Satellite Voices

Munich

Firstlines: The Conestruction Inc.

November 30

Concluding our series about Firstlines Gallery with the infamous graffiti artist turned psyche graphics don Cone

• Text by Sylvia Weber

Starting out in the early 90s with graffiti, Cone evolved into a versatile, multi-genre artist over the past years. Under the name of Conestruction Inc. he found a way to unite his different styles and techniques of creation and conception, such as illustration, print, wall paintings, graphic design and animation. His main inspiration derives from urban life and music.

Satellite Voices: What was the first thing you ever made?
Cone: As a kid, a detailed space explosion drawing with a heap of different characters. Some redrawn from comics, some self-made. It took me several days to finish it. Somehow a kind of a personal big bang and quite similar to what I do now. As a slightly older kid, a "SLIME" graffiti on a backyard barn with spraycans I "found" in a hardware store.

Satellite Voices: How do you describe your work?
Cone: Free illustration with a focus on weird character design. A unique comic style, not aimed to be used for comics. Pretty ugly. Disgusting and beautiful. Humourous and serious. Somewhat psychedelic. A huge love for details and hidden goodies flows in my works. So the ones who take the time to watch a picture more intensely get a reward for that effort. While drawing I forget the time and that is something that hopefully happens to the people watching my works, too. Around 2006, I reduced my works mainly to black and white. The idea was to abandon fancy colour effects and focus on the essence of my style. The way of dealing with serious themes in a humous way is how I prefer transporting my content. 

Satellite Voices: Why do you work together with Firstlines Gallery?
Cone: The philosophy of Firstlines is great. It feels like the natural way galleries should deal with their artists. But that is not that usual and easy to find. I've know Florian Hubalek since school and absolutely respect and like the person he is. It feels right to present my works with him as gallery owner. I put so much energy and time of my life in my art that I wouldn't trust just anybody with representing it. In addition to that, he works absolutely professional without losing the fun and ease that life needs so often. He believes in his artists and invests much time and confidence in their development. Besides that he has got a really great sense for undiscovered supertalents. I don't know all the firstling artists personally, but feel very comfortable being part of such a heterogeneous selection of high quality.

Satellite Voices: What is your next project?
Cone: Finishing two canvases for the BLOOOM art fair in Cologne.

Satellite Voices: What do you consider your biggest inspiration for your work? 
Cone: Everyday life, music and sometimes brilliant brain farts.

Satellite Voices: What inspires you about the city or the area you live and work in?
Cone: My life is kind of split. I live and work in Saarbrücken. It is cheap, there is the amazing studio I founded in late 2010 with five amazing designers, and I give lessons for illustration at the university. The other part of my life happens in Munich, my hometown. Being here is always great. My best friends and family are here and so is Firstlines. Enough reasons to come back again and again. Visiting Munich is like refueling a certain energy I could not find anywhere else.