1 ::: Why are you an artist Edwin?
I
like being an artist, because I like to
make things, and give these things meaning.
Viewing Art myself had such a powerful
affect on me that I wanted to emulate
that experience for others. Making Art
is a way of reaching out to people in
a profound and personal level that reaffirms
both the Artist and the viewer's sense
of humanity.
+2
::: Could you tell us some more about
your art?
My
Art communicates through sensory perceptions,
rather than fashionable "conceptual"
signs posts. The work asks the viewer
to feel more than think. It's meaning,
when there is a specific meaning, can
only be accessed through an emotional
language. If you are not very connected
emotionally as a person you are unlikely
to get much meaning out of the work, other
than an aesthetic. My work communicates
in a similar way to Romanticism and in
this way is derivative of this category.
+3 ::: Your work
is very contemplative and simplified,
does your interest in Asian philosophy
(specifically Taoism) influence your paintings?
Philosophical
Taoism is something that has been influential
on my life. It's affect on my Art work
is probably more incidental than direct.
I would still consider myself a novice
in my grasp of Taoism. Yet having said
that, I know substantially more than people
who have only a small practice or interest
in Taoism.
+4
::: What artists have influenced you and
why?
I
would say Oildon Redon would have to be
my greatest influence, closely followed
by Michial Ranny, and to a lesser extent
Vullard. Many people have suggested I
have been influenced by Monet, Turner
and Bonard, but I feel it is more the
case that I naturally paint like them
rather than being directly influenced
by them. Technically there are strong
similarities with some elements of Rothko.
On a broader level my friends and older
piers (Paul Harvey and Brian Hinksman)
have been great role models for me and
I am forever grateful for their contribution
to my development as an Artist.
+5
::: What do you do for fun (besides art)?
Ba Kua Zhang,
circle walking Kung Fu.
+6
::: What inspires you to paint and how
do you keep motivated when things get
tough in the studio?
When things are tough has they have been
in the last couple of months. I just remain
disciplined and keep going into the studio.
Try to think why it is that whatever I
am doing is not working and try again.
You just have to have faith that you will
find the answer, even though you may go
through a long period of making paintings
and then scrubbing them off. You have
to be brave in the face of adversity.
If want to break new ground you have to
take risks.
+7
::: How have you handled the business
side of being an artist?
I do consider that I have handled the
business side of Art particularly well,
and feel I could not offer sound advice
on the matter. For my self, I try to aim
towards the maximum amount of time possible
making and developing new work. Money
is a means of survival and should be used
to achieve Artistic excellence with a
degree of integrity.
+8
::: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Who knows ? An established artist earning
a living from there an art at Least.
+9
::: Could you talk about your latest series
of paintings and what you are trying to
achieve with them?
My
most recent work is based more on cityscapes
than landscapes. It is very different
from the older work, and relies more on
symbols to convey meaning. The subject
matter is more about confusion and congestion
than peace and harmony. The forms are
substantially more figurative, with the
abstract elements much less emotive. The
painting is perhaps adding more to the
history of Art, or less easily categorized
into a Modernist aesthetic. It is like
Russian Constructivism broken up then
reassembles into post- modern conglomerate.
The painting has abstract and figurative
elements woven together in oscillating
layers. There are signs that read two
dimensionally and graphically, mixed with
areas of spatial depth. I have not got
the new work up yet on the web site, but
the work 'Oscillating Cityscape 1' is
some indication of were the work has gone.
+10
::: What advice would you give to an artist
just starting out?
Work hard and have faith in your self.
Always do the right thing by your friends.
Maintain a spiritual practice outside
of Art, like meditation or Yoga. Get your
self a studio with walls and a window
you can open. Work harder than you ever
have in your life. Every hour adds to
your art Practice. The period after Art
school and the beginning of you finding
your own way alone is the worst. If you
do not break down or commit suicide give
up then you will probably be alright for
the next couple of years. This was the
case for my art friends and me. All real
Artists have faced some extreme hardship,
which is part of the reason they decided
to create Art. Whatever the abuse issues
might be, you are going to have to deal
with them in a more constructive way other
than taking drugs.
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