with Aurel Schmidt
How do you feel while you’re drawing?
Aurel Schmidt – I honestly try not to think as much as possible unless I'm in a really good mood. If I'm in a really good mood I put on rap music and fantasize about my future and all the hot guys I'm gonna have sex with and all the money I'm gonna make and all the amazing clothes I'm going to wear to the greatest party ever that I'm going to throw after my big solo show at the best gallery in the world.... If I'm not feeling good though, which is frequently, it's just negative cycling thoughts that I don't like to entertain so honestly try not to think as much as possible. I put on book tapes and podcasts. I love true crime. My favorites are Sword and Scale, Obscura, and Serial Killings 'Monday Murder in the News'.
What causes your anxiety?
AS – This is such a cruel question. I have so much anxiety and negative thoughts about myself and the future. I feel like a lot of people deal with similar anxieties. That’s called the human condition—isn’t it?
Do you collect anything?
AS – I collect tons of tiny things. I have the joint buds from guys who have smoked weed at my apartment. I guess you could call them trophies. One guy (for who I still hold a flame) came over drinking a tiny bottle of Patron. Instead of throwing it away, I stuck the roach he was smoking into the bottle and displayed it on my shelf. I have people’s prescription medication, a spray cap from one of my graffiti boyfriends, fortune cookies, drink tickets, and matches from every restaurant and hotel I deem worthy. I have the tiny baggies of almost every coke I’ve ever gotten my hands on. I guess I’m a micro-hoarder. I also have an extensive collection of human hair. I’ve never clipped without people knowing though, that would be kind of weird.
Do you have any rituals?
Aurel Schmidt – I honestly try not to think as much as possible unless I'm in a really good mood. If I'm in a really good mood I put on rap music and fantasize about my future and all the hot guys I'm gonna have sex with and all the money I'm gonna make and all the amazing clothes I'm going to wear to the greatest party ever that I'm going to throw after my big solo show at the best gallery in the world.... If I'm not feeling good though, which is frequently, it's just negative cycling thoughts that I don't like to entertain so honestly try not to think as much as possible. I put on book tapes and podcasts. I love true crime. My favorites are Sword and Scale, Obscura, and Serial Killings 'Monday Murder in the News'.
What causes your anxiety?
AS – This is such a cruel question. I have so much anxiety and negative thoughts about myself and the future. I feel like a lot of people deal with similar anxieties. That’s called the human condition—isn’t it?
Do you collect anything?
AS – I collect tons of tiny things. I have the joint buds from guys who have smoked weed at my apartment. I guess you could call them trophies. One guy (for who I still hold a flame) came over drinking a tiny bottle of Patron. Instead of throwing it away, I stuck the roach he was smoking into the bottle and displayed it on my shelf. I have people’s prescription medication, a spray cap from one of my graffiti boyfriends, fortune cookies, drink tickets, and matches from every restaurant and hotel I deem worthy. I have the tiny baggies of almost every coke I’ve ever gotten my hands on. I guess I’m a micro-hoarder. I also have an extensive collection of human hair. I’ve never clipped without people knowing though, that would be kind of weird.
Do you have any rituals?
AS – I have a small figurine of myself burning in purgatory that an ex-boyfriend bought for me. He painted glasses onto it so it looks just like me. Sometimes I put little objects in her arms. I’ll have her hold onto a hundred-dollar bill when I want money. I recently slipped a guy’s name into the bill to try to get him to love me, but it didn’t work.
Interview Daria Miricola
Artwork Courtesy of Aurel Schmidt
Excerpt from Issue No. 5 (2024). Read the full interview by ordering your copy here.