Read Receipts With Benjamin Edgar
Knowing Benjamin Edgar still feels weird to me. As a teenager, I spent way too much time on The Brilliance, the blog he had with Chuck Anderson and
Virgil Abloh. It shaped a lot of my taste. I remember reading a post about edamame, ordering it on a date, and throwing the whole thing in my mouth
incorrectly. In my head I thought, “fuck that guy.”
In college I cold emailed Ben asking for an interview for my blog. He said no. Over the next ten years I kept sending emails, leaving comments, and crossing
paths online until we ended up with some kind of friendship.
A few years ago a friend asked if I wanted to contribute to his magazine. I asked Ben again. He said yes. Never give up, kids. The piece never ran, but we liked
that the whole thing happened over text. It felt more like a chat than an interview.
Here it is, in an iMessage format I hope keeps Apple’s lawyers off my back.
Yo. How was Paris?
Yo yo
Was good. Productive.
It seemed a tad overly lit lol. Are you still down for that talk for Kazeem’s magazine? If so, I’ll be in Chicago on Sunday for like 8 hours or so if you have 15 mins or so to knock out the photos?
It was quite lit
But I don’t stay out late ha
The kids had pent up energy
I’ll be here for sure yeah
(Speaking of lit. I saw you’re on the same wave I am. I don’t drink or smoke anymore. Not saying I never will, but it’s been a long time…and just not as into it.)
Lol tbh I didn’t know u drank or smoked
Thats fun
*funny
Even when you made the cig holder. I was like he smokes period?
Oh yeah
I’ve never done any drugs…but I enjoy an edible ha
And I love wine and martinis. Or do I? Has been a while.
I let Trey take up over the turn up on my behalf
I actually had this weird drug era in my life. It was super random now that I looked back it
You’re like Charlie Watts from Rolling Stones. Never did any of it, then picked up heroin for 2 years in his 40s… so bizarre
Then I started smoking a lot recently cause I found out about pre rolls – then one day I was like I’m done
Lol yeah. But more like 20s
I didn’t try weed till I was… 28 I think
Damn. Almost straight edge
I was till 23
That’s my goal by mid 30s. No drugs. No alcohol. Vegan. Own very little stuff that aren’t books
*and art
I don’t do vegan personally, but I do fast
I basically only eat dinner
Lol. Maybe buying less stuff I can finally afford art. I did get the Stool from Welch though
There you go
Damn. And you can operate with just that?
If you can spend like $2k every 2 months on art, that’s a real collection
I mean. I’m hungry.
But I feel better
Maybe I don’t know many up and coming artist. Even Ju’s prices at F&F are still like damn I gotta save or sacrifice a few luxuries
Going to try it.
Nah I’m buying like big shit ha
My Max Lamb was about 4k
And it’s only 2k?
My Judd was 4k
Which Judd do you have?
This other chair I just got, after I bought he has a solo exhibit at Art Institute in Chicago
I bought that for $1500
Stand by
Is it still there? That’s why I’m coming to Chicago. Going to see how many museums I can hit in a few hours
Yeah
Second to left
Judd & Pollock are neck and neck as my fav artist. Their work is so “simple” it makes me feel like I can be an artist too
If I could own anything would be a Cezanne fruit still life
This should be our interview
It should! You would hang it in your house?
That’s the one thing I’ve never had – a home I enjoy
So that’s the end goal
And then yes
Rick Owens bed is my if I could own anything. I remember when the pics of Travis’ came out. I was so hype like yes I finally get to see that shit in a diff context
Ah man I haven’t seen
What makes you enjoy or not a home?
Man
That’s amazing
I’ve never seen a bed I truly enjoy
Or a sofa
Well, this one”
It’s super comfortable
Sofas are weird. Growing up I was hardly ever to sit in them. Jamaicans got a thing with people using the sofas lol. Who makes that one?
Havent found a home that looks like this where I want to live in my budget
I’m not sure actually ha
You just made me notice all the furniture I love is made out of very hard materials. Maybe Paulin but that’s maybe hype speaking. Lol. Hit up Axel V
I bet Oana knows
It’s 2022 and we still can’t efficiently Google things in photos
Maybe thats for the better
Did you ever get the pink panther keychain?
Lol you gave it to me in person. Your memory might be worse than mine
Ah yes
In soho with the incense
I swapped it out for the Reese one you did – I wear the panther on my Vis bag. Still need the Ibeam Keychain
Have those just about to go into production
Different colors
Oh shit. Fire lol… what’s with you and keychains?
Affordable sculptures
“ what is a sculpture ” is my new fav question. My obsession for this month is noguchi
Thats a fantastic question
“3d expression”
You’re technically a sculpture company
Transitioning to that being the explination
Wow
Explanation
Where do you think the future of everything is heading? Fashion, chairs, culture etc
I can honestly say im not sure
That’s scary
Yeah
Europe certainly felt nice
I def miss it. Can’t wait to go back
Let me know on Sunday and how much time you need
Got you. Shouldn’t need much tbh. See you then.
Perfect