1 When did you start to make art?
The allure of sound and visuals started in 2001.
2 How did you evolve into a professional artist?
If that happens I’ll let you know for sure.
3 What drove you to make art as a professional vocation?
See question 2
4 Explain your inspiration?
I had always been inspired by the magic hour but 2007 was when I had the idea for project 5am. One week in May, I had just come back from Paris. I fell in love with a place called Jarules and I wanted to describe how he felt about the area in sound. When I finished making the track it was around 5am, I went outside in to my garden where I felt this peaceful vibe that I had never experienced before… a sense of oneness. Then I had a thought to Google 5am. The first thing I saw was an Allen Ginsberg poem called 5am. His words resonated with me and that was the moment when everything came together, this was moment I had been waiting for.
5 In what way does your inspiration transform into ideas?
Seeing, hearing, or reading something great that is linked to the idea of 5am.
So far this technique has led me to wonderful stories about Mr Eternity Arthur Stace, French philosopher René Descartes and Queen Christina of Sweden, the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s decisive moment and the wonder of the Diana F camera.
6 From Ideas to production of art – how? And why?
I submerge all the information that I’ve gained and over time the output will come through an image, a sound or a poem/haiku. I use the computer software Reason for creating sounds and for images I have used various cameras but recently I have entered the world of lomography after being inspired by the work of Annette Fournet who expresses the essence of Wabi Sabi in her images.
7 Could your ideas be portrayed in any other medium? If so which?
The essence of Project 5am is to explore the feeling of being in the moment, so this can be portrayed in many other ways, nature is a fine example. Seeing a spider spin its web or birds changing shifts in rearing their young during the spring are breathtaking moments of oneness to the naked eye.
8 Which artists would you most like to blatantly rip off?
I have adopted Miranda July’s meaning of yellow from the moment I read a quote from the soundtrack to me you and everybody we know
“When I was little I had a theory that you should draw a picture using all the colours except yellow, making it as good as you could, and then, finally, after giving up, you should add yellow. And yellow had the magical property of instantly making everything come alive, it was light itself, and thus the picture came into being. Mike Andrews’ score was the yellow for this movie.” – Miranda July
9 Why is your art made?
“My art is being made so I that I have a home I can go too”
10 What does being an artists mean to you?
It means a lot to me that I have found a way to express myself.
11 Are you happy with your reasons for making art? I.e. Are there any trade offs that make life hard?
I feel that I’m blessed with my reasons for making art so I’m contented with the trade offs that I have faced and will face in the future.
12 When does your art become successful?
When I see an image of hear a sound that I created and it takes me back to the moment of its creation and a the same time seeing the legacy of the art and how it has touched and inspired others.
13 What is art?
For me it is an expression of the soul.
14 How do you start the process of making work?
When taking an image I’m still learning to wait the right surroundings when capturing that decisive moment and same rule apples when making sounds.
15 Who prices your work? And how is the price decided upon?
I want it to reach as many people as it can which in turn opens up more doors, so for this moment in time free is the magic number
16 What is your next; move, project, show etc?
I have just compiled a website for project 5am, every time I feel that I have come to the end of this project some magical story appears out of nowhere so guess it’s a eternal project.
17 What are the pros and cons of the art market?
When I answer question 2 I’ll let you know
18 Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?
Creating the sound and visuals for My mind to me a kingdom helped me understand the Japanese aesthetic Wabi Sabi and Space Mothlight grew from 130 bmp track that’s was going nowhere and ending up as this magical long distance collaboration with the wonderful spoken word performance artists Sounds in Bloom.
19 Any routine in making your artwork? If so what?
I have a special room where I make my sounds; it has a tranquil and peaceful ambience for new creation.
20 What has been the biggest break in your career?
Without a doubt having the 5am experience was a life break.
21 Who has been the biggest influence on you?
My friends, family and especially my sister-She inspired me to follow something even if you can not see it but you can still feel it… your heart and soul. (Which is very similar to the Joseph Campbell quote of “following your bliss”)
22 How many artworks have you given away and to whom?
Checkout out the art net space Area Zinc plus the net labels Test Tube, Enough Records and Monotonik for my free work….come drink live!!!!!
