True Ease in Writing comes from Art, not Chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. - Alexander Pope
Aug 18, 2010
The Quintessential Gambian photographer
Scored my first interview. YAY!!! WHooohooo
For clarity purposes, I am not an aspiring journalist. I'll probably need to grab an ethics book because I lack all the set of morals needed to conduct any sort of interview lol. I thought it'd be fun to chat with interesting people and learn about them. Who better to start with than Mr Deen.
How often do you see a Gambian guy with straight hair and a ponytail? Meet Ebrima Deen. A very eccentric young man with a huge passion for photography and art. If you have him as a friend on facebook, you've probably noticed he has 451 profile pictures and 85% of them are images of himself. Honestly, how much more self loving can one get? haha Kidding!
I like that he gets my jokes. I don't know how many times I can get away with calling someone vain and they laugh and ignore my comments. He's not vain, in fact he's far from it. He's a talented guy who doesn't seem to have a problem displaying multiple images of himself in zen, on the clouds or while his head is afloat
On a more serious note, going through his facebook albums is like walking into an art exhibit.
Here's the interview. We skipped the "Hi, how are you Ebrima" bit. That is just way too formal and boring. Mr Deen's a great sport. I don't think I'd even let myself interview me so I'm very honored and grateful to have him on here.
Now meet the genius
I see Madrid all over your profile. I'm not interested in football (Laughs) but why Real?
Real Madrid is just grand really! I love everything the club stands for, how it came into being, its history, its home color, the tight bond with the fans, also love the fact that most of the fans are from the middle east and in a way, I wish I lived in Spain/ Europe. Although I don't mind America, I detest the materialistic society and how this place elevates fools into rich heroes (as the poet Charles bukowski would say). I am more in line with the free-thinkers of Europe, their culture and way of life.
Real Madrid is just grand really! I love everything the club stands for, how it came into being, its history, its home color, the tight bond with the fans, also love the fact that most of the fans are from the middle east and in a way, I wish I lived in Spain/ Europe. Although I don't mind America, I detest the materialistic society and how this place elevates fools into rich heroes (as the poet Charles bukowski would say). I am more in line with the free-thinkers of Europe, their culture and way of life.
Where do you draw inspiration from.
The top artists that I try to at least draw from are Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock
Favorite movie of all time
Would you call yourself a Surrealist?
So what is art?
(Laughs) I don't know. By the way, I'm not an artist nor do I do art. I just simply happen to love paintings. All I do is talk about them so I wont know what art is lol
The top artists that I try to at least draw from are Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock
Have you ever been guilty of using art to get girls?
Only when I attend art gallery openings but outside of that circle, I rarely bring it up because its not hip. They look at you differently and I just wanna be like every other guy sometimes . I'm not playing the victim by the way. You know the party type, the iPhone bearing guy, the guy that watches entourage, etc
Is that the guy you wanna be?
Sometimes, rarely though. Gotta balance things out. Don't wanna be too "crazy" now (Laughs)
Why do you sound like a tortured artist? What keeps you calm?
Hahahaha I am not tortured. Well except as a child and I stay calm by doing yoga and hiking to the top of the mountain every weekend. Just God and myself up there. A bit of solitude
How long does it take to get your hair ready before you leave the house.
I am not gonna lie to you, it definitely takes a while to have my hair proper, neat, presentable for other people (Laughs)
You have Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley hanging in your living room. Are you obsessed with dead people?
(Laughs) No not really. Its just that back in the day, that's when music was music and most of them today (I'm probably gonna sound like I take myself too seriously but I don't).....
(Laughs) No not really. Its just that back in the day, that's when music was music and most of them today (I'm probably gonna sound like I take myself too seriously but I don't).....
Sometimes I like a little Akon. Thank God Prince is still around but majority of the stuff I listen to, yes most of the artists are now sadly gone.
Did you get your anti kinky hair funk from Prince?
No way!! gee. Its a mix between Hendrix, Lenny and MJ (laughs). Would soon be rocking the Obama cut though. Cant go on to be 30 still looking like I do.
Favorite movie of all time
Well I would give you my top 5
1) V for vendetta,
2) The Godfather trilogy
3) Into the wild,
4) The Prestige
5) Whatever works
Would you call yourself a Surrealist?
Oh yeah definitely! I like breaking things up. Things aren't always what you see, dream-like, and I love mystery.
Is there such a thing as bad art?
No some of em are just pure rubbish!
Rubbish could be art. Depends on the viewer. No?
Maybe that viewer doesn't know art but I'm not one to say
So what is art?
(Laughs) I don't know. By the way, I'm not an artist nor do I do art. I just simply happen to love paintings. All I do is talk about them so I wont know what art is lol
Thanks Deen. We need a part deux lol
Check out some of his works. Breathtaking!
