YVES LEVY: REIMAGINING 2D INTO A 3D WORLD

Yves Levy is a Montreal-based designer, filmmaker, visual artist, and rapper. He started his brand Paranthesiss in 2020 and specializes in sustainable and biodegradable 3D-printed satchel bags available on the BARCODE digital marketplace. Paranthesiss was a part of BARCODE's first runway show at M.A.D. Festival 2023 and had their designs showcased at Montreal Fashion Week 2023. We discuss his journey as an multidisciplinary artist, the fashion industry and what he thinks should change within it.

BY ROCHELLE ALLEN

Credits Creative Director: Rochelle Allen Photography: Rochelle Allen

Photo Assistant + Editor: Marlena Goldberg Stylist: Rochelle Allen Hair: Yves Levy Makeup: Rochelle Allen Set Design: Rochelle Allen

Yves is wearing a Paranthesiss 3D-printed satchel bag with a white graphic tee that features their own drawings on the front, vintage Levi's jeans, Ed Hardy belt and an oversized Current Mood coat.

It’s a gloomy summer afternoon, and we're in a vast old historic building in the Quartier des Spectacles of Montreal. The building has nice parts that the public can access but also hidden rundown, sketchy details that look like it has been abandoned for years. We were roaming trying to find the perfect location to have our interview and ended up in the basement where they had the most random stuff, like a Christmas tree on the ground, a bunch of saws right next to us and an oversized tiger mascot head just staring right at us.

There was a bunch of wood dust in the air, sparking up my allergies, but it was the only quiet place to converse. A random half-naked guy came in the middle of our conversation, which made a very awkward moment we will never forget. At this point, we were a bit on edge and didn't know what would happen next, but we took a couple of puffs off his vape and just with it!

Rochelle: I've known Yves for a couple of years now. We've worked together on different projects, and we have a lot of mutual friends. We're all like creatives in Montreal, and this can be a cool chance to talk about your art and everything in between. 

Yves: Yeah, we have known each other for how long? Like what, a couple of years now? I feel like more than two. I feel like four or five years. The first time we met was at a pop-up. 

R: It was at a pop-up/art event at Ausgang Plaza. I remember Marlena, Melo and I went to your booth.

Y: Yeah, Melo and I followed each other on Instagram. I used to post drawings, and she was drawing so I was really into my drawing phase back in the day. 

R: You're in your drawing phase, but you're also designing with your old friend before too.  

Y: That was, like, a bit prior, but yeah. No, actually, no, it happened at the same time. Yeah, it was around the same time. I was just starting in fashion! 

R: Tell me about how it was growing up and your childhood. 

Y: It's a long story, but I'll make it short. I was born in Russia, came here at the age of two or three, and didn't initially live in Montreal. I lived in a tiny town named Joliette, about an hour up north. Eventually, my mom wanted to get a better job, so she came here, and we moved to Lasalle, and this is like, I had the best years of my childhood.  

Y: This is where I discovered my interests in art and everything. I found it because we didn't have cable before, so when I came to Montreal, I had cable for the first time, so I could watch cartoons, which changed everything.

Y: From that moment on, I was just like, drawing. I just couldn't stop drawing. I was drawing comic books, I was drawing in my notes, I was drawing in my exams, and I was failing every single exam. 

R: But you're still drawing on like the table. 

Y: Yeah, but there was still a cool drawing at the end of the exam. The teacher was like, yo, props for the pictures, and I'm like, thanks, but you're probably going to fail. My mom was mad as fuck, so I was getting the whooping for drawing, but yeah, it was worth it at the end, honestly.  

R: How was growing up and going to school?

Y: I'm going to be completely honest. I had a good time at school, but not for the academics. I was the class clown, and I did not care about my education at all. I'm like the black sheep of my family, and everybody's like a doctor or an engineer or something.  

R: I'm a black sheep of my family, too.

Y: Okay, so you know what it feels like! I’m the only one with straight-up Ds for every subject. 

R: I feel like most artists were never really good at school because we're more creative people and don’t fit into a generic box, so the school structure is not always easy for creative people, I would say! 

