(because ten questions aren’t enough — and who has time to read twelve?)

Mono AKA: SiMONOke, AKA: Cbleek is a mysterious Dutch artist, creator of the comic Crackhead Angel (about drug addiction in a group of supermodels), a techno-mix musician, and single working mom.

Born in 1974, Mono won a painting contest in 1986 (at the age of 12) sponsored by the Museum of Resistance (the theme of the contest was “Freedom”). In 1992, Mono attended the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam after high school graduation and was admitted to Art School.

“My first year (of) Art school was in 1992 and was chaotic but life changing,” she said. “Hanging out in the Storm gallery, a squat where I first came in contact with the traveller/tekno party scene. I switched from Rotterdam to the prestigious Art institute in Dusseldorf, and joined my mentor (and boyfriend) Ulrich Lamsfuss, there as an infiltrant (an unregistered student) in weekends and holidays.”

Confessing almost right away that she was not an “official” student, Mono, much to her surprise, was accepted as a temporary student.

“I could work there whenever I wanted,” she said. ” The relationship ended but those busy months of peddling between Rotterdam and Dusseldorf were fruitful for not only could I develop my own style and vision in my own time , it also lead to changes in the way Rotterdam academy approaches their students today.”

Mono is also working on a children’s book: “Libbie, stories about a serious old child” (written in Dutch), and various other projects. Her work can be viewed at her official site and on her MySpace profile.

T.E. Pouncey: When did you first become interested in being an illustrator?

Mono: I’ve drawn for as long as I can remember, using this skill to control the uncontrollable things in my life. Hopes, desires, and fears translated into drawings, safely and sometimes (the sensual ones, inspired by Henry Millers’ Sexus, Nexus, Plexus on my parents’ bookshelf) secretly put on paper. Transforming thoughts into lines was second nature. My favorite material is East Indian ink and goose feather pen.

TEP: I enjoyed your work on Crackhead Angel. The story reminds me of some of the old, classic “underground” comics. Are there any comic books you collect?

M: Although I own a modest collection of comic books by Simon Bisley and Gilbert Shelton, I would not consider myself a collector. I could always be found in the supermarkets comic book department reading my favorite Marvel comic books; the tragic hero Hulk and Mad magazine. I started helping out at the age of 8 in the local art supply/bookstore, feeding my hunger for comics and books. I was never satisfied. The help was rewarded with books, comics, and drawing materials.

TEP: What prompted you to create Crackhead Angel?

M: I was asked sometimes to draw comics by text writers, but it always got stuck somewhere down the project line, for it is mostly unpaid work, and done to the side, for only when it becomes ready is it interesting to publishers. Much unfinished work lead to me going solo with my comic Crackhead Angel whilst being pregnant. Thinking up a story line which would involve different lines of characters and their development (stereotypes with a twist) and using a combination of sketches and photoshop. A technique the characters (also) use phonetic English, for some forgotten reason I thought that was funny.

TEP: Every art exhibition opening I’ve attended in America in the past five years has featured plenty of cheap white wine. What is the beverage of choice at an art exhibition opening in Holland?

M: When I had my first exhibition the beverage was lemonade with a straw, and up till this day anything that comes with a straw is a favorite at Dutch exhibitions.”

TEP: How did you first become interested in tekno music?

M: It took up until my graduation in 1997 before attending these illegal Tekno parties on a more regular basis. Wanting to contribute and be a part of this unique tribe of free minded people I offered my service to draw large banners and make flyers for party’s for the Rotterdam crew Cyb-X-010. I consider those my first professional transactions, not sales; I never wanted to get paid in cash, the reward was the honour of contributing, (sometimes some records). To me up to this day, the best reward I can get is happiness from giving my work to others for free, because art (love) is for-giving. I earned enough money with small regular office and freelance jobs to get by, I never craved for lots of green frog skin (money). I started to buy records at (age) 23, spinning records which had to be manually pitched up. Hard work, but I learned a lot in these years from many different DJs and musicians; special credits going to Ragnard (krew010) for the inspiration, Sasz for the base technique, and Samos for making me work hard and fast.

TEP: Where can we go to hear samples of your music?

M: You can find most of my music on my MySpace site. I recently finished a new track called “so sad but true.”

TEP: What can you tell us about the current European rave scene?

M: The founding father of the Tekno music scene in Europe, in my opinion, is the Spiral Tribe, a group of travelers from the UK organizing free (and illegal) warehouse party’s throughout Europe. They have inspired great DJ’s and local disciples to do the same — setting up their own sound systems and traveling around Europe too. And up to this day, Tekno is still going strong even though nowadays we are having to deal with a lot of more adversary (opposition) from authorities, who are getting no money from free party’s for (their) non commercial nature, which is probably their main reason to stop us.

Tekno music is a melting pot from acid/newbeat/hip hop/hardcore wave from the late eighties/early nineties (such as unit Moebius in Holland) and became a raw dark mixture which is hard to describe for what you feel listening to it; and it comes in many form and shapes. Free Tekno party’s involve a lot of smoke, strobe, and bass.

TEP: You have said that you’re addicted to reading. What are you currently reading?

M: Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the book I am currently reading. I also love reading fantasy books, The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lundgren, and Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt and ALL of Roald Dahl’s books were a delight. I am also familiar with the works of Simon Bisley, Pat Mills, Moebous, Bourgeon, Yslaire, Gilbert Shelton, Robert Crumb, and so many others. I also read the books of Charles Bukowski and J.R.R. Tolkien. Needless to say, they had a big impact on me.

TEP: Have you found a publisher for your children’s book?

M: I have not yet made any attempt to find a publisher. I want to illustrate the book myself, maybe even publish it myself.

TEP: Do you have any new projects that will be completed by the end of the year?

M: The children’s book I have finished writing involves 10 stories about a girl called Libbie, stories about a serious old child, and her sometimes risky adventures. I can make every single story into one picture book that stands alone with. Or just written text with a small black and white drawing; I’d prefer the first option. And I still very busy sketching but expect to finish it before the end of this year.

The story is not all happy stuff and involves subjects including lying, fascination with death, and loneliness. A range of moods hardly ever covered in children’s books, but having been a child in situations like that, I would have enjoyed reading those,. Because of all the sweet innocent stories about happy careless children, you feel the odd one out. It is good to know that if you are a serious child with a sober nature and a big imagination that you are not a freak.

TEP: Any plans to visit America soon?

M: I have never been to America, but if there would be a ticket waiting for me, I would have no hesitations and jump on that plane. My desire is to watch the buffalo run on The Great Plains, maybe promote my book, who knows what the future holds?”¦”¦