GENES - #2 - Matthew (@noomens)
The first interview of a series based on peoples favorite pieces of clothing and the stories behind them featuring a local artist.
Matthew (IG: no_omens) is a local artist, tinkerer, handyman, and skateboarder who has a studio at Slice of Life on Venables in “east Vancouver” and has two upcoming art shows; one at Slice on November 9th-11th titled “Gardens” and one at The Drive Skate shop towards the end of the year.
I’ve known Matt for roughly six years now. The first time I met him is pictured below, he was ripping over to the studio to get some work done and I had caught him at the stop light. After a quick photo, he promptly invited me in to to see what was going on at Slice of Life. I had never been in the studio and workspace before and my mind was opened to a whole community of people in the neighborhood that I didn’t know existed, safe to say a collaborative friendship was established that day. He also changed the way I thought about myself as a “photographer”, I’ve always thought that him bringing me into the studio was a subtle nod to noticing me as a fellow artist and I’ll always be grateful for that. He showed me some of his work and his studio and we parted ways. Since then, I’ve visited Matt in his studio or at the skatepark, caught up on things that inspire him, take photos of his work in progress, and generally “shoot the shit”. I’ve done multiple shoots for Matt, I own quite a few of his art works, he has created custom designs for stickers and I always appreciate collaborating with him on his art.
His personal style mimics his artistic style. Rugged, beautiful, resourceful, and authentic, so I was very excited for this interview as I had a feeling he would be choosing some things that had those elements involved.
Slice of Life “Crush” Sweater - Art Vest - Belt Buckle
Hesitant to be “interviewed”, the second he pulled out this sweater the conversation started flowing instantly. The origins of this sweater is serendipitously similar to the origins of our first encounter with a real “pass the stoke forward” type of energy looking back on both scenarios. Allow me to explain…
Matt received this as a gift in 2016 or 2017 when he was first invited to have a studio space at Slice by the two founding members Sheena (@sheenabootleg) and Ben (@sol.signs). During a time when he was “out of the loop” of the art scene in Vancouver, they approached him to come into the studio and start making art again. He described this moment as “when the fire under my ass was re-ignited, having a studio, being part of the art community, having a space to consistently make art. The crush sweater to me, represents that”. A fire that Matt (and subsequently Ben, and Sheena) would end up lighting in me a year or so later.
The design was by Ben, who has now moved over to the island and is still creating art out of his own studio and painting signs under “sol signs”, with a skateboard company called WET. The sweater was produced as a collaboration in the early days of slice and “represents a certain time of [in the history of] slice of life…a younger era slice, a time of a lot of growth [the sweater] represents a moment.” This was a one off graphic and Matt believes this might be one of the last of these sweaters still hanging around (with two being in possession in his own family, more later).
This three colour graphic still pops off the heather grey sweater with the iconic slice smiley on the front starting to show signs of wear. The screen printing is even more special once you realize the design was drawn, transferred onto screens, and pressed in the same space that we were having this conversation. It of course has seen better days, with a couple small coffee stains and some paint markings here and there.
We talked at length about how we often consider ways to preserve sentimental pieces even though they are past their “prime”, but can’t stop putting them into regular rotation because of the sentimental value. The sweater has also become a prized possession in his family as his sister surprisingly revealed a matching version years later on a camping trip that he had bought her as a gift and forgot. His mom wondering where her version was around the camp fire. Matt addressed this tension as we finished talking about it as he told me he was likely going to “bring it back home, to leave at my parents house, with my mom” in her care and possession and to fulfill the clothing request and preserve for future reflection.
Funny enough this is something I continue to do with special pieces as well, “depositing” them with my brother back in Ontario every couple of years to be locked away and preserved to be discovered years later to enter the rotation again.
As we moved on to take his portrait wearing the sweater and shoot some photos of his newest art works, we also got talking about his style in general and the natural evolution of his own “look”. Claiming he didn’t exactly have “style” before he moved to Vancouver (which I doubt, but can’t confirm my hunch) he noted that in his prior community he never thought about using clothing as an expression of art, rather it felt simply as things you buy from the store to get you through the school year. Coming from a large family in a northern BC community, access to style and a plethora of choices of clothing was never really an option, strip malls and hand-me-downs dominated the source of garb. It wasn’t until he moved into Vancouver and could start thrifting and mashing different pieces together that he felt he started to formulate a style of his own.
A lot of the time now, his style of is a thoughtful combination of utility and his self expression. Taking in bits of pieces of what he sees hanging around “east vancouver” and the artists and skaters who come and go through the studio and neighborhood. His vest, pictured in the portrait below as well as in the photo above, is simply a way for him to pocket some pens, tools, a lighter, and to protect what ever he is wearing to the studio that day.
In my perspective, coming from a “simpler” clothing environment has definitely taught him ways to do more with less, have a sharpened eye for what looks good on him, as well as love and appreciate what he has, with repairs and customizations mimicking his art style. Although he considers his vest just a utility piece, it has become part of his daily “uniform”, something he prides himself in the minimalistic nature of his wardrobe. Matt has always had a way to elevate this minimalism with his own expression though, through wearing flowered or coloured shirts to subtly blend the utility with beauty. It is clear that his aesthetic choices in his art is complemented and exemplified by his clothing tastes.
His belt buckle was the final piece we talked about, while unintentional, in my opinion the best representation of his personal style. “It’s the only one I have, and its the only one I need” he explained while he showed me the back side where he has made repairs in an ever so “Matt” fashion. The belt leather well worn and the buckle beautifully patinaed, it has a ruggedness from the sharper edges and agedness but also comes off quite intricate and beautiful. Repaired, worn, functional, unique character and cherished with pride. I believe the value and uniqueness of his style is emulated in much of the same way, simple choices make curated combinations.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the city this weekend, I highly recommend checking out Matts show at Slice. You’ll see exactly how his art style complements and informs his clothing style, with found items becoming new pieces of art with the upcycling energy he puts into everything. Maybe you can also consider taking in some of this energy into your own wardrobe. Can something be upcycled rather than thrown away? Can you take more time digging and finding that perfect piece rather than quickly clicking purchase on the “latest and greatest” style? I, of course, often come to these conversations with a sustainability lens, but the more I have these conversations, the more I realize the more a piece of clothing has a story, the more that story is told through the simple act of wearing, caring, and using those pieces of clothing.
Next Steps
With this being the first “story” after my blue jacket I was actually a bit nervous to know how it would go. Would I be able to reach the depth with other peoples clothing? Would the people I think are really interesting, be interested in this project? Of course there’s always a level of self-doubt when starting a new project, imposter syndrome always rears its ugly head at times like this. But, luckily for me, I found myself back at Slice, talking to the people who gave me the confidence to continue in this exploration of style. I definitely left the studio that day with a new level of energy, excited to pursue more of these conversations, and I hope you’ll join me for more.
Next weeks interview will be with the one and only SHEENA, mentioned a few times above.
If you’ve read this far and have any ideas of who you think I should interview in this series, please feel free to drop me a suggestion below.
Love the way family is something you “share and store” your clothing and style with. Also love how often you use the word patina :)
So affirming to hear artists recognizing and supporting one another. Art has enough room for us all-- it shouldn't ever be a competition.