Y: It's like, I don't know, I just couldn't get my mind to, like, you know, to focus, so drawing to me whenever I was bored, my mind would, and my hand would just start doodling by itself. I would just end up with a bunch of shit, like if I would show you my notebooks right now, you'd be like, what the hell, this guy didn't do shit at school. 

R: Do you still have some old ones from back then?  

Y: Yeah, I do. I kept everything! I'll show you one day! I drew a whole comic book in French class. I drew two! Then I let my friend hop on it, and he fucking destroyed the fucking comic. His art style was trash, so I thought damn, you ruined the comic.  

R: Oh, that's so funny! Sometimes, collaborating isn’t always the way to go.

Y: I agree. I stopped doing comics, but I'll probably leak it one day.  

R: That would be cool. You never know; those old comics could always be helpful in the future for a project that you still need to think about. 

Y: Yeah, those ideas and character designs I made in high school could 100% come back for a future project.

R: Would you say drawing was the first artistic medium you dabbled in?  

Y: Yeah, definitely as a child, it's the most natural one. I feel like everybody starts with drawing; it's like an entry into creativity!

R: It depends! My first intro to anything artistic was music, my first entry to creativity. I remember music always being around, like in the car or the house. I grew up in church singing in a choir like I was singing on stage for an audience by age 3 or 4, so music was always a big part of my life from a very young age.

Y: I guess it's different for everybody. I get what you're saying. I don't want to say what is easier to get into because everyone's story is different. Still, I just feel, at least from my earliest memories at school, they would just give you a bunch of markers and pencils, and you’ll just down and colour stuff, and that’s kind of how I got into it really, but then it kind of like expanded through elementary school and then high school. It was like my escape from the boredom of school, and to many people, they start with drawing like that.

R: What would you say is your biggest inspiration?

Y: It depends on what honesty. I have no clue! That’s a question I’m trying to figure out myself. I don’t know where my inspiration comes from. I think it just comes, but subconsciously, I would probably say cartoons and anime. I like bright, colourful things. I've never been a realism type of person. Reality sucks, so it’s better if you make your own world.

R: How would you describe your art within the different mediums you do?

Y: I would say something that screams and eccentric. I’m not really into dull stuff. If you watch one of my videos, everything is flashy with bright colours. It's the same for my drawings and even my designs, but when it comes to fashion, I’m trying to evolve and be more mature about it. The items I’m designing for BARCODE are a dress and a suit. It’s completely different for me but cool.

R: Yes! Yves brand Paranthesis will be a part of our first collection of designers featured on the BARCODE digital marketplace. You’ll be able to shop his items on our website directly! 

R: What would you say about your creative process? It might differ depending on your medium, so explain what you do for designing and go from there! 

Y: I’ll break down every single one! What I do for designing is make a silhouette like a piece for the collection. I draw it in one go, and It takes me five seconds to create a design. It doesn't take me much time. It takes me like zero time! 

Y: What I do for videos is like I hear a song, and I want to make a video with that song, so I just get the footage, but I don't touch it. Then I make the montage, and I'm like, oh man, I'm tired fuck this shit, and then I leave and maybe two days later. I'll return to it and look at it again and whatever it's missing. 

Y: What I do drawing like I just draw the outlines, and I’ll look back at it again, and I’ll draw another character or something. After that, once I'm about finished, I start colouring, and then the aspect kind of takes as it happens in one go.

Y: Graphic design is the same thing. I'm just going to put one thing there and then leave, and maybe a week later, I'm going to look at it again and be like, oh shit. I did that last week. What if I add this instead and remove it, and it becomes something?

R: Yeah, you build on it over time and let it rest for a bit. 

Y: Yeah, I build on it. It's like like a house of cards. 

R: Do you have a dream of collaboration?

Y: I don't want to sound like a piece of shit by saying that, but I don't see myself collaborating with anybody for now. I want to have my stuff sold in certain stores, but as a collaboration with a brand, I couldn't tell you. I mean, if it were a luxury brand deal, I would probably take it.

Y: Like it's always been a dream of mine to be the creative director of Yves Saint Laurent and make it cool again. Also, my name is already in there! I feel like it was so hip at the time, and I've seen them archive pictures from the 70s, and I was like, damn, this is so sick, and I wish I could bring it back. I feel like right now would be the perfect time! 

