Interview: Rocko Moskito

In conversation with Rocko Moskito, a hobbyist collage artist from Montpellier, Southern France. Rocko works as a lawyer for the French Government.


@rockomoskito

Can you talk about your journey into or interest the arts?

When I was a child I often wanted to ‘change’ the story of books I read and films I watched. I was fascinated by Disney film The Sword in the Stone (1963 Merlin l’enchanteur). The scene which Merlin transforms himself in different animals had a special echo in my childish mind.

At the age of 20, I began to write screenplays and songs and to make collages.

From 2001 to 2009, with a digital camera, I’ve made artistic videos and short films (musicals and comedies).

Now I make collages and transform some objects (mainly lamps).

Do you use a sketchbook? I’m interested in what a sketchbook means to you and your work?, or how people develop their ideas.

When I wrote screenplays I spent hours choosing a word or fixing a situation.

Collages were my ‘freezone’. I never used sketchbook when I made collages at this time. And now I’m doing the same.

Firstly I select many pieces of pictures from magazines (bodies, landscapes, objects, animals…).

Secondly I randomly choose some pieces and try to match them – for the better and the worst. Sometimes it’s love at first sight and some other times the wedding never happens…

I’m very influenced by surrealism and pop art references.

From surrealism I keep spontaneity. From pop art, the bright colours.

Your work is very rooted in the imaginary and fantastical, What themes are you exploring through this?

I’m not fond of classical arts.

For me, except some Quattrocento (an Italian term meaning ‘four hundred’ – the first phase of the movement known as Renaissance) pieces, Easter Island (Island of Pâques) statues and cave painting, for me, interesting arts began at the end of 19th centuries with Van Gogh, cinema and advertising too.

Imagination is my most developed muscle.

I’m not able to draw a simple circle but it’s quite easy for me to compose an image with some unusual elements together for the first time.

My favourite painter is Paul Delvaux. So I suppose I try like him to compose pictures of dreams.

I use many pieces of beauty magazines so I suppose I try to re-invent beauty or to put some urgliness into beauty.

I also try to put some politic and economic messages in collages. But in a smooth way…

Do you find the process of creating work relaxing or therapeutic? I’ve become increasingly interested in the relationship of the sketchbook and the work to the artist.

Writing (mainly screenplays for me) was therapeutic.

Writing stories is always writing the same story with the same kind of characters and situations… even if you don’t realise it when you write.

And you feel better when you finish.

So writing seems to be therapeutic.

Making collages is relaxing and a hobby full of lightness and fun.