LET THERE BE YT

interview  Jorge Perezchica

Introduce yourself.

I’m 25, I live in El Centro, California. I started YT back when I was in high school. The YT came out of an abbreviation of our custom license plates. “Yet bored,” which was the name of a band I made back in the day, the letter “e” wouldn’t fit, so it read “YTBORED.”

I liked how it sounded so I started labeling YT on all my art and drawings. Photography came a bit later, shooting in my hometown, as well as my travels. I really like street photography, photographing people, inanimate objects, anything really.  I like to describe my photography as rustic, so you’re gonna see a variety of things from cracks on the floor, to these stylish desert shoots.

What do you enjoy the most about being a photographer?

Being able to make something out of nothing, adding style to a place that probably no one cared for, finding hidden potential in things, people, and places, being able to capture it on a photo. That is the best feeling.

Where does your inspiration come from, do you have any major influences?

I do a lot of exploring, especially the towns around the desert area, I also don’t live that far away from the border so it helps to see all this culture and different types of people. I think I get inspired  from doing that, it’s like a need for me now. I go out and find an interesting place and that’s enough for me to keep going.

Do you have a favorite subject or theme you work with?

I recently started shooting  for a vintage clothing brand. I did some 60’s shoots, 70’s; I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed those as much as shooting in the desert.

Is there a link between fashion, film, and music in your art? 

I believe it’s all connected. I love adding a style to my photos, maybe they’re nothing like the fashion shoots you see in magazines, but I like adding a taste of it. Music as well carries a lot of style, there’s always interesting looking people and it’s something that appeals to me. I like having that in my pictures.

How do you see the current art scene locally/ internationally?

Over the years I’ve seen a lot of growth locally.  There’s a  lot more people involved with art. We have a yearly art event called Viva el Valle en la Calle where artists from Mexicali as well as locals and myself join in. You see all types of mediums and live art. It’s really great. Internationally, what can I say, there’s just so many talented people out there.

What are your major goals as an artist and where do you see yourself ten years from now?

Always improving myself and my work, spreading YT in different areas, and perhaps get back at oil painting. Making YT films would be one of my major goals and painting a YT mural in my hometown. In ten years, hopefully making a living in doing what I love.

You have an online shop, do you also see yourself as an entrepreneur as well as an artist?

Yes I do, there’s always been so much work involved over the years. Designing t-shirts, promoting at events such as art walks, farmer’s markets, having art shows of my own. My shop is www.lettherebeyt.bigcartel.com. What I have now are the books Volume 1 and Volume 2 of YT Photography. I also have assemblages, wood pieces, photographs, and canvases.

What is the biggest challenge about being an artist and what is most fulfilling to you?

One of the biggest challenges that I’ve faced as an artist is that some of my artwork was not welcomed by certain family members. They misinterpreted it as dark and disturbing. I never saw my work that way. For a while I found myself holding back and not producing the type of work I wanted to do.  What’s more fulfilling to me is that I’ve always found a way to express myself freely.

Any current projects you are working on?

YT Photography Volume 3. It’s coming.

INSTAGRAM: @YTDOTTIE
WEB: YTPHOTOGRAPHY.TUMBLR.COM