Maxime Plescia-Buchi‘s (@mxmtt) trajectory embraces different fields, disciplines and arts, but there is something in each of his projects that gives him a unique and distinct identity. His hands are behind Sang Bleu, Physical Company, TTTISM, Swiss Typefaces or Novembre Magazine at its early stages. Although perhaps you know him for having tattooed Kanye West. Anyhow, he feels comfortable with all of these descriptions. “I enjoy the fact of being different things for different people”. We talk with him about creativity, fashion and work.
First of all, how is everything going? I guess that with so many projects going on, the quarantine must have been a radical change. What have these weeks been like for you?
Fine all in all. At this point in my life, having “so many projects” also means that I mostly do creative direction and management, which are things we definitely were able to keep doing. On top of preparing to move to the US with my family which kept us busy. If anything it was a time to truly focus on certain aspects in a way I probably would never in “normal” times! But obviously, the wellbeing and overall situation of the other people involved in my projects affects me deeply and that part is stressful. I imagine that for many people, it is a period of deep questioning and evaluation. It definitely was for me!
Many know you as the founder of Novembre, others for having tattooed celebrities like Kanye West, etc. From all the definitions you have heard, which one of them makes you feel the most comfortable?
To be honest, you are probably the first person even to mention Novembre, which is cool! Not many know about this project and even fewer about my involvement in it. I don’t care to be honest. I enjoy the fact that I can be different things to different people.
You have done a variety of different projects, but all of them have a common essence. How would you describe that identity? What gives them that consistency?
At the end of the day, the fact they all are somehow representative of myself is the red thread. In the next couple of years, I will be laying what I consider to be the last bricks of that city I have been building for years. It will all become very clear then. For now, the way those things come together is a bit complex, and it would take 3 interviews to explain.
You are a role model in multidisciplinarity. Now, in the Internet age, everything is extremely connected and it is way more common to see multidisciplinary projects, but many of them leave the specialization behind. What is the key to succeed in this aspect?
1. Honesty: keep things within what you identify with. Everyone is multi-faceted. It’s what makes humans interesting and individual. If you follow your instinct it will naturally express itself in your work. But don’t try to go to places you don’t know or don’t understand. This is where you can get lost and things get incoherent. 2. Work over time. Don’t scatter yourself. Life is long. 3. Package things: the public is not used to making an effort to understand complexity. You need to brand things in a very simple way to keep things approachable. Even if your product is complex. Work in layers. Except for basic first-necessity products, most things can be perceived on many levels. Especially cultural “products”. If you give enough depths to your projects you will be able to cater to audiences with different levels of interest and involvement.
Graphic design, typography, tattoos, fashion, magazines… In which order happened these interests to grow in your life?
Art is a huge part of what I do and where my inspiration stems from. As well as Politics, Economy, Sciences. What you see fo what I do are for the most part mere outputs, means of expression. The source of my reflections is somewhere else.
And considering all the different projects you have done, would you say you always carry on the same creative process? Tell us a bit more about that process, from finding inspiration to the final result.
I don’t have a process per se except those defined practically by the field I will be working within once determined. The only key points for me are: Relevancy (is a given idea needed both in general and for myself), Competence: am I qualified, able to do it?, Timing: is it the right time now or should I wait?
What do you like to do on days you don’t work?
I don’t really have a sense of what is work and what isn’t. I actually think that this very notion is culturally and politically loaded. Each things I do is work in some sense, but I do those because they bring me a sense of joy and fulfillment is those.
Sang Bleu has made several collaborations with other brands. Do you think there is an excess of collaborations in the fashion industry? What criteria and principles did you follow in order to have this under control in Sang Bleu?
“Collaborations” are almost never collaborations.They are for the most part a certain entity asking another entity to help them reach a goal. It’s just the way things always were, it’s just named differently. It’s fills the same function as when Apple asks a separate company to produce screens for them or batteries. It’s that but for branding or marketing. I don’t think the fashion or lifestyle industry can do without “collaborations” at this point. It is the way big brands maintain relevance. It’s part of how things work now.
How do you see the fashion scene post-Covid? Will it stay as it was or will it go through changes? Is it now more important than ever to reinvent ourselves?
There isn’t (anymore) such a thing as a Fashion Scene. Not anymore as there is a “music scene”. It’s many different scenes, communities, industries functioning more or less in sync, but with different principles, values, agendas. And Covid will only accentuate this.
If you had to choose from all the tattoos you have made, which one would you pick and why?
It’s like asking to choose between your children.
Any project/brand/artist that you have placed eyes on lately?
My own.
If you could make a collab with a sneaker model, which one would it be?
I’d love to do something technical with Salomon or re-do an Air Max + 2013.