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Re - Interview with Nick Taylor - Now at C.I.T. Crawford College of Art

Virtu - Art first met and interviewed Nick Taylor at the end of his time at Rossa College, Skibbereen. Since then a few years have passed and we catch up with Nick preparing to return to C.I.T. Crawford College of Art for his third year. Nick recollects that when he first left Rossa College he just wanted to start promoting my art there and then. Nick found that generally when you visited a gallery the first question they asked was "What formal education have you had in Art?". To Nick this indicated that a little bit of snobbery may be involved about artists being educated or not.... though this is not not always the case. Some artists go on to have great careers and success as artists without a formal education. After some more consideration on the fact that Nick wanted to improve his painting skills and to improve his artistic skills generally, he decided to attend further education at C.I.T. Crawford College of Art, Cork.

Now two years on Nick is now going into his third year at Crawford. Virtu - Art asks Nick if he is re-evaluating his situation and thinking what he is going to do next?. "Yes the third year is very much to do with concepts and conceptual art, and I am kind of formulating still in my head that whole thing. For example in my second year I mainly concentrated on the asthetic as I was continuing to improve my painting skills. I was working on one subject called the 'Water Babies Series' this was all to do with swimmers and water and how visually the body gets fractured by the water and the refraction of the light on the bodies of the swimmers. I did a whole series of paintings based on that, however some became more abstract than that. Using different techniques and exploring different avenues with a variety of painting mediums".

Now this Third year it is more to do with the conceptual. Nick explains that "The skill of the different mediums of expression is slightly less important. The concept behind it becomes more important. You need to allow ideas to come and the tutors to influence you to develop your ideas with as much freedom as possible".

Nick continues, "In this third year I am really more interested in expressing the Political, I would like to tackle something like environmental change. On how the world around us is changing. Thinking about a particular Video installation that I would like to do. Remember years ago when there used to be old houses with old people living in them. The houses were the traditional old style, with the old fireplace with the grange with the kettle on. A probably still had an outside toilet. I know one house like that still locally and unfortunately this old lady that had lived there has died. That is the kind of thing I am going to document because the sort of life style has virtually gone now. This project will be through the eyes of the political and economic changes that have occurred in Ireland. Exposing an area of society that is completely disappearing those old folks and their old ways. As far as I know this lady did not even have a bank account, no telephone, no toilet, very basic living. I am going to document the house and interview the remaining relatives. Starting with that and let it develop into a video installation. Tying that into the environmental changes that have occurred, who's to say that maybe that kind of living will return. We may all return to a more basic living in the future. If there is no recovery from the global economic instability who knows what the future may have in store for us."

"The other political aspect I would like to explore is 'Who is Actually in Control' where we live in a world where an elite few control everything. No fingers pointed at this time but even politicians strings are being pulled from afar. These social elite have the strings and control, maybe they decided that we were all getting too wealthy, maybe with a global recession they could be in a position to buy up more and keep the control. Throughout every recession there is always a powerful elite buying up more stuff. It is a good time for them to buy up more resources and power. Through my art I would like to explore this whole area, how the average guy is just in the dark, and has no control over what goes on at this level."

"I work with different mediums in particular painting, video installation. I also have physical installations which are comprised of all sorts of multimedia and 3D. I want my artwork to express the power and the manipulation of the masses through different levels of society. Some time in the future I would like to explore environmental change with an a post apocalyptic view as well. There is a seminal painting by Peter Doig titled 'Canoe'. I found this painting very interesting, Doig uses lots of really bright unusual colours to me it shows a kind post apocalyptic state where the environment has completely changed. The person going through it alone, the changed environment. To re-create this space in a three dimensional way in a studio. Reflecting on how things may have changed for us all. Will the sky be a different colour due to climate changes?, trees may be dying or different maybe more tropical varieties will prevail. Honestly I have many ideas that I will be exploring in the future, generally about 10% of my ideas I get to explore more fully".

