In our new regular series The Last Time, we ask well-known and interesting people about the specifics of their daily lives.
It's sort of like a one-sided round of speed dating: In each column our interviewees will divulge everything from the last delicious thing they put in their bellies, to the last time they cried, got drunk, and laughed until their bellies hurt. Herewith our first brave guest.
One of Aotearoa’s most exciting young artists, Jess Johnson (or Flesh Dozer, as she is professionally known), describes her practice as “reflect[ing] ideologies of technology and flesh, both ancient and futuristic.”
Her multi-discipline works always starts by hand, with a drawing, before evolving into whichever medium she is working with at the time. We are currently especially taken with her video animation collab with fellow artist Simon Ward.
Jess’ website sells covetable tattoo transfers, skateboard decks, tote bags and more. She’s dabbled in fashion collaborations, most notably with Australian designer Lisa Gorman, and is represented by galleries in Tāmaki Makaurau, Sydney, Tokyo and New York. In short she’s not going places; she’s already there. At present ‘there’ is Roswell, New Mexico (yes, the town famously rife with rumours of extraterrestrial activity) where Jess is undertaking an artist-in-residency.
Jess gives us an honest, fly-on-the-wall account of life in Roswell via reminiscing on the last time she laughed, cried and got drunk, as well as providing key recommendations on the last book she finished, and the song she last listened to on Spotify.
When was the last time you cried?
Shit. Last night. That’s not typical though.
When was the last time you danced, and what were you dancing to?
Port Noise Festival in Lyttelton (March 2023). I was dancing to Horatio Kane DJing in the early hours.
What was the last thing you bought and loved?
Some drawings of Triceratops by David Spooner.
When was the last time you got really angry and what was it about?
Umm. Last week when Bobby came back from Walmart with a 40 pack of Friskies and he’d bought the prime fillets instead of thâtéhe cats don’t like the prime fillets.
What’s the last piece of clothing you bought?
A T-shirt from Frog Home Video. It’s a bootleg of The Fly (David Cronenberg’s movie from 1986).
What’s the last beauty product you finished?
When’s the last time you got drunk?
Last night. Was in Ruidoso, New Mexico at The Inn of The Mountain Gods Casino. I drank tequila shots and gin & tonics.
What was the last really delicious thing you ate?
A sausage, egg and jalapeno kolache from Roswell Breakfast and Donuts.
The last song you listened to on Spotify?
Racket Neck by Paddy Steer.
The last book you finished?
The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Fabre. Was a re-read.
The last TV show you watched?
Couples Therapy.
The last DM/text you sent? Who was it to?
Amber. A girl I just met in Roswell who I got drunk with last night. She sent me some photo options for her new Tinder profile.
What’s the last fight you had?
Today.
The last time you laughed so much your tummy hurt?
April. With my friends Serena Bentley, Justin Fuller and Mitch Marks in Tauranga. I miss them.
What’s the last drug you took?
Ritalin.
When’s the last time you were home?
April 17. Home is New Zealand.
