What started as a couple of old friends finding ways to keep in touch has evolved into a new Canadian art and photography magazine with a unique angle.
EETFUK is the creation of Jonathan "JD" Dy and his friend, who goes by "B"; they grew up together in Windsor, Ont., but adult life took them in different directions (literally). Dy is an artist and photographer based in Vancouver, while B is a photographer based in Toronto.
To stay connected, the pair discussed their interest in film photography; those conversations evolved into EETFUK, a magazine with a focus on analogue processes.
Film and analogue creativity
Instead of focusing on a single topic (like Vancouver or skateboards), EETFUK revolves around the human element in the creation of the magazine's content.
Both founders share interests in film photography and art that hasn't been overly manipulated through digital processes.
"He's been shooting film for 25 years; I've been shooting film for a decade, closer to 15 years," says Dy.
The first issue of EETFUK focuses on their photography, but it won't stay there. The second issue takes on Canada in a variety of ways.
"In the future, writing, painting...anything—sculpture, whatever it is, it will be acceptable," says Dy.
The topics will keep shifting, and each issue will have a different breakdown of art, photography, and words, but all of it will be based on analogue ideals.
"It's a slower process, and it's more tangible; it's more interactive," Dy says of analogue processes, in particular film.
With the rise of AI images, ChatGPT, and the longer-term trend of photoshopping, DY says there's a change in how people interact with what they see.
"The timing of [releasing EETFUK] works well, as people are a little suspicious of everything they see," he explains, adding that EETFUK will have an honesty to it, that what you see is what you're getting.
Along with the founders' photography, the first issue includes collages made by Alan Dersken, a Vancouver illustrator and designer; Dersken also designed and formatted the overall magazine.
He notes that the format and ideas in EETFUK were spurred by his two favourite (and now defunct) magazines: Clamor and Belio. It was also inspired by a lack of art magazines that the pair found interesting.
"In a way, we're looking at this hole in this culture, and we're hoping to fill it," says Dy.
What's in a name
The name EETFUK comes from the pair's days in Windsor's skateboard scene. There was a particular spot by a ditch that became known as "eetfuk."
No one was sure where the name came from (Dy suspects James Hetfield's guitar provided some inspiration), but one day Dy painted the name at the spot (with an actual paintbrush). When the magazine project needed a name, they eventually landed on EETFUK.
"Coming up with titles was one of the most difficult parts of the process," Dy notes.
For sale online
For now, EETFUK is only on sale online and only in Canada.
Given the cost of producing the magazine, Dy says it doesn't make sense to try to sell it in stores right now; it's $40 per copy, but that all shows up on the page.
"It's a lot, asking for $40, but when this shows up in the mailbox, we're aiming to over-deliver; we're aiming for it to impress," says Dy.
EETFUK is also selling T-shirts and sweatshirts; Dy says they're hoping the clothing will help inspire conversations about the magazine.
At the same time, they plan for EETFUK collaborations with artists to create limited-edition pieces of clothing together.
