Life is beautiful but it's not perfect
From The Palette Pages
John Clare a South London
artist who is now living and breathing his art in New Zealand. John could
not have moved further away from his London roots, a place and a time that was
riddled with excess and the hard truth of a life that was sunk into a scene of
drugs, murder, suicide, demons and a questioning. There’s always been a
constant in John’s life and that was and still is art. Creating art to
tackle the emotions of death, depression, addiction, love and life.
Artwork that is violent, energetic often ugly but all in a thought-provoking,
exciting and distinctive way.
A love of family, a
natural worry regarding the fragility of his children’s minds, a world full of
beauty a frightening, discoverable place and a need for eternal life are
often themes but not in an obvious way. The lessons learnt, the fears and
the pleasure of living are depicted in what can feel uncomfortable, raw and
horrifying. John’s work can be autobiographical in artwork such as ‘Sorry but
the lifestyle you ordered is currently out of stock’ which features the
pain and horror of South London and a pathway to another life. There’s a
message of change, if you don’t like how you live then turn it around!
Live your life not perfectly but full. His family is the focus in the
artwork ‘Windows & Balloons’ which depicts his anticipation of his
children’s path into the world, we feel his worry his need to give his children
a better life.
This is art you look at,
I mean really look at, delve in and discover the message, the emotion, the
story that connects to you. Grab life by the balls and LIVE.
Self taught or art
school?
Mainly self-taught I did study at Southwark
college and got a place at goldsmiths but turned it down because I was full of
self-doubt at that time, you can’t beat an education on the streets of south
London for a lifetime full of art work and ideas.
If you could own one work
of art what would it be?
It used to be a Hirst but I own two sketch’s by
him now (lucky me) so either a Bacon or an oak tree by Michael Craig Martin,
the concept is brilliant.
How would you describe
your style?
Erratic, violent, honest, energetic, abstract,
fuck I don’t know take your pick, it’s definitely contemporary. I
will say my style is unique in its own right and is instantly recognised as mine
(that probably sounds pretentious) but hey I’m an artist it’s allowed.
Where are your favourite places
to view art?
If were talking countries as I live in NZ
now it would be most definitely London, as for places there’s many
Tate, Tate modern, White Cube, South London Camden, Saatchi and any college I
love seeing what’s inside students heads.
Who are your favourite
artists and why?
Me (lol), I’m out of touch with the UK scene at
the moment but three people catch my eye, Sam Shendi ,Darren Macpherson, Martha
Mousse, Hirst and Bacon and many more, I get inspired by everyone. I must
confess to having a love of Van Gogh and Goya, I guess I relate to other
people’s pain.
What or who inspires your
art?
Life what else is there (oh and music) I love it
for all its idiosyncrasies and I confront these in my work, it’s a way of
exorcising the demons, I get a lot of inspiration from my life in London and
everything about it, leaving was like dying and being born again you have to
start from scratch, I have no history here so I keep London close in my head
and it often comes out in my work, I use the union jack a lot and
other references about what’s going on in England, some of it is naked others
you have to work a bit harder to see, I guess identity inspires me and the
range of emotions it comes with, my kids (indigo –raine and London ) also
play a big part they are the reason I left.
Where’s your studio and
what’s it like?
I’m very lucky I have my studio on my property,
it’s great because I get to spend time with the kids as well, they both have
their own easels in there, what’s it like (laughs) its looks very very messy
but it’s actually very organised for a drunken mad man I sometimes am when I’m
in there.
Do you have any studio
rituals?
Music I got to have noise, it heightens all my
senses and wine.
What are you working on
currently?
I’ve been working on a series of works over the
last year with a combined title called inside out, they consist of crosses,
paintings and light boxes and depict a range of emotions, feelings if you like
that me and every one of us go through at some point in our world and wonder.
Some are obvious with instantly recognisable images some are more
inward, hence the title, I want us to question everything about our lives,
right or wrong, good or bad, I love ,life is beautiful but it’s not perfect.
Where can we buy your
art?
Buy it bloody hell you can have it ,I’m always
flattered when someone likes my work enough to hang it on their wall, that
aside you can buy it online at Saatchi, at debut contemporary, or contact me on
Facebook or through my website johnclareart.com.
What are your ambitions?
Immortality that’s why I paint I need to know it
wasn’t all for nothing I need to be remembered to satisfy the narcissist
in me and to have a solo show, and lastly to grace the walls at Palette Pages.
John Clare | A selection of works here
An interview by Lisa Gray
Originally published in The Palette Pages
The Palette Pages website www.thepalettepages.com
© 2014 Lisa Gray
NAU NUA | ART MAGAZINE edition by Juan Carlos Romero
Interview and photograph courtesy of Lisa Gray
John Clare website www.johnclareart.com
All rights reserved