I WANT THINGS TO BE BEAUTIFUL Q AND A

On the last day of the exhibition I set out a bedazzled question box. Here I answer the questions I found within it.

What is the role of the artist in society?

To shape the way the world looks and feels. In a sentence. In more than a sentence, image is my mother tongue, I don’t have much of a choice but to make art. I do however choose to pursue change for the better. Part of being an artist is having a good eye and a clear vision of what you want something to be. I have a vision of the kind of world I want to live in and I pursue it determinedly.

What inspires you?

Everything I have ever seen or felt. Cities really get me going. I’m drawn to visual density.

I can’t think of a question. I smoked a gram this morning.

Maybe that’s why you couldn’t think of a question.

How does the creative process change with your mood + mind?

I’m always quite frantic. The only thing the pieces in this exhibition have in common is that they are all quite autobiographical and revolve around really strong, intense feelings. I feel a bit restless until I've turned the things I'm thinking or have experienced into art. It isn’t a comfortable experience, I’m often cramped in my studio until the early hours of the morning, but I always feel good when the art is finished. Savoring those intense feelings, no matter if they are pleasant or unpleasant, or born of something pleasant or unpleasant, is important to me.

I love how you smash ideas + emotion + visuals together - it is brilliant.

Thank you! That is quite multimedia in itself. Like if a thought could be multimedia. Ideas and emotion and visuals are all different languages. Let's jumble them around.

What is the role of text in your work?

The text lends itself to the relatability of the art. Everyone has had moments of thinking “Get me out of here!!!!” for example. I use a lot of song lyrics. I’m always listening to music that matches the feeling of the piece I'm working on, or that has lyrics relating to the feeling. You could point at any piece and I would be able to tell you exactly which songs or albums I was listening to when I made it.

Bonus: Exhibition playlist

Here's what played over the speakers at the show:

My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council

Rock The Casbah (Ranking Roger) - The Clash

Love At First Sight - Kylie Minogue

West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys