Joffe et Pye opens this Saturday 30th July 6-9pm at Chateau Joffe, Shoreditch.

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:56:57 +0000

--_7aa410e5-81ff-4601-ace7-39f8d44b64a4_
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

JJ: This is a happy show with brightly coloured pictures which will make pe=
ople smile or give them childish pleasure. Because my studio is my home and=
 my 6 year old daughter is around a lot=2C I have made things which will pl=
ease her. There are no nasties or porno or things like that. I am sick of s=
hows which make you sad and upset."
 HP: The Joffe et Pye project didn't have an agenda. I didn't intend to exh=
ibit my first ever non figurative paintings. We've both just been less guar=
ded and followed our instincts wherever they took us. We've ended up with a=
 show that is the polar opposite of The Chapman Bros thing on round the cor=
ner. Vive la difference." For the full interview scroll down Joffe et=20
Pye=20

31 July to 28 August
PV Saturday July=20
30th 2011 6-9pm
Open only on SUNDAYS 12 noon till 5pm
Unit 3=2C=20
7C Plough Yard=2C EC2A 3LP
http://www.jasperandharry.blogspot.com=20
http://www.jasperjoffe.com   http://youtu.be/Yb0tcxpSaUY
=20
=20
=20
=20

Joffe et Pye: Le Conversation

Harry: "This morning we agreed
to do an e-mail interview about the show. In your studio today I felt pleas=
ed
because you've already made more work than we could put up on the walls and=
 we
have at least three weeks till the show opens. I=92ve made a few things. Th=
e
first painting I made for the show was based on Lucian Freud's painting of =
a
woman and her dog. The title was "Nothing Happens By Chance" which is
based on something Lucian Freud's grandfather once said. The work I've been
doing now could be called "Everything Happens By Chance". I've always
loved Richter and Kelly's work about putting colours of the spectrum in any
order but I never thought I would do it myself. I guess you never thought y=
ou'd
be painting large Snoopys on cardboard - or did you?"

=20

Jasper: =93I have a hangover from that
book launch=2C art people are generally cooler than book people. Because th=
e show
is in my place I can work right up to the last moment=2C I am always hoping=
 that
the next painting will be even better than the last one. So next time you c=
ome
over I will have done 69 gray paintings or something. Yeah your colour
paintings are pure=2C remind me of Stuart Cumberland=92s show at the Approa=
ch=2C
paring it down to the essentials. It can be a bit wanky=2C but if you pull =
it off
makes you look deep and talented.  I don't know whether my Snoopy phase
will last=2C I can't remember ever thinking what I'd be painting in the fut=
ure.
It's something I sometime set out to do though=2C paint the paintings I
would paint in the future=2C so I will make faster progress. The progressio=
n for
me is always to be making better paintings=2C which maybe is a silly way th=
at I
think. Do the future now!  What will you be doing in ten years time? Do
you think you'll ever drive a car? I can't imagine ever learning to drive=
=2C but
if I moved to say Vermont=2C
I might learn.  Can you imagine what your work would be like if you owned
a house=2C drove your kids to school=2C and went on regular summer holidays=
 to a
villa in France?=94

=20

Harry: "It's hard for me to
imagine riding a bike let alone driving a car. So you can imagine the idea =
of
being married and driving our kids to school is pretty much inconceivable.

I just watched the comedy film Step Brothers. Towards the end there is a sp=
oof
corny bit in which the grumpy father remembers the foolish dreams he had as=
 a
child and decides to encourage his sons to follow their dreams rather than =
tell
them to grow up. I found myself weeping. Pretty much everyone starts off as=
 a
writer and an artist when they are a child at primary school but for some
reason most people stop and people like you and me carry on. You live in yo=
ur
studio and I make paintings in my kitchen. I never feel I'm wasting time wh=
en
I'm painting. I'd like to paint more. I don't care if it's not shown. Last
night I was making a stripe painting and I felt happier than I have in year=
s.
It felt like it was all coming together for me. Maybe it was partly because
I was completely drunk? Anyway for

me it wouldn't matter too much where I was living because my
work is about getting out what's going on in my head. My question for you: =
is
your painting a window or a mirror? Your sister said she saw paintings as a
window."

=20

Jasper: =93I love how emotional you are about art and crap films! Hollywood=
 films often make me want to cry=2C they have some
magical story structure that hits the basic emotions.=20

Don't give up on the car and villa in France. Anyway I just see painting
as an activity and these mirror window metaphors don't feel relevant. I pai=
nt
paintings (paintings are paintings for me) and always trying to make the
best one I can=2C which I have just said=2C so I am getting boring on this
subject.  What do think of my paintings? An egotistical and awkward
question but interesting. If you tell me I will tell you about yours!=94

=20

Harry: =93What do I think about your
paintings? I think you're like David Hockney in that you're someone that
can never be written off completely. Hockney does a project using photo cop=
ied
images of felt tip drawings of rich people's dogs or something and I
think: "God=2C He's really lost it this time" but then he's off again
and the next project is a hundred times better. I don't think you love
colour in the way some painters do. Patrick Herron and Henri Matisse are re=
ally
in love with colour. I think you're more about energy=2C pushing boundaries=
=2C
being challenging. It's good to be proved wrong sometimes. I like it
when a description of a painting (or film=2C book=2C song) is like a list o=
f
things that shouldn't work but when you see it you're pleasantly
surprised. I've told you before that my favourites of your paintings were
in your solo Notting Hill show but I also really liked your Himmler. Your H=
ockney
tribute was pretty good and I like a lot of your really old stuff too. I li=
ke
the fact that there is no easy answer to your question - that is what I
think is good about your work.=94

=20

Jasper: =93Huh?.. David Hockney! Suppose he's not too bad to be compared to=
=2C
and I love colour! I take criticism very badly obviously=2C but good to hea=
r
still. What people say about my work remains fixed in my head for decades..=
.

