0017 - Mahlstik

Interviewer's Note: I got to know Mahlstik (I personally know him as Samuel) a year ago, when he was an intern at my previous workplace. What instantly sparked off a connection between us was a deep interest in signs of extraterrestrial life and conspiracy theories. I honestly think his self-portrait below is not actually the most accurate depiction of him. I mean, he's usually smiling 90% of the time I see him.

Mahlstik / 22 / Behind the canvas / Paints pictures / www.mahlstik.com / @mahlstik

What do you live for?

I live for the little things and details in life. Seeing the smile on somebody's face, having a stray cat warm up to you, the fizz from a can of coke, the silence of late nights when you're rushing work, the observation of metronomy, the irony of society, clockwork systems and endless circles of life and death.

Why?

Through experiences and phases in my life which I think no one else should deserve to go through i have realized that a common advice people enjoy giving is " to look at the big picture". I think that is wrong, I think that is misleading. One should not just look at the big picture alone, you should go as close as possible to observe the tiny details, go sideways, go behind, backtrack, top, bottom, any direction possible to you. Heck, tear through the picture, draw over it if you have to, or you'll just be cheating yourself.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?

Throughout your journey you'll definitely meet setbacks, a lot of setbacks. It could be a huge one every year, or small ones every week, it could even be frustrating ones everyday. Remember always, it doesn't matter, just pick yourself up, learn from it, move on. Life is too short for regret, life is also too short for laziness and petty thoughts.

Also, if you love doing something, work for free doing what you love for a substantial period of time. I'm not saying to spoil the market or devalue yourself, but if after that time where you've worked your ass off, starved, worry everyday about the next, and you still love what you do, imagine doing it and getting paid at the same time. The feeling of an epiphany or discovery is incredible, however, there must always be a balance. A wise old man once told me that you can't just go do what you love/or what you think you love, find a way to feed yourself and pay the bills, or you'll probably end up dead even before achieving what you set out to do in the first place. Application, that's the trick.

Something random you'd like to say?

I hate hamsters. Motherfucking evil furballs !