Interview

Written By Editorial Team

Julius Rojas

Julius Rojas a.k.a. Leelyn Natas or TWYVRNN3R is a 27 year old Puerto Rican, Dominican artist that will one day show everyone the world through his pictures and art. His mediums are camera and by way of Procreate. One day, on top of his goal to spread his view of this world, Julius will help start programs back in his islands and in the Bronx. Mainly, for people who would like to learn how to make art and don't have money to go to school for it. But, please stay tuned for the ride.

 

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I claim the background of a photographer and a digital artist. My family was filled with creatives. People make things with their hands, painters, music producers and just regular artists with pencil and paper. I gravitated to that because with lines and ideas, I can create my own world or my own renditions of the world and society that I can see in my mind and make it into a reality. As for photography, well I've been on the other side of the camera and was always willing to be in photos. Especially when I was hanging out with my mom and we saw a cool place to take a picture. But, when I got my first camera (Canon EOS 7D), I was obsessed on being on both sides. It helped me a lot. Being a photographer you get to help models take the right picture, and vice versa. Since then, my journey has never halted.”

What inspires you?

“I draw inspiration from the darkness of the world. The overlooked parts of the world from abandoned places to eerie looking places in nature. The sad or lonely parts of society. It's just things people overlook. You walk down the street, empty and left behind buildings or people. Never looking twice. Never giving it a thought. But if you think about it, it's all history. People used to live or shop in those abandoned places. People used to have goals or dreams. Before their downfall, life was no different ours. People need to remember and see that. Be uneasy at my pictures, life is uneasy if you sit down and take it all in.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I feel like I pursue street photography unintentionally, but portrait and nature are my main missions. My message to the view is, yes, we all have everyday lives. Every single one of us. But, please take a glance around. Take a journey or look up from your phone. There is a whole overlooked or barely even looked at world laying right in front of us. Nine times out of ten the new is always modeled after the old but tweaked with enhancements. Just look up from the media and the electronics.”

How would you describe your work?

“Very good question. It's a mix between grunge meets forlorn explorer. Everyone want to be a photographer with there phones with selfies and all of that, but I just think its corny. It's not real, it's staged and self absorbed. My work strays from that.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Honestly, I don't really have an artist that influences me. I feel like if there was an artist, my work wouldn't be 100% me. I don't want to emulate or be like anyone so I try to make my work fully influenced by me. That doesn't mean I won't like other artists art, I just don't want to loose my own sense of artistic independence.”

“My message to the view is, yes, we all have everyday lives. Every single one of us. But, please take a glance around.”

What is your creative process like?

“For photography it's mainly sporadic. If I'm traveling and I see something wicked, I shoot. As for digital art, if a song really sticks with me or a show really sticks with me, it kind of eats away. It stays in my head and I think ‘how would I feel in this situation?’ ‘Well what if this changed and this character looks like this?’ ‘If I was in a music video with this song what would it look like?’ Then it keeps collecting ideas, creating visions until boom! It clicks. No matter what happens or how long it takes, the grind is nonstop until I feel like my drawing is complete. Then it's on to the next song or idea.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“Another very good question. So far, I don't even have a place yet. I feel like I haven't broken the surface yet. But, I'm taking classes for a certification in journalism and I would like to continue working hard and grinding. My dream is to spread awareness of the world around us. Share information of ideals regarding the fact that maybe the world isn't fully engulfed in phones and electronics. There's things going on in this world in our everyday streets and or society. There's places that hold history that we just drive by or walk by and we don't acknowledge any of it.”

 
Editorial Team
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