INTERVIEW WiTH SPIV
by s7ing / Alcatraz

MA:
Hello Spiv, first of all thanks that you take some time to answer some question for Mudia Art. Please tell us something about yourself (Where are you from, how old are you etc...)

Spiv: 
First of all - thanks for giving me a lobby here. I was wondering because I expected some other oldschool graphicians in this first issue.

Ok to answer your question, I'm 31 years old and when this issue will be released as told in april 07, I will be 32. Born in Magdeburg in the ex-EastGermany, I went futhermore east and settle down in Leipzig, the city where the friendly revolution began back in 1989.

MA:
When did your first graphics steps started ?

Spiv:
It all started somewhen in 1987 or 88 when I was in a seminar for schoolcomputing and in  a arcadehall playing "Space Invaders". After getting my frist C64 playing soon bored me and those little "things" called intros infront of the games reached me. 

And so I wanted to compete but with empty hands ... I started with Demomakers on C64 and selfmade Graphics as I could't programm, but include my selfmade pictures in this Demomaker. 
And as I allowed to be more detailed - most of the nowadays people haven't got a clue what computergraphics mean on a C64 Computer. To face the facts, we had 16 predefinded colors 320×200, Pixel resolution, as Display  a TV to see color or a green monitor to see sharp. My Input Device for drawing was ... a joystick.


MA: 
What for software did you / do you use for creating computer graphics ?

Spiv:
I don't think the tools are more remarkable than the ideas thats in your head. I guess famous artists like Picasso was never asked what Brusch do you use. In terms of computergraphics commonly everybody thinks if ever the qeustion of the used tool is clear - he can do the same.

I'm tired to tell every Programm I used so far, but I started with Koala Paint on C64. Today, among others, Photoshop and Illustrator are the most important tools for me.

MA: 
Where do you get your motifs from ? Do you draw sketches ore something like that ?

Spiv: 
As MITHRANDIR, FACET, LAZUR, COUGAR and all the rest used fantasy paintings often from Atrist like "Boris Valleyo" - I never intend to cover a famous picture artist. Not to derogate the brillant technique of the told artists, but to be honest - there was never any artistic claim by those pictures, however perfect they where reworked.

MA: 
Where did you get your inspiration for drawing ?

Spiv: 
As I'm not drawing anymore today - from nowhere. In the back I just combined some ideas in my head. There's no special place I go to to get inspiration - except my bathtub.

MA: 
Are you still working with computers or did you switched onto other techniques ? 

Spiv: 
I do. I work on computers. What nowadays Person would say "I'm not !" ? Techniques had changed for me. The Tools. The Goals. The Limits. But never the Aim.

This Aim is to give, whatever circumstances are, the best compromise between you and the customers Wish. In the back the customers was the scene and we - and I - got judged by that. 
Today the international market of designing agencies 
is judging you.

MA:
Do you miss the old times pixeling graphics the old way ?

Spiv:
As deployment is quite fast, you simply have no time to hang on traditional things. I miss the old times, where jobs just took the time they need, but how cares about that? Even Creativity has to happen fast nowadays (as you want to live from the job like I do). There's by far no analogy from my today work with the old times. 
MA: Which style of graphic do you prefer ?

Spiv:
??? Good style.

MA: 
Who are your favourite graphicans in the demo scene and tell us why they are.

Spiv:
All today activ graphicans may forgive me - but as I can only tell from my  period of scene activity - a big sorry in forward. I had to devide my favourites in different Ages and Workcases. In the early Days in 1990 MITHRANDIR/ACME was my favourite by far, what he done in just 16 colors interlace graphicmode was simply brilliant. 

In kind of Logopainting there was always one that I looked above and thats, Angeldawn (Scoopex, Model, Jump, Possessed, Skid Row and wherever he hang on evenmore) Everybody face his Fairlight Logo fading in over years you put a disc on.

When we turn to image painting there is a bunch of old mates I don't want to be unmentioned. There where brilliant graphicans in my carrer such as: Cougar/Sanity, Facet/Anarchy, Fairfax/PMC, JOE/Scoopex, Peachy/TRSI, RWO/Kefrens
and even more.

Even these are all great artists indeed, one thrilled me by his technique and this is RA / Sanity. His pictures, even copied from e.g. Metal Band Cover (Name I donÄt remind), had a unique style. His drawing really kicked me. What Computerartist can claim that his pictures are so strong you ever know where they from. As RA came up even much more talented  graphicians showed up. 
Such as Louie or Lazur. Netherless RA/Santity surely set benckmarks setting his very own style. Thats what an arist is for! 

