We get to know this LA based artist before his show at Fecal Face opening Feb 11th.
We've known Tofer Chin for many years now and he's shown in many Fecal Face group shows and throughout the years we've always been amazed at how Tofer tends to be a step outside and beyond what other contemporaries are doing. He takes his own steps and follows his own instinctual path always creating works both original and highly labored intensive leaning on a sense of color and design. He's worked in many mediums and has always impressed us throughout the years. We've invited him up from his native LA to show ALEX a group of mescaline inspired works of "recurring visual patterns such as stripes, checkerboards, angular spikes and other very simple fractals which can and ultimately do turn very complex". This will be his first solo show in San Francisco.

I'm 30 years old. I live in Los Angeles. In 2002, I received my BFA from Otis College of Art and Design.

Have a few, three cups of coffee... followed by lots of daydreaming, research, and sketching. For a painting, custom paint colors are mixed, tested, then bottled. A panel is made and then stretched with canvas. Gesso is applied to the surface and sandblasted. The painting gets painted. Each piece can take between a week to four months to complete.

I normally work with acrylic and oil based paints applied by brush, airbrush, and spray on canvas, watercolor paper, and wood.

It's the terror and complexity of our chemical imbalances distilled to their most beautiful and controlled.

I was born and raised in the porn capital of the world, the San Fernando Valley. I moved over the hill to Hollywood when I was 18 years old to pursue a few avenues in the entertainment industry and live closer to school. To this day, I see the Hollywood sign everyday.

What I love about LA is that I live so close to my family. I love my friends. I love the abundance of Korean, Thai, and Mexican food. I love the beach. I love the mountains. I love the city. I love In-N-Out Burger!

If you came here tomorrow (Sunday), I'd take you to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (Pico location) for brunch. We'd go downtown to see the Frank Gehry designed Disney Concert Hall... then walk up the street to MOCA Grand to see the first half of their 30th birthday exhibition. Grab a coffee... then drive to Little Tokyo to MOCA Geffen to view the second half of their 30th birthday exhibition. Hungry? Walk over to Shabu Shabu House in the Japanese Village Plaza Mall and have some beers while we wait. Eat. Drink. Smile.

I'm really excited about everything! I'm especially excited about this sculpture prototype I'm working on right now. I'm really excited to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland... and I'm epically excited about coming up to SF next week!

I'm most productive when my phone isn't ringing, when my ichat isn't on, and when everyone's asleep.

Hands down, my favorite trip was to Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006.

I'm loving the new Fuck Buttons, Miike Snow, Phoenix, The XX and The Big Pink. I'm addicted to seeing Radiohead play live. Guns N Roses is my favorite band ever. I'm currently listening to The Gaslamp Killer.

In high school I had a shaved head. Skateboarded. Snowboarded. Did graffiti. Went to raves. Threw raves. Wore pants that were 10 sizes too big for me.

"Alex" strives to enhance the personal and shift to the organic by refocusing on the naturally-derived hallucinogen, mescaline. Unlike LSD, mescaline never lies. Instead, the mescaline experience includes visual enhancements of originating truths.

I'm very excited to see what Jeffery Deitch does for MOCA and how he influences Los Angeles' museum programming. - I've noticed MANY galleries close their doors during this economic malaise. - And I've noticed MANY artists maintaining creating more than ever during these challenging times.

Refreshing, like an ice cold cerveza with the most epic Chinese food in the country.

I create and make things with my hands. And I am fortunate enough to have a growing collector base that supports my vision.

Long hikes. Long bike rides. Long dinners. Long discussions over drinks followed by long spurts of laughter. And movies and popcorn.

Living day-to-day, new experiences, past experiences, and knowing nothing lasts forever. - Identity. Take away all that's material and we are left with the organic. This is what I am exploring... - Fingerprints.

LINKS
christoferchin.com/
thememagazine.com/stories/tofer-chin/
dailyserving.com/2008/09/tofer-chin/
hypebeast.com/2009/03/tofer-chin-double-dip-exhibition-recap/
kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/tofer/ {moscomment}

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