R: Yeah, I agree. I feel like YSL, it's a little bland these days, but that’s just for my taste… 

Y: Right now, it's bland as fuck. I think Hedi Slimane redefined the silhouettes of how a man should look wearing a suit because everything was baggy before him, and now it's tailored and more fitted, which made me want to wear suits now. I wear blazers or dress pants daily, and it's all thanks to him. 

Y: I mean, in music, I don't even know, like I'm always down to collaborate. I always collaborate with Paris. He’s my best friend and, honestly one of the best producers in the city.  He's just an uninspired right now. We're all going through creative block!

R: Many people go through creative blocks. You're not the only one. Many people I’ve spoken to have been saying the same thing recently actually. Artists go through their waves of creativity, It’s not always a consistent thing.

Y: Exactly, I feel like I lost my juices like I lost my powers! I feel like Peter Parker in Spider-Man, and I can't be Spider-Man anymore, so I just have to be a regular guy. It kind of sucks to be an average guy, I think it's still there, but I just don't get inspired or bring it out as much. I know I'll eventually get my juices back, but I'm stuck right now. 

R: In general, the things that go on in your life affect your creativity in a good way or sometimes harmful. I think many artists feel like if they're not making art or putting out work to the public, they're not artists anymore. Like you're always going to be an artist whether you creating something or not. 

Y: Thank you, that's a good message to put out there!

R: Is there a message you feel you try to say through your art?? 

Y: Honestly, I think I put out whatever, but at the same time, it's ultimately just kind of trying to show that like you can do whatever the fuck you want. There's no idea that's too weird or too crazy. All my shit is weird, I mean, if I showed anybody that like doesn't understand what their looking at, they would probably think I'm insane, or it's like, how did you even think of making that! 

R: I believe that the true meaning of art is to make people think or feel something.

Y: Yeah, that's one of the messages I would like to put out, but it's implied by what I do. I like weird things. I do weird things. See weird things and wear weird things. Sometimes you just have to not give a fuck and embrace it.

Y: My family looks at me like I am a clown, but I don't mind anymore. I know there's someone else on the planet of billions of people that’s going to like my art. There's no way that not one person will fuck with what you're doing.

R: But that's the thing, even if it isn't that one person in the world who likes what you're doing, you are still valid as an artist, and that's all that matters! Other people's opinions are irrelevant regarding an artist's self-expression.

Y: I remember this guy from Africa DM to me once, and he found me through hashtags. He's like, yo, this is fucking sick. I'm like, what the fuck! He was like I'm from Nigeria. I'm like, damn, that’s crazy, you never know who's seeing your work!

R: That's the thing like putting out your work is the most important thing because you never know who's seeing your stuff. Many people pay attention to the likes and the shares, but it doesn't matter because if the right person sees it and gives you that opportunity, it can change your life.

Y: Absolutely!

R: What would you be doing if you weren't an artist right now?

Y: I think I'd probably be into science. I fuck with science a lot. I'd probably be like an astronomer or a researcher in any field of science! It’s fascinating to me, like physics and astronomy. I mean, making the satchels was like a science project!

R: Oh, in which way would you say?  

Y: Well, finding the right materials and the best way to stand in and process it. We tried different ways to clear-coat the satchel, like using alcohol and other plastic to make it work. We were doing a bunch of research and testing, which is science.  

R: Yves makes these 3D-printed satchel bags and they're fucking amazing! Not many people are playing around with that part of the design and all the possibilities with 3D printing. It's still very niche like it's not in the mainstream yet. What you're doing, especially in Montreal, is unique 100%. It's also really cool because it's sustainable!

Y: Yes, it's biodegradable, which is cool. 

R: One of our ethics at BARCODE is encouraging local consumption by supporting local artists and sustainability! I love working with brands with the same values as us when designing with the environment in mind and how we can play our part in the industry.

R: Do you have a famous artist that inspires you?? 