MA: 
How did your way lead you to the computer demo scene ?

Spiv:
As I got my C64 in 1989 and saw the first IKARI Intro and was more fascinated by that instead the game, I knew that the Computer was even more than a machine to play on. Two steps futher I discovered "Intromakers" giving me the ability to express myself. And as I don't can composed and programming wasn't required I grabbed my Joystick and tried my frist logo on a unsharp TV Monitor.

In the past years this trauma not to release a complete production by myself catched me again several times. So it was HTML Weblanguage that made me individual express myself and later on with the last Infect Demo Endmoster I made with Flash.
Not to understand me wrong, I always respected the works of all those Infect members, but I always wanted to be like a director. And sometimes it was difficult to explain what I really meant to the coders.

MA: 
Are you still active or interested in the Demo Scene ?

Spiv: 
Active - NO. Interested yes. But it disappears more and more as the groups and guys I know disappear. Last things I've seen were the Farbrausch (FR-xxx) Productions by Chaos (Sanity - at my time) and was very impressed by the effects. But not the originality. 

MA: 
Will you miss the scene ?

Spiv:
One thing the scene gave me and still benefit me is confidence in myself, my work and career. Without the scene I wasn't doing what I'm do nowadays. The scene brought me to the computergraphics - no doubt. 
More important or at least equal, I got found some friends due the scene that never would possible before. And  I'm not talking about absconding contacts you might have in the Gamer Scene.
No. With all Infect Members we organize regually meetings. Some like Buckly and me go together to holidays. All that would never had happen without the scene.
We had our fun on several parties like in Aars/Denmark 92 at "The Party", 680xx in Hamburg that is now called "Breakpoint" and even more ... I NEVER never ever want to miss the moments when the whole Infect Crew storm into the Party Hall at  Aars throwing 3,5" Discs in the crowd. 

Believe me, we were better with party entertainment than demomaking. All in all - Yes I miss it, but understood it's over for me. You can't takeback that feelings watching 16yrs old boys  plaing shooters. It's not the same. And I think to "better keep things in memory, as to see them nowaday."

MA:
How do you like the so called new school Demo Style ?

Spiv:
I’ve seen alot of brilliant demos in the past when I went inactive for the scene. For sure it’s amazing what is possible nowadays. But to be honest the ideas don’t depend on the processors speed or the RAM. However astonishing the demos today are – they sometimes lack of design. They need to go new ways. Like MELON DESIZN dared in the 90ths. Without effort they opened up a new chapter in Demodesign history.
For sure I look the new blockbuster demos but rarely getting kicked if I subtract all the effects often there simply no idea that remains.

MA:
Are you still in contact with some of your old scene friends ?

Spiv:
Sure. To some Infect Members there is even a highly contact. Beside that no scene contacts anymore, but they building up again as some "Managers" and "very important people" of today are in the Newmedia "Scene" and I had some nice calls with some Managers and speak about the old times. ;-)  

MA: 
Has your scene activity a positive effect in your "real" job ?

Spiv: 
Difficult question. If I could my life again without the scene I surely give you a comparison.But yes, I think it helped me alot in the beginnig days of the web I'm now working in. 

MA: What are you doing nowadays ?

Spiv:
I'm graphic designer for some agencies. Doing all kinds of visual promotions such as: Flyers, Posters, Catalogs, Websites, business papers, Logos, sometimes programming and so on ... I'm really busy with my company: SPIV - digital media design. (www.spiv.de)


MA:
As you are also creating websites. Is there a different in painting or creating graphics for ?

Spiv:
What you mean with painting ? Designing a Website is process of understandig the technique how a sourcecode should be build and were elements are arrangend. The Designers Job is to sort and arrange the elements in an eye fitting raster. That is the Job of a Webdesigner, a Photographer, a computersceneartist , a painter and every person involved in any visual output. The techniques are different sure. 

Maybe this compares better: Every single person in the community health will tell you that all the matter is the health of the patient. The practices are different. 

MA: 
Do you prefer painting full screen pictures or do you like more designing websites ?

Spiv: 
I do like chilling.

MA:
What is your actual project and what are your future plans ?

Spiv:
My business is such a fast living one, that anything I would say by now would be outdated tommorrow. 

MA:
So we wish you all the best with that and thanks a lot for answering some questions. I hope you enjoyed. Last space is left for you to say whatever a you want to:

Spiv:
Thanks for this interview. Big thanks and greetings to all my old mates in Infect and all our fans and friends. I enjoyed my every minute in the scene and never forget this great time. For me it is time to say Good Bye as I need to earn some money for my family and me.






