q)Introduce
yourself, name,age, location.
a)Hi!
My name is Thomas Robson ( http://www.thomas-r.com ) and my professional
background is that of a BBC television graphic designer, who is now
experimenting with multi-faceted art remixing and re-interpretive image making.
I work in a rural location situated near Belfast,
Northern Ireland.
q)Can
you describe your path to being an artist? When did you really get into it?
a)It
is as a creative reaction to my increasing unease of working in broadcast
television, creating a highly edited and curated visual language which although
seeming very real to viewers, is in fact a highly selective edit of imagery. Which
deliberately sets out to blur viewers’ ability to differentiate between the
contrived world and the real one.
I
began to wonder how I could make individuals question pictures more deeply and
in doing so, develop enhanced critical skills in their reading and
interpretation of imagery.
As
my initial creative response I began thinking about taking familiar images and
imposing change on them to create an Art Remix. A creative approach which
enables me to author images, invested with the power to provoke heightened
aesthetic and critical responses.
I
am experimenting with fusing fine art & photography imagery with the visual
language of graphic design, to create new categories of art composition. In
which new layers of visual interventions are used to reconstruct and transform
the significance of images, place them in new contexts and in so doing make new
demands on the viewer.
It
is an approach which seeks to short circuit peoples’ common interactions with
representational fine art & photography. Forcing them to question images
more intently, and in so doing develop enhanced critical skills and visual
literacy.
Striping
away the traditional and highly restrictive carapace of how fine art and
photography should be read, and subverting it with a new highly accessible
visual language. Which is more accurately reflective of our highly edited,
curated, media remixed and visually saturated world.
q)Describe
your ideals and how they manifest in your work.
a)As
with any design response, my art work exists within the context of the major
influences that shaped my creative life. Having lived through 30 years of
sectarian conflict here in Northern
Ireland, I am highly sensitive to the
repressed emotions and hidden meanings which underpin many social interactions
and conversations.
This
search to discover the hidden or the repressed voice has always informed my
reaction to the highly representational portraits of western art. To my eyes
they always evoke questions of what informed their production, just how
accurately do the finished pictures conceal or reveal the sitter’s true
identity, the artists personality and indeed how such pictures strive to
totally extinguish the context of their production in the studio.
From
the democratic and more open contexts of today, it is as if the concept of
creative expression was repressed by a slavish adherence to a highly codified
academic style of painting. Visual language was defined and corralled in a
rigid hierarchical structure, by a self appointed aesthetic elite who had
appropriated the power to adjudge and frame what was good and bad art, and in
doing suppress and control artistic and creative expression. It is this
suppression of expression and selective edit of social memory that creatively
excites me.
In
this context we may be talking about the reading of fine art imagery, but
hidden meanings and repressed emotions still govern many of our interactions
whether in political, family or personal terms.
Such
pictures to me represent a highly stylised shield behind which the true meaning
of the image resides, and it is the interrogation of these hidden meanings
which resonates with me and in so doing provokes a powerful creative reaction.
Stimulating
me to explore how I can radically transform such images, by the imposition of
new layers of visual intervention. To create powerful multi-layered
compositions, which actively solicit and excite heightened levels of viewer
engagement. Subliminally investing people with the desire to question images
more critically, and extrapolate their own meaning from the pictures.
q)Is
music a part of your studio time? What do you listen to?
a)Yes
music is important in the background as I work, but I have to say that I spend
most of my time listening to the spoken word, especially drama and comedy
programmes on the BBC iPlayer. Alternatively
I default to some of the great ambient online radio stations delivered via. Songbird
& Shoutcast.
q)How
would you describe your work to someone?
a)Art
Remixing is the most accurate definition of my studio process, I create
pictures whose compositions are designed to actively solicit a visual reaction,
and encourage viewers to question images more critically, and to allow them to
discover and contemplate their own interpretations and feelings about the
changed elements, their visual interdependencies, and relationships with the
original images.
Because
in an increasingly visually saturated world of highly edited and curated
images, being continuously pushed towards us as media consumers. It is of
crucial importance that people develop enhanced media savvy, powers of visual
literacy and observation.
So
that they can more accurately interpret what they are seeing in the ocean of
imagery which daily bombards us. Images which a lot of the time media companies
and governments would like us to consume in as passive and uncritical manner as
possible.
It
is this enhanced visual literacy my pictures seek to stimulate and develop,
through the creation of new dialogues with pictures unteathered from their
original context and overlaid with new layers of imagery.
q)Influences?
a)I
try not to let other artists work influence me so that I can concentrate on
developing my own visual language. Of course like most designers/artists daily
web browsing exposes me to a multitude on imagery, which must subconsciously
have an effect.
Though
if I had to name my favorite visual/creative watering hole it would be http://www.gestalten.com/new/all. As this site dynamically displays fresh work,
artists interviews and great selection of art & design publications. It’s a
great resource for anyone who wants to keep their finger on the pulse of
emerging developments across the disciplines of visual arts and design.
q)Describe
your process for creating new work.
a)Initially
I spend considerable time and resources researching and collating imagery, in
order to give me the fuel to power the development of highly iterative visual
experiments. Which rapidly create multiple versions of compositions and assist
me in accelerating the creation of new intersections of form and colour. Continuously
driven forward by my ongoing creative dissatisfaction with what I produce
during this period of creative flux.
This
dissatisfaction has positive benefits however as it acts as a powerful catalyst
to drive my creative thinking and experimentation ever forwards, in the search
for better aesthetic outcomes. I am never really satisfied with what I produce
and every month brings improvements in the quality of work I create, which is a
pretty good indication that my art is moving in a positive direction.
q)What
advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?
a)Given
my lack of success so far in getting a gallery show I can’t really comment on
this question. All I can advise other artists to do is to persevere and spend
as much time as you can promoting yourself and your work. Get the word out,
accept and learn from constructive criticism and never ever give up!
Because
if you can’t look back at 90% plus of your work and realise it is capable of
radical improvement you are not trying hard enough.
q)What
are you really excited about right now?
a)I
am really excited about a couple of new projects I am developing, which I hope
will radically improve the quality of my imagery. Via the use of more
sophisticated forms of visual interventions and compositional techniques.
To
aid me in this creative journey I am hungry to apply traditional craft
techniques, and incorporate more physical painting and drawing into my
pictures. Whilst at the same time confronting and crossing the essentially
artificial boundaries between fine art and graphic design, which even at this
early stage in my artistic journey is creating a powerful creative flux. Using
the imposition of graphics and collage to recycle and remix current reality to
generate transitory new forms of imagery.
These
endeavors are helping me address my gnawing hunger to improve and discover new
iterations of image making, which better capture my creativity and assist me in
creating a coherent and increasingly sophisticated aesthetic language.
It’s
going to be quite a ride and an exciting creative journey! So keep checking http://www.thomas-r.com for updates and new releases of pictures.
q)What
do you love most about where you live?
a)Proximity
to a wonderful coastline with a great range of scenery, and easy access to
spectacular countryside. (I always find being outside and submerging oneself in
beautiful scenery acts as a powerful catalyst for developing creativity).
q)Best
way to spend a day off?
a)Head
to the Crom Estate in County Fermanagh ( http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/crom/)
and spend some time walking in the woods and rowing on the lakes there, or
alternatively journey to the North Coast and visit the never disappointing
Mussenden Temple and demesne. http://www.virtualvisit-northernireland.com/gallery.aspx?dataid=72001&title=Castles_and_Monuments
q)Upcoming
shows/ projects?
a)I
have no shows in the diary at present as I have yet to have a gallery approach
me with an exhibition request.
As
a result I am concentrating on seeing if I can establish a constructive
relationship with a proactive gallerist who recognises the potential of my
work, and who can provide me with support, and perhaps more critically can help
me gain additional exposure in the art world. (Working here in Belfast can make one feel very removed and
dislocated from any form of vibrant art scene).
As
mentioned previously I have new projects underway and will be publishing them
on Thomas-r.com soon.
q)Where
can people see more of your work on the internet?
a)My
website can be found at http://www.thomas-r.com and I update the selection
pictures on a regular basis. So if you are interested in my work please pay me
a visit.
