Never Ending Bong Hit

The highs and lows of smoking weed too young  

Words and Art by Miles Greville  

I was 13 when I first smoked weed. I remember very clearly me and three friends decided to smoke on the playground of my primary school. I remember the black sued jewelry bag my friend was storing the weed in. The Arizona iced tea bong. I remember getting too stoned to jump the school fence, so my friend had to chuck me over.  

I had always worn starting at a young age like a badge of honour, especially when people around me said they were much older when they first smoked.  

But last year, I looked into these early days of smoking through my art. I looked at who and where I was in my life, how my environment came into play, and how doing it further impacted my life.  

After the first time, smoking weed became one of the biggest things in my life and one of the main activities I did with my friends. I specifically remember how we would tell our parents we were going to Friday Teen Night at our hometown pools every week. But really, we’d use our entry money to buy a tinnie (weed wrapped in tinfoil) and fish and chips and loiter around town.  

The more I self-reflected, I became more aware of how my growing was stunted.  

I couldn't say for sure, but I think without smoking I would have likely exceeded and graduated high school instead of losing interest and dropping out. Maybe I never would have gotten addicted to amphetamines.  

In the work, Do Not Smoke Weed, I depict a homemade bong complete with the classic hosing and socket set up. I used a very representational oil still life method both to give a whole and clear view of the depicted item but also to create juxtaposition between the cheap homemade bong and the often finely crafted items depicted in still life painting.  

Not only is this bong nearly and exact recreation of the first one I ever smoked from, but I feel also would be very similar to most kiwis first bong experience. Alongside this, I crossed out the painting with fluro pink spray paint. This was to bring an element of disapproval -- my parent's opinion on my weed smoking. 

For the work, Neverending Bong Hit, I spoke to a certain onlineness, exploring online weed culture in the mid 2010s. I employed a softxsharp airbrush painting method to create a hazy memory-like representation, as well as using familiar aesthetic methods in representing an older era smartphone, YouTube web layout and era/vibe specific video thumbnails.  

I had good moments to look back on, like religiously watching Customgrow420 with my best friend. So, my main focus for this piece was on the video Neverending Bong Hit !!!! by Customgrow420 that I spent a lot of time watching and idolising during those years. It's a somewhat niche character but one that people who recognise would trip over seeing again.  

I’ve come to terms with the reality of smoking weed at this young age, it was fun while it lasted. But I guess my parents were right -- now I live with the consequences. I still have a complicated relationship with substances though I've learnt a lot, and I try my best to be responsible and safe when I partake.  

Despite my choices landing me in some bad place, from which I escaped, I’d still smoke that first cone on the playground of my primary school through that Arizona bong.