Meet Gabe Eng-Goetz, the Durhamite who loves art and wishes he could show in superman’s fortress.

As I arrive at our meeting place, my head is on a swivel in an effort to locate a small cafe in a relatively newly remodeled building. Before I can ask anyone who will listen for directions a second time, I notice a quiet, but confident energy emerging from the guy about 15 feet in front of me. He stands, confirming my intuitive inkling. We greet each other and he leads us outside to our little nook where the interview is scheduled to take place. Gabriel Eng-Goetz, a 23 year old Durhamite and graduate of Syracuse University, allows me in his world for a couple hours discussing everything from music to paleontology, and how it’s possible to be an anti-hipster/inactive supporter of eco-friendly efforts. This is our encounter.

So Mr. Eng-Goetz, what inspires you? When are you most inspired?
I’d say a big inspiration with me is nature. I’ve always been into fishing, as a matter of fact I’m going fishing with my dad after this. Anything natural, relationships, sex, the sensation of floating, falling really slowly, a kind of weightlessness i guess.

Do you have anywhere you’d like to go next?

Definitely South America.

When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?
Probably when I was like 12 or 13.

What happened?
I wanted to be a paleontologist. My family and some of their friends went on a real dinosaur dig in Montana.

I went down there and it was just a bunch of people in trailers in the middle of the desert. I mean I’m still really interested in it, I just realized the life that they were living wasn’t for me. I was pretty decent at art so I just decided to try it out.

And here you are.

How would you describe your art? What genre is it?
I wish I had some great term for it, it doesn’t really fit any direct description. I try so many styles. I guess I haven’t found my true style yet.

Hey it’s all about the journey anyway right?

What advice would you give to aspiring artists out there?
Uh wow. First of all I shouldn’t be the one giving advice because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. But if I did meet a kid trying to get into the art game, I would tell them do what you want to do. Try and do something different. Something that’s never been done before. There will be a lot of haters.

So you’ve endured your fair share of haters in your short experience?
Yeah. It’s important to be confident about what you’re doing. But it’s important to take constructive criticism as long as it’s constructive though.

What do you think makes your art different? How does it stand out?
I’d say the subject matter. I am basically looking at the relationship between people and animals. The relationship between humans and animals is in a bad place I feel.  There’s a lot of f*cked up stuff going on with the environment and it’s a lot more than just taking care of your dog.

Yeah very true. If you could showcase your art anywhere, where would it be?
Wow. That’s a good question. I would say superman’s fortress of solitude.

I think superman would let me do it there.

Why fashion? I heard you wanted to get involved with fashion eventually.
I just feel like it’s another medium for me to express myself. It can be like performance art.

Performance art. That’s a cool way to put it.

So what are you listening to, what’s on your iPod?
A 90’s hip hop and r&b mix.  This Is How We Do It, Return of The Mac, No Diggity

Who are your favorite artists?
James Jean and Francisco De Goya.

I hear you’ve designed an album cover?
They’re a jazz hip hop fusion. The album is entitled Silence Fiction. Cooley High actually opened up for them at their album release party.

Congratulations on that.

Why Pork fried art? I know your website is www.porkfriedart.com. I was wondering how you came up with that name since it is the title of your blog and your website?
My name is just too damn confusing so I just thought like NC pork, second largest pork producer in the U.S, at least it was a couple years ago. Fried you know like pork fried rice, it goes with the Asian side of me, and art because I’m an artist.

Oh that’s creative.

What’s your middle name?
Oh god, it’s Jih-gwong.

Oh wow. Can you speak Cantonese?
I wish. I only know like three words and they’re all dirty.

Interview by Lauren Ettson