Eleven Questions with T.E. Pouncey: Mono

(because ten questions aren't enough -- and who has time to read twelve?)

Mono AKA: SiMONOke, AKA: Cbleek is a mysterious Dutch artist, creator of the comic Crackhead Angel (about drug addiction in a group of supermodels), a techno-mix musician, and single working mom.

Born in 1974, Mono won a painting contest in 1986 (at the age of 12) sponsored by the Museum of Resistance (the theme of the contest was "Freedom"). In 1992, Mono attended the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam after high school graduation and was admitted to Art School.

"My first year (of) Art school was in 1992 and was chaotic but life changing," she said. "Hanging out in the Storm gallery, a squat where I first came in contact with the traveller/tekno party scene. I switched from Rotterdam to the prestigious Art institute in Dusseldorf, and joined my mentor (and boyfriend) Ulrich Lamsfuss, there as an infiltrant (an unregistered student) in weekends and holidays."

Confessing almost right away that she was not an "official" student, Mono, much to her surprise, was accepted as a temporary student.

"I could work there whenever I wanted," she said. " The relationship ended but those busy months of peddling between Rotterdam and Dusseldorf were fruitful for not only could I develop my own style and vision in my own time , it also lead to changes in the way Rotterdam academy approaches their students today."

Mono is also working on a children's book: "Libbie, stories about a serious old child" (written in Dutch), and various other projects. Her work can be viewed at her official site and on her MySpace profile.

T.E. Pouncey: When did you first become interested in being an illustrator?...continue reading this AWESOME interview at Geeks of Doom!