Peter Doig - 'Canoe' Themes of magical realism stream through Doig’s work, capturing timeless moments of perfect tranquillity, where photo-album memory flits in and out of waking dream. Drawing from his Canadian childhood, and one of the spookier scenes from Friday the 13th, Doig’s canoes have become a seminal image in his work; their reflection in the water, like a double life, is a fantasy mirror to the unknown. Canoe-Lake is rendered with unsettling perfection: capturing not just a spying view over a fence, but the strange echoing silence of drifting on a lake, the impossible stillness of the current, and the cloying warmth of late-summer air....The Saatchi Gallery

"Through the summer of 2009 I have had a good response to my work I have been exhibited at several locations and have sold several pieces from the 'Swimmers Series'. This adds to my confidence. However feedback which you receive for your work is extremely rewarding. Creating the artwork is good for the soul, but you have to put yourself out there, it is the only way".

Re - Interview with Nick Taylor - After leaving Rossa College Skibbereen

Nick Taylor - Artist + Student, living just west of Skibbereen. Nick is one of my fellow students at Rossa College, Skibbereen. Currently now in his 2nd year of the Art, Craft + Design course. We did this interview during lunch break.

My influences says Nick “are drawn from the figure and nature. I am also influenced by many artists. I can appreciate classical fine art, but when it comes to my own work it has more modern influences I'd say. I guess the classical is there but with a more modern edge. I'v kind of moved on a bit from abstract back to still life drawings and paintings. Back to natural figure work. I feel I am going through a more realist phase in my life. Getting real.”

Question: Has doing the course at Rossa College helped you to look at things differently?

"Definitely, when you really have to look at something you get to see a myriad of depth into something when you keep studying it. When you study a particular subject, drawing or painting it you tend to see things you would not see otherwise. Something that is quite amazing is there but not at first apparent. That's what I try to capture in my artwork. In every mundane thing there is something extraordinary. It's there waiting to jump out at you.”

Question: What's your favorite artist? Do you have one?

"My all time favorite artist used to be Dali that was in the past. Now I am kind of more influenced by Paula Rego. I used Rego for one of my Art History assignments last year. There are lots of hidden meanings in that kind of artwork. But in a more realist way more of the moment. I don't have a real favorite artist at this time I am keeping a broad mind when it comes to my influences."

"I am also trying to develope the work my self not to be to influenced by others artwork but to draw something out of myself. For me artwork either works or it doesn't. Its the initial impact of the artwork, if that is there it works for me. And in my own artwork I am always looking to create a good initial impact. That's is what I am looking for. You look at it, and it draws you in straight away. And then the viewer can then find there space within. To capture the viewer is the most important aspect.”

Comment: Nick is also into craft subjects things such as green wood furniture and stained glass.

"I view the crafts interest in my life such as green wood furniture and stained glass to be separate from my drawings and paintings. I have quite a few sculptures in my head which I would like to work on using a combination of different materials in an constructive way.”

Question: Where do you see yourself, say this time next year?

"Probably still painting away. At some stage I would like to display a body of my own work. At the moment I am developing a series of paintings and drawings. But I would like to move onto developing some sculptural works from those. That's where I'm heading to at the moment. I don't have a plan for my art I want it to develope organically at the moment. Maybe some time in the future I may have a clear plan on what gallery and know where I would like to have my work exhibited. At the moment I am purely developing my artwork. The reason I am putting them on Virtu – Art is that it is very easy to get them out there and to get a reaction.”

Nick Taylor - Artists Statement:
I loved the Art, Craft + Design course at Rossa College and excelled, obtaining distinctions in all bar two subjects. I particularly enjoyed Sculpture, Drawing and Painting. Since leaving College I have built a house and a studio on some land I have. I now look forward to developing and submerging myself in my art. I have created a 3m high sculpture The Shining Knight which I plan to incorporate in an outdoor installation involving similar knights in formation possibly called The Charge. My next project is an audiovisual piece using my sons broken radios, Tibetan audio and imagery together with war like effects. I get an amazing buzz from my art, especially my 3-D work. I see my future as a working artist and possibly an art teacher. I recognize I need to develop myself and see that the ideal way would be to go for the next level in my education. A Degree in fine art.

Links related to this article: In No Particular Order ;-)

• Nick Taylor Artist - Previous Virtu - Art Interview
• CIT Crawford College of Art and Design
• Peter Doig The Saatchi Gallery

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