Braden (yester) X BurgerFuel

Haser: We have started to see you and your art pop up more and more within the BurgerFuel community over the last few years, but for those that are unfamiliar with who you are, can you tell us who you are and where you’re from?

Braden (Yester): Braden, South Auckland born and bred, a man of few words which are mostly puns. Have been drawing since a young grom.

First started doodling when I moved to Italy at 10 years old. Not knowing a word of the language, I spent most of my time drawing and watching VHS recordings of Dragon Ball Z my nana sent me.

I use to record Pokémon episodes and draw them as well, the start to any great artists journey.

You had your first solo exhibition last year in collaboration with The Hot Knives and BurgerFuel Friday Night Bites, how was that?

That show was a lot of fun, I ended up selling everything, which wasn’t hard considering everything had a $1 reserve on the evening. (would have been a little embarrassing if I couldn’t sell a piece for the price of a mixed bag of lollies). People really got amongst the bidding element of the evening which was exciting to watch, even if it was mostly my mum.

Haha, never value your art on what people are prepared to pay for it,  and do you see another exhibition in the future?

Aiming to do another show in the near future, once I manage to build up another series of artwork.

Awesome, hopefully I’m around to check it out.

You have a pretty distinctive style of illustration, how would you best describe it?

Quite obscure & colourful. Usually work from a good pun backwards.
Penises.

Haha admirable, do you have a preferred medium to work with and a preferred surface to work on?

Just bought an Ipad & frothing on Procreate at the moment. When It comes to mediums I’m a bit of a cheap slut, from Molotow markers to Copics, anything colourful.

Haha, Molotow and Copics are premium products, you must be doing well.

Lately I have been nabbing derelict windows off the side of the road and painting on them. All the pieces at the BurgerFuel exhibition we’re painted on windows either found roadside or purchased on TradeMe for $1 (hence the $1 reserve).

Nice work, I’d love to see this window idea evolve.

If money and time wasn’t an issue, what would your dream project be?

I’ve alway’s wanted to make a children’s picture book, but I’ve never had the time to actually knuckle down and do it.

We all get 24 hours a day, I’m sure you’ll find time. If you could live anywhere in the world and make art, where would it be? 

If I could travel and make art I don’t think I would stay in one place. But I’ve only really travelled Asia, so would love to tackle Europe now that I’m older (wiser). Although I feel like I will always find myself back In New Zealand.

The fact that you know you’ll end up back in New Zealand is the exact reason you should travel, home will always be home. 

Who is on your inspiration feed at the moment and are there any artists/people that have played a role in your artist journey?

There are so many artists in NZ alone that I get daily inspo from. To name just a few at the top of my feed right now Toni Gill, Shelley Botticelli, Finn Wilson, Blake Gordon. 

We recently featured Blake Gordon, he’s definitely worth having on your list. When you’re not designing at BurgerFuel and making art, how do you occupy your downtime?

Love a cold beer & the ol Stick n Poke tattoo (not particularly in that order).

They’re so much better in that order though.

What tunes are bumping on your playlist?

Outkast - ATLiens (whole album is shit-hot)
Bobandii - Bedrock
The Chats - Pub Feed

I’m currently rotating 2 of those on my playlist as well. And last but not least, favourite burger from BurgerFuel?

An incredibly hard question, but I always find myself lured back to the humble American Muscle.

I instantly became hungry

Thanks a lot for your time Braden (yester), if you would like to see more of Braden’s work you can follow him on the grams.