Fresh off his new album “Shapeshifter“, we talk to Filipino artist Eyedress about those little questions that keep us all up at night.
Is there moral goodness, what is goodness to you?
Goodness is not taking advantage of someone. goodness is not forcing something upon others but showing them that there is a better path. Goodness is selfless at most. Moral goodness must be taught before it is forgotten.
What is the importance of space exploration in our society?
Definitely important in case Gaia decides to be like fuck this shit and rips hah jk we decide the fate of the earth and I think space exploration just shows how much faith we have left. I’m sure there are tons of people working on preserving our planet too but yeah I wouldn’t mind hopping on the mothership. I’m ’bout that Star Wars life if ever.
Do you worry about the heat death of the universe?
It’s pretty hot out in Manila. It’s like summer all year so worrying about it is out of the question since it’s my reality. I probably worry about the heat in the dumbest ways like oh I can’t rock a jacket today cause it’s hot as fuck lol.
What defines consciousness? Do you think other animals can be considered conscious creatures?
Being aware of your surroundings and being in touch with self. I don’t know about these other animals. Too busy deciding which one I’m gonna eat next (666).
How do you create meaningful experience in your life?
I put myself out there and just feel reality burning through these creative manifestations whether they love it or hate it the energy i get back is intense. Often times i question if it’s even meaningful especially when I’m fucking around making some fun shit but it helped me go through this phase of being really serious and deep about this shit so I’ve learned that when you really put your all into it like no holding back on all the embarrassing painful shit, that’s what makes things meaningful when you’re just so vulnerable that it makes you sick inside, that you hate yourself sometimes. But yo, try to love yourself through this life as much as possible because love makes shit feel meaningful like when someone you really fuck with wants you in their life that shit feels meaningful, you feel me?
How do you manage ennui?
I just keep myself occupied with my music. Actually any form of creativity cause sometimes I’m not feeling music so I’ll go make a video or help someone else make their video or produce their song and help them flesh shit out or I’ll like draw and lay out shirt designs.
Do you think anything is absolute? If so, what?
That song “I Dip My Dick In Lean”
What is time? What is Macaroni Time?
Time doesn’t exist. Clocks exist but that don’t mean you’re late just because the clock says so only if the boss says so haha. Macaroni time sound like some shit I’d do in kindergarten like when the teacher surprises everyone with food haha idk I hope it’s not some fucked up shit.
Like Sartre, do you consider contemplation a luxury?
Definitely because some people don’t even have time to do that unless it’s in the moment but, yeah if you’re fending for yourself the only thing you can do is go straight to the next hustle so you can eat that next meal.
Many Existentialist define existence as being-in-the-world or being-with-others. What do you think is the role of community, in relation to the development of one’s self?
I think the role of the community is to make sure that everyone who’s working on developing themselves gets an equal opportunity to do so and to nurture that kind of mentality to develop ones self in order to help those around them once they finish mastering themselves idk lol.
Riff Raff is a tangible example of increased absurdity (aka entropy) in the universe, can you name other examples?
Those guys who stand on the street all still, painted silver like they’re robots and GG Allin
Are you afraid that everything will happen?
No, because shit only happens if you allow it to.
“I think, therefore I am” or “I am, therefore I think”
I am first. You are your actions and your actions are proof of your thoughts and intentions.
Sartre posits that the existence of desire is the best proof that humans are basically in a state of “lacking”, if man were “what he is(a being-in-itself)”, he would not need anything to complete him. Is there anything that can make a human complete?
Death is the completion of life.
In Albert Camus’ famous novel ‘The Stranger’ the central character, Mersault, is able to tolerate life in prison fairly well because of his general detachment. Is it fair to say that many people in our society “detach” as a way of coping with the violent unjust system that has been thrust upon us by history?
It’s fair.
How do you make earnest connection in a world of instant gratification?
As long as it happens naturally and doesn’t feel forced.
Do you think trends are accelerating faster than ever?
Definitely. I think with the internet it just speeds things up and everyone is kind of on the same timeline but that’s all an illusion (being on the “same” timeline). If we just destroyed all our phones and continued living lives outside of the internet then we would know what was really up but idk the internet kind of steals our energy if you think about it most of our energy is being used by these screens so cleverly put and it just has us by the nuts always checking for everything. It scares me it’s like were constantly being watched but whatever word of mouth is basically worth of www.mouth.com/now.
Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? (or Why did we kill god, what will we do without him?)
Idk at some point we just had to cross the line and see what was on the other side with or without God. I think it’s that thirst for knowing someone higher maybe its all the drugs people took idk.
What gives you the right?
My parents.