Y: My favourite visual artist would be Yoshitaka Amano, the main illustrator for the Final Fantasy covers. It was one of my favourite video games when I was a kid. Well, it still is today, and the thing that drew me in at first when I was younger was the cover art. The title was so simple yet like and was all over the place! I highly suggest people go check him out. He's an extremely talented visual artist and does great artwork. He has books to have some of his books. It's it's amazing. 

Y: It's cliche for music, but my favourite musician of all time would have to be Michael Jackson. I've been listening to him since he was a kid, and like, his whole persona is impressive, and he has a magnetic presence. He can sing, dance and dress. I have a fucking poster of the "Bad" cover art in my room, and the outfit is insane!

R: He is the king of pop for a reason! He has the best sense of fashion, and it hasn't yet been replicated at that high level since, honestly.

R: What would you change in creative industry? 

Y: Making clothes, for example. I know Kanye said this years ago, but it remains a fact. The thing that sucks is that we're limited in the things that people can make. Like why can't I make shoes? Why can I design a pair of shoes?  Why can’t I design glasses? You have to go through all these middlemen to make things happen. It might be worth it, but it's not accessible to anybody.

R: I guess it depends in what capacity, but I feel like we have more accessibility than any other generation to be able to create whatever we want and to be able to learn the knowledge and have the resources at our fingertips because of the internet.

R: I don't want to say it's easier because there is still a lot of knowledge and technique that goes into it, but I feel like making music for example, definitely can be quickly learned on your own and even easier to put out into the world with little to no gatekeepers because of the internet compared to even like 20 years ago.

Y: Yeah, that is for sure. In the fashion industry, there are still a lot of hoopla middlemen that you have to go through, at least if you want to have big productions. 

R: To make the big productions, I agree a lot goes into things. But the average artist can be in their room and make a Grammy award-winning album like Billie Eilish did or start their photography career taking photos on their phone, so it depends on what aspect you work in.

Y: I had to go through many people just to make one sample. And like with the satchels, the idea is nothing without certain things. It couldn’t have been possible, especially without my business partner. There's a lot of stuff that goes into it that people don't know to create something into the material. It’s tough to realize your ideas. I would love for in the future for things to be more accessible for people to make material things in the fashion industry. 

R: Yes, I agree. The fashion industry is still giving gatekeeping vibes more than any other creative industry. The fashion industry still has a lot of ancient ways of doing things; it's very traditional and hasn't evolved compared to many other creative fields. 

R: How do you feel like the internet impacted the creative industry?  

Y: I think it did a positive thing, but it’s easier for people to steal other artists' work and ideas. I feel it's also easier now to get inspired and get your work out there! It can reach somebody in Japan when I work from across the world! When I dropped a song about two years ago with Paris, some kids in Russia were hitting me up. I was like, what the fuck, how did you find me? Like damn, that's fucking crazy. You're in Russia, that's like 10,000 miles away from here. 

R: It's unbelievable how the internet can bring people together! I'm thankful we live in the age of the Internet. There are good and bad for everything; living life in moderation is the key, but overall, it has a positive impact, especially for artists and creatives.

R: What are you working on and what's next for you? 

Y: Other than working with BARCODE, I feel pretty lost. I would love to, you know, release my actual first clothing collection because it's only been satchels, but we’re working on expanding that and moving into leather materials for everyday wear. I would love to make glasses, but I’m still in the research phase. It's like another whole process that is complicated production-wise. So I would just like to focus on the clothes for now. 

Y: For music have a whole album that I made like a year ago, but I've never dropped it, I don't know. That's the thing with music. It's just like a lot of things happen and at the end of the day, you might not be satisfied. I was on a plane the other day and listening to the whole mixtape again, and there's like this has a lot of potential, just like it's not fleshed out as I would want it to be. Who knows, maybe I’ll say fuck it a drop the mixtape! 

R: Where can people find you on socials?

Y: You can find me on instagram @yveslevyy and my brand Paranthesiss instagram is @paranthesiss.

R: Thank you for talking with me, I'm excited about the future of your brand and the collaboration with BARCODE. You'll be able to buy Paranthesiss satchels on our website at www.barcodemagazine.store.

Y: No problem! Thank you for believing in me and my work.