In the lead up to WATIM’s 12 x 12 exhibition opening, we are selecting a few contributing artists to sit down with and get some more info about what they’re up to and what they are producing for the show. To kick things off, we have chosen Sean Morris from Perth. An artist who’s work is quickly becoming recognized around the globe for it’s weird and fantastic nature.

Firstly, for our readers who aren’t aware of your work, tell us where you’re from and what you’ve been painting lately.
PERTH. I paint things that i think are awesome, and things that are terrifying. It’s good when they’re both, like spring beak and skullets. A lot of people fixate on the fact that i draw ‘ugly’ people but it’s about more than that. Well, slightly more… I’m more interested in trashy behaviour and dodgy rituals than in just drawing drool and cankles.

Your work makes us laugh. Is this your intention?
I don’t really expect laughs, i don’t think i’m funny. But I stick pretty fiercely to the game plan of trying to make the work that i wanna see; stuff that i would get excited about or that would make me smile – even laugh – if i stumbled across it. I figure if it entertains me while i’m doing it, it’s at least got half a chance of entertaining some other weirdo.

How do you come up with a concept?
I find that each idea flows on from the last, in some form or another. Humanity is a giant trash pile and i’m slowly digging my way towards the centre of it. I’m wearing rubber gloves, football boots and denim cutoffs. The rats ate my Hawaiian shirt.

Do you think art can be too serious some times?
I have no idea what art is, but whatever it is, it’s probably too serious almost all of the time.

I could definitely see your painted worlds become an animation. Have you ever thought about taking that step?
Sure. I often see these paintings in my head as little movies, so it’d be nice if other people got to see them too, also i think they’d look pretty good on TV being broken up by ads for car insurance and The Amazing Race.

What have you got planned for the 12×12 show?
It’s a series called Planet of Bad Girls. Probably the most straight up low-brow stuff i’ve ever done – green and purple tattooed space babes wrestling and pulling out each others’ hair.

You’re a part of the Last Chance Studio. Tell us a little bit about that.
Last Chance is my dysfunctional second family. We built it out of dreams, dick jokes, Perth pride, being nice to people, wearing obnoxious team jackets and not giving a fuck that we live in a tiny beach town that’s afraid of everything rad.

Do you have any plans or projects coming up you can tell us about?
Heading to London in August to do a solo show at BEACH Gallery, and launch a zine i’m making about a white trash swamp gym. Working title is Killer Abs Will Kill You. Then teeing up a summer solo in Melbs with Colour By Numbers. I have no idea what that will consist of, maybe just a giant painting of Tom Selleck’s moustache, with me high-fiving people underneath it. Please come.

More info on Sean here. Check out the 12 x 12 website for more opening night and exhibition details.