Wonderful Montreal has one of the best subway systems in Canada. I suppose this is arguable because I have not ridden on all of them. But I promise, Montreal’s Metro certainly beats Toronto’s TTC, hands down.
One summer day, almost 4 years ago, while riding the Metro (and in the middle of an awesome daydream), I noticed that I had missed my stop! Always seizing an opportunity to snap more pictures, I decided to get off at the next one, and walk it. Little did I know it then, it would prove to be a wonderful mistake as I was about to encounter EN MASSE, art with complete attitude and a total unique style.
I was so happy when Jason Botkin agreed to allow me to interview him! As cofounder of EN MASSE, I was immediately drawn to his creativity and vision.
iLHP: Let me start by saying that I have been a huge supporter and fan from when I first discovered your work outside of the Ste. Laurent Metro station! I truly have been a loyal follower ever since. Could you please tell us about yourself?
EN MASSE: Well, thank you so much! I’ve been addicted to pushing charcoal and ink across paper, panels, walls, anything really, for a long time now. I was born in Denver, Colorado in 1974, and then lived in Winnipeg from 1980-1992. After high school I then headed west, picking up a BFA (drawing major) with honors from the Alberta College of Art and Design (in Calgary, Canada).
For just over a decade now I’ve called Mount Real (Montreal) home. I divide my time between a personal practice and as the co-founder and director of the EN MASSE project, a highly engaging series of multi-artist-experimental-large-scale-black-and-white-collaborative-drawing explorations.
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