caspin I guess, (laughing). I’m trying to bridge the ancient with current urban sensibilities. I wear my tattoos as an expression of that connection. My tatts are mainly hieroglyphs from the 1st century blended and shaded with skulls and icons of current Latin culture.
Caspin’s shoulder
I want to publish and promote this artistic expression as beauty, honor, knowledge, and pride. I mean those Mayans were pretty cool. Their civilization rivaled any in the ancient world. They invented the concept of zero. They invented the process to create the color turquoise. With the current political climate, I think it’s very important for little Mexican kids to know and share who they are. They are all Chiefs and Gods.
Me: Wow, your passion shows. How are you doing that?
Caspin: My paintings are hieroglyphs expressed as graffiti art. They are bold in-your-face visuals. I put them on canvas, wood, stainless steels, buildings, anything really.
White and Gold
I mostly live in the same neighborhood I grew up in. That is my choice. It is not a place of great financial wealth, but it has an enormous wealth of culture. I use my art to share my vision of that culture with my community. I want to celebrate and acknowledge our heritage and culture. That’s my version of family values, (smiling).
Me: Tell me about the t-shirts.
Caspin: Ah, the t-shirts. My originals are large and thankfully expensive. Most of ones I have sold are in private collections.
War God
That makes them hard to share with my community. So I have hooked up with some people to put my art on t-shirts, bags, shoes and other common everyday stuff. The idea is to make the art so accessible that it becomes part of the landscape. Art in a museum is great, but art in the street is perfect.
Me: That’s very impressive, but you got to tell me about those shoes.
Caspin: (laughing) Pretty sparkly huh. I have a good friend that introduced me to Christian Louboutin years ago.
They have a great store on Robertson and great people too. We would go to brunch and have some drinks and go to Louboutin’s for dessert. Champagne and shoes are a very cool combination. That is part of the same story about why I invited you here. That same friend brought Temper and me here for our birthdays. This place is great. The restaurant here is Jean Georges. The logo is that giant JG in the lobby. Those are my real initials.
As I read my notes to put this together, I kept finding myself smiling. Caspin, in addition to being passionate about art and extremely talented, is a very warm and funny person. You can’t help but to want to be on his team. Whether rapping, painting, or having fun, his oversized personality is genuinely engaging and friendly. I will be looking for him with every passing super car and every super cool t-shirt.
That was quite an interview. Thanks.
Love, love
