Article Tag: artist

In a land without mountains, you have to be happy with the few mountains there are. It can be reflected in a relaxed and well-balanced acceptance of the conditions of things, but it can also – sometimes – be reflected in a “sturm-und-drang”, an attempt to be more than you are. Reaching for the sky […]

Venice Beach might have been Coney Island, with Frank T. Rios’ classic New Yawk drawl drifting like jazz notes through an oblivious crowd. The fairly intimate gathering of agog bystanders, hardcore poet fans and press bugs huddled in the chilly pre-rain afternoon like a small raft in the storm to celebrate the new Poet’s Walk […]

Pre-Lord of the Rings interview focuses on Viggo Mortensen's photography and other creative pursuits. "Mortensen makes obvious his obsession with the ordinary as he breaks to explain, for example, why the green countertop reflecting fluorescent light onto the cherry-red Coke machine in the background would make the perfect picture. 'I’d take it right now if I had my camera,' he lamented."

Rambling conversation between Viggo Mortensen and Dennis Hopper. Topics include art, poetry, acting and most anything else.

Viggo comments on his pre-1999 movies, including Prison, Leatherface, Reflecting Skin, Indian Runner, Crimson Tide, The Prophecy, G.I. Jane, A Perfect Murder, Psycho. He also discusses his art and upcoming showings. Finally, when asked, "In twenty years, would you rather be remembered as an actor who painted or a painter who acted?" he replies, "I'd like to know that I was honest. I was myself as far as just being an artist and being an actor or poet or photographer or painter or whatever the hell. Being an artist is being an artist. So just be."

A brief, flirty interview about Viggo's "Renaissance Man" qualifications, film career, and the rocky start to his art career. Excerpt: "A couple days ago, I looked at all [my] paintings, and I was like, 'I don't know what these are.' Then it snowballed. 'What kind of actor am I anyway? What kind of father? I mean what a joke. God, I'm such a vain, self-involved creature, and I should just stop making these things and inflicting them on people!' I can see why people jump out of windows."

Viggo Mortensen describes his upcoming role in the Psycho remake, and shares plans for upcoming art showings, books and music.

A fun interview in which Viggo shares stories from the filming of movies from Witness to A Walk on the Moon, and describes his drag queen screen test for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.