PAUL BORCHERS is a New Zealand-born, San Francisco-based Dutch illustrator, working with the world’s leading brands– and on his own comic book series Flying Mau Cat.
I go way back with Paul. We have been in the same friendship circles for close to fifteen years, and it’s always a blast to see what he is working on in the intimacy of his studio.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND IN YOUR SPACE?
You wouldn’t find too much work on paper or canvas anymore. I’m doing most of my work on the Cintiq these days.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WORKSPACE IN THREE WORDS…
Laboratory, library, gallery.
DOES THE SPACE YOU WORK IN HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY?
It was build in the 1890s, and it survived the 1906 earthquake. My landlord rebuilt the garage into a a gallery, called Anälog. It’s a space for upcoming artists and non-commercial art installations.
DO YOU WORK AND LIVE IN THE SAME SPACE, IF SO HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR WORK?
I have everything I need close to me and have gotten used to this routine. It only affects my work if I let it.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
The Mission is a very vibrant Latino neighbourhood, and there is always stuff happening, good and bad. I love going to this coffee place called Grand, and I meet a lot of creative and interesting people there. I go to Pyramid Records a lot, down 24th. Those are my social spots; otherwise, it gets too solitary. There is also the Gray Area, which is a venue showing a lot of interesting experimental electronic art and music. There is a great variety of food and culture in this neighbourhood.
WHAT THEMES DO YOU PURSUE IN YOUR WORK?
Anxiety, consciousness, futurism.
WHAT CAN YOU SEE OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOWS?
I look out on the corner of 24th and Capp street. There is this Latino bakery on the corner I look out on, and sometimes they have a rock band playing there. Whenever there is a parade like for Day of the Dead, or a classic car parade on 24th, we get a great view. There is also a lot of mentally ill and homeless people here that I see hanging out. The homeless crisis here is pretty depressing.
DESCRIBE A REAL LIFE MUNDANE SITUATION THAT INSPIRES YOU!
When I look at animals, like birds searching for food in the morning, or a cat sitting in the sun, I start imagining stories around them.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT?
Producing the Flying Mau Cat animation.
FAVOURITE SONG/BAND WHILE WORKING?
I can’t really give a straight answer, because I listen to a lot of music. I’ll give you a top five of records I played most last year. 1. Visible Cloaks, Yoshio Ojima and Satsuki Shibano’s Serenitem. 2. Cornelius’ Mellow Waves. 3. The Exaltics’ II Worlds 4. Yusef Lateef’s Eastern Sounds. 5. Siriusmo’s Comic.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AND FROM WHOM?
“Maybe you should draw a cat wearing those wings” -Jo Kang, 2011
WHAT’S THE ONE PRACTICE THAT HAS CHANGED YOUR LIFE THE MOST?
Making music has always transformed me. Like meditation, it’s a tool for me to silence my mind. I also meditate, which keeps me focused and makes room in my mind for good ideas to surface. But making music is just a more active way to get rid of all the noise in my head.
IN WHAT MINDSET/MOOD DO YOU MAKE YOUR BEST ART/WORK?
That feeling when you get back from a long relaxed holiday. Sometimes, I wake up with that feeling!
Where They’ is a visual documentation of the creative environments of artist & people, that meet during my travels, of homes and studios.
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