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AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST ROBERT TAYLOR. The interview
took place at Taurus Bar, on the evening of 18th October 2006
with David Hoyle.
Photo by Lee Baxter.
 DH. Tell us about your forthcoming exhibition to be presented
at Taurus Bar on….
RT. The exhibition will contain works selected by myself, reflecting
moments of learning, the paintings illustrate the journey of
my life – so far…
DH. A lot of your work is figurative, you seem fascinated
by the Human Condition.
RT. People are wonderfully complex, very often stupid and occasionally
more charming… than charm itself.
DH. Your works seem to celebrate colour.
RT. I like black and white but there are colours I adore. Green,
yellow, I like blue, ochre and brown.
DH. Your work contains great humanity.
RT. Humanity is sometimes wonderful but most of the time rather
difficult.
People are so capable of the extremes of love
and hate. Ending up with so much hate for each other. We
have so much to learn.
DH. You obviously love art…
RT. Art is to stimulate the grey-lights that we see as normal.
And to respond to the rays of sunshine that lifts the soul.
DH. You are a mature artist, have you a message for young
people?
RT. Fancy elderly homosexuals who are full of bullshit… and
love.
DH. Why should people create?
RT. To release inner-most feelings that are normally repressed
by the world we live in!
DH. What is your approach to the virgin canvas, prior to commencing
a work.
RT. Normally, desire, love, lust and passion, the joy of colour.
DH. How important is composition within your work?
RT. Sometimes its irrelevant. I like to paint with passion.
DH. What is the significance of your body of work to the world
specifically the
LGBT community.
RT. I want to share the love that I have with the gay people
that I have been privileged to share my time with… I
have shared my time with GODS!
DH. How important is gender in todays world?
RT. Gender is something that homosexuals and heterosexuals
must come to terms with, because homosexuality is not a new
thing that was discovered in the 20th Century. It has always
been there, Greek Gods and Christian prophets have always
represented us.
DH. Religion is a potentially divine entity at the moment…
RT. Religion is used by the privileged classes to make the
poor do the things we do not want to do.
DH. Like what?
RT. Clean this, wash that… Light the fire because I
am cold.
DH. As a northern based artist do you think you follow a tradition?
RT. I hope so.
DH. What are your thoughts on Lowry?
RT. I love Lowry, he was a wonderfully observant northern man,
he makes me proud that I was born in Salford.
DH. You have exhibited in London, most successfully at the
Groucho club, what is your favourite commission?
RT. I did one for Peter Hook, it was an image that particularly
appealed to me, I also did one for the actress Helen Atkinson-Wood,
an academic exercise…
DH. Do you have advice for young members of the LGBT community?
RT. Yes, try enjoying your life and your existence, life is
a shit – sandwiche…
DH. What Philosophy should we adopt when “life is a shit – sandwiche”?
RT. Grin and hope it gets better.
DH. Who are your favourite artists (has anyone inspired you)?
RT. Some artists I like and some I just like their work.
Robert Taylors Artworks can be viewed in Taurus throughout
December 2006 |
