I think my parents had a big impact on my artistic persona, as they were quite artistic themselves. My dad was a hippie, ran away from his family home in Amsterdam when he was 17 to join the Living Theatre, turned 18 in New York, travelled cross country to perform theatre shows on acid, partied in The Factory... He pretty much did everything and anything you can only imagine in your wildest dreams in these years. When I was born he was old and living a more ‘quiet’ life, but he used to tell me: “Even though I’m just sitting here in my flat and I don’t really have much, I have so many memories to think about every day, that I feel like I have a lot.”
I think that has always stuck with me, especially when he passed away 2 years ago. My mom always let me express and dress the way I wanted, even though I would get shit for it, rocking up to middle school with two different boots on. She gave me space to become who I became and has always been my biggest inspiration and support.