KRPSY for SNS LA

We sat down with multimedia artist KRPSY in his DTLA studio to discuss his creative process, life and everything in-between.

SNS LA : "Who are you, where are you from and how did we get here?"

KRPSY : What’s good G. I go by @KRPSY (pronounced Korp-See) online. I’m a visual artist, model/actor, and above all else just a creator of all sorts. I’m from a small island just south of China, called Hainan, and first immigrated to Canada then the US with my family. I mostly grew up around Seattle just east of Lake Washington and spent most of my youth and teenage years drawing, painting, doing graffiti, and skateboarding. 

I always knew that art was what I was meant to do from an early age because I just wasn’t good at anything else. After High School I travelled around a bit, spent some time living homeless in San Francisco, then went to university Calgary and Vancouver, Canada. I waisted no time leaving Vancouver. Two months after I graduated college, I packed two milk crates of my clothes and stuffed my drafting table into the back my SUV and drove straight down the coast and lived in it for 6 months.

I’d always had an affinity for California, especially SoCal because it reminded me of the tropical island I spent my formative years on. The beaches, palm trees, and sunshine just felt like home.

SNS LA : "You've lived all around the US and Canada. What's grounded you here in Los Angeles?"

KRPSY : Man, so many things. The night life, the beach, but above all, the people. LA folks are just so laid back and many of them are creative or doing something interesting and that make me feel like I just belong here.

There are so many opportunities that you can’t get anywhere else for people like me, people who are creative and multifaceted. I can capitalize on all my skills and talents and there’s plenty enough for everyone, you just gotta be good at what you do because it is very competitive. Here, I can do exactly what I want to be doing, mixing work and play, and make a living off it.  

As an artist, I thrive on visual stimulation. The scenery and people of LA are just so beautiful that I am constantly staying inspired.

SNS LA : "How has Los Angeles specifically altered the way you create and the process around it?"

KRPSY : Prior to LA I was interested in the notion of fame and art. Not in the superficial sense of fame, but rather what differentiated “famous artists,” those who were ahead of their time and remembered in history, those whose works transcended time, versus the artists who just existed in the now and were soon to be forgotten.

A lot of my works previous, despite which ever medium I presented them in, were performative. They were less about the objects themselves but rather a relic of me, the artist who made them. Given the notion that I live the life of an artist destined for fame. However all that changed when I moved here and realized that everyone was on a similar path but not everyone’s motives towards achieving fame and clout were pure.

Since then I have began making work that is more grounded in what is genuine - real emotions and capturing the essence of a person, place, or moment. The basis of my current works is the idea that all things come full circle and people and situations are brought into our lives for spiritually destined reasons. The ones that are meant to create an impact on our journey are introduced at one point in our lives, then become "reoccurring characters/events” at a later point based on its significance. The process is less of a material one but rather a personal process; to express genuine emotions inspired by genuine interactions.

SNS LA : "What can we expect from you in this upcoming year and the many years to come?"

KRPSY : This year is a milestone for me as it is the first year I am working independently without a day job to support myself, (S/O to Fred Segal where you and I met!) Expect to cop a few tattoos from me and the completion of my first series of paintings inspired by LA night life. Also keep a look out for various commercials and ads I might be popping up in on your explore feed! I’ve got a few in the works, but I can’t reveal any details because of NDAs. 

If I have learned anything it's that only the present is certain and that’s what I’m choosing to focus on. So as far as expectations for the future, leave it up to the universe. Just know that I’ve come this far without stopping and I never will. I won’t be easily forgotten though, that’s for sure!

SNS LA : If you can, leave us with a drop of knowledge or advice that you've come across at some point in your career."

KRPSY : Don’t be afraid to try! And don’t ever hate on someone for trying, because you’ll never know what could happen. Try in secret if you’re embarrassed, but never let it stop you from doing exactly what you want to do.

Interview by Garcia Segura Dec, 2020

Film Photography by Are Bernard