Excerpts from the interview in Vomitief No.2, pages 22-24
Michiel van Lun
Michiel Marcus van Lun grew up in the industrial city of Zaandam. Spending most of his life in a rather quiet suburb, he devoted many free hours reading comics from the local library and learning his parents atlas by head. After having known all the world's states, capitals, presidents, mountains and seas at some point, he realised this was not a useful conversation topic with girls and is happy to say he is blissfully unaware of such knowledge any longer. The most valuable thing he ever stole was a matchbox car. He spends most of his time with making photographs, has a driving licence - but no car, hardly watches television and rumour has it that he owns a zillion shirts.WHAT IS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD ABOUT BEING MICHIEL VAN LUN THAT NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD CAN ENJOY BUT YOU?
Well, let me think. My fascination for making photographs? Nobody understands why I'm always fiddling with tiny details in a shot and think I'm crazy when I want to do the shot again and again. I know it seems a bit nerdy sometimes.WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LIKE SO MUCH IN MAKING PHOTOGRAPHS ?
Looking around and making a story. A good picture doesn't need a title or explanation. Some shots are like good paintings. Details are important, but so is composition and framing. You never know what you will encounter when you are out for making photographs, but somehow you just know when you are making a good picture.WHAT DEODORANT DO YOU USE?
[laughter] Isn't that a sort of secret? Something manly, but more interesting than strong. I always hate it when a guy in the locker room puts on something that kills every mosquito in a mile radiusDO YOU PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?
I learned playing piano and guitar. My mother had a very old, beautifully decorated piano at home. Some family piece. I started figuring out how to play so persistently that my mum put me on lessons and I loved it ever since.WOULD YOU LIKE TO INHERIT THAT PIANO?
No thanks! It sounds really awful. I never new this as a kid, but when I got my own piano later I realised the instrument was very bad. Sadly, I have no piano at the moment, because it doesn't fit into my appartment. [sigh]HOW DO YOU LIKE SWEDEN?
You want the short or long version?THE SHORT ONE PLEASE
Sweden is greatAND THE LONG ONE?
It has some advantages to live hear, compared to Amsterdam where I lived before. There's space (lots of it!) and forest too. That's great. Summer in Sweden is very nice. Public transport is ok. Crossing the street in not as life threatening as in normal European cities. No traffic jams. Streets are clean. Lunch is cheap. And Swedes are nice and polite people.THIS ALL SOUNDS LIKE YOU LOVE SWEDEN?
There are downsides... Rotten fish is considered national food treasure. Suicidal squirrels jump in front of your bike, thinking that the road is theirs. Lunch starts before 12. Swedes sing songs that have incomprehensible melodies and it looks as if they are especially designed to confuse foreigners. Summer is a mosquito nightmare. A million mosquitos will attack you from every possible side as soon as you get the idea of sitting down somewhere. The forest are full of mud or ice most of the year. There is no spring! And November is so dark.I HEARD YOU DID SOME SOCIAL STUDIES?
I studied two years of Urban Planning.SO WHAT HAPPENED?
I liked geography at school and decided to look for some studies in this direction. Even got a 'propedeuse' degree and quite good grades. But I decided to go for science and unravel the Mysteries of Life and the Universe instead.REALLY?
No, I wanted to do something challenging and get on with lifeFAVOURITE FOOD?
[jumps up] Ah, that has got to be ice cream! I can eat it every day.FAVOURITE BOOK?
Um, difficult, or is this such a what-would-you-take-to-a-deserted-island question?OK, FAVOURITE TV SHOW THEN?
Tv? I hardly watch. So it must be an old show. I kinda like the Red Dwarf series.GIVE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Curious?WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW YOUR GIRLFRIEND KISSING SOMEONE ELSE?
A) Pick a fight with mr intruderB) Trying to kiss her instead
C) Go for a walk
I would break up immediately, thank you.
DO YOU DO SPORTS?
Since some time I enjoy swimming. Nothing fancy, just taking my laps between the granniesIS THAT SHIRT RUMOUR TRUE?
What? That I have a zillion shirts? [pauses] Mm, I heard that once and I have to admit that I do have a lot of shirts. [smiles] Maybe men's equivalent of women buying shoes?WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WOULDN'T DO IN PUBLIC?
Picking my nose. Nothing is worse than seeing someone doing that, when he's unaware that he is being watched.ASHAMED?
No, not really. Sometimes I think I should be a bit more.WHAT DID YOU BUY FOR YOUR FIRST EUROS?
A cup of cappuccino in cafe De Kroon, Amsterdam. Payed with a five note.WHAT IS THE NICEST COMMENT A GIRL GAVE ABOUT YOU?
That I am a gentlemanIS THAT TRUE?
[laughter] I should be modest and say no. But is is said by several people so I guess there is some truth in it. I don't know. I never think about it that way.ARE YOU PICKY?
Yes. I admit.WHO WOULD YOU RATHER BE: LORD BLACKADDER OR CAPTAIN KIRK?
Wow. Tough question. I think I go for the evil and be Blackadder. Much more fun than sitting on that space ship all day.About Me