Your paintings are good on colour=2C clarity=2C humour=2C simplicity=2C
and composition=2C and story. They make other paintings look like they are =
trying
too hard. Sometime the surfaces can be a bit dull especially when you do la=
rge
scale work=2C and I think that you don't need to work with others=2C though=
 it must
be fun. You are a good painter but stupid people think they are simple and
South Parkish sometimes.. I don't get that=2C but probably something you ne=
ed to
confront or not. What would you do if you weren=92t an artist? How come you=
've
gone abstract?=94

=20

Harry: =93All artists are sensitive
souls. I think of the large scale ones I've done only a couple were any
good. I rate Jesus Washing The Feet Of His Followers and the one of me
playing chess with my dad - Marcus Cope and Rowland Smith contributed loads=
 to
both of them. I feel like I'm only starting out as a painting=2C like I'm r=
olling
up my sleeves and getting ready to surprise you all. A painting I
made about 6 years ago got damaged recently and it upset me. It was pretty
much my first painting. There are some good ones I've made in this 6 year
period but I think I can do a lot better. Some people will always say my wo=
rk
is like a children's book illustrator or like South Park
- I don't mind that. And people have compared me to David Shrigley which
I think is fair enough. I think it's bad to be too concerned with what
others say about your work. Often one can think for years about a
comment someone else made and forgot about 10 seconds later. I'm into strip=
es
and coloured squares at the moment. I think it's just a phase I'm going
through. Nothing to worry about. How many good paintings do you think you'v=
e
done so far and do you feel the best is yet to come?

=20

=20

Jasper: =93I don't know about how many good paintings I've done.
Sometimes when I am on a high=2C I think wow I've done loads and they're re=
ally
creative and different and I am a genius. Then other days maybe none=2C jus=
t a
bunch of junk which trails about with me=2C all cack handed and worthless.

What type of books do you like to read? I read a lot of fiction=2C and I ge=
t
the impression you don't=2C your paintings tell stories but you don't like =
story
books?

=20

Harry: Well=2C I've worked in the
book shop at Tate Britain for
15 years. I do read lots of exhibition catalogues=2C art magazines=2C music
magazines=2C children's books and artist biographies. The most interesting =
book
I've read so far is probably The Autobiography of Malcolm X. I was talking
the other day to someone about our press release for this show and the quot=
es
we had selected. I think we've been lucky in that we've both had a
few writers who like the cut of our jib and have been very encouraging and
complimentary. But have you ever had a proper review? Has anyone ever reall=
y
taken on board what you're about and talked about their engagement with wha=
t
you do? =20

=20

Jasper: =93Hey Harry.  I wasn't
accusing you of being illiterate! (though if the cap fits=2C ha
ha) Just interested that you prefer biographies to fictional stories. Was
there any reason why?

By proper reviews you mean I guess an art magazine writing seriously or a
newspaper critic. I've had much more press coverage of my shows in terms of
them being a newsworthy event. I would like a review in the New Yorker or N=
ew
York Times because it would be nice to get someone whose opinion you're rea=
lly
interested in=2C look carefully at your paintings and present their views t=
o a
big audience. When I give talks I have had people really engage with my art=
 in
a satisfying way... Perhaps it makes more sense as an oeuvre... I love that
word. Do you crave attention and are you a show-off!?

=20

Harry: =93I've given lectures in a
few places now. There's always one person who comes up to me at the end
and asks me about Billy Childish. And there's usually one person who asks
for my autograph. Once I had the rare honour of inspiring a song.
Students of Chester
wrote a song about me having a head on me like a potato and put it up
on You Tube. It's getting far too many hits. I'm glad I don't make people
nervous and that young people feel comfortable enough to do that sort of
thing.

When I was about 12 I became obsessed with Monty Python. The sad
thing is that since then there have been lots of things I haven't been able=
 to
take seriously. In a lot of cases when I begin to read a novel my brain goe=
s on
a walk and starts thinking how Python would have parodied it. I don't feel
happy about this but there you go. When I try reading novels by Will Self=
=2C
Martin Amis etc I can only see faults and errors and ways it could have bee=
n
better.

I think that Remains of the Day is a great novel and I can
remember wishing it wouldn't end. It is strange how our minds work though
and how our tastes develop. I would say a children's book like The Tiger Wh=
o
Came To Tea by Judith Kerr genuinely has had a massive impact on
me. I have read the book Raymond Briggs made about his
parents several times and it always makes me cry. Michael Rosen's Sad
book about the death of his son is also important to me. I think these
books contain truth in a way that novels by Will Self don't. I don't think
Will Self has done anything that needed to be made whereas Briggs=2C Kerr a=
nd
Rosen have. Munch said he didn't believe in any art that didn't arise from
a person wanting to open their heart. I relate to this. I know some people =
will
never see any value in the paintings I make but all I can say is it wasn't
made for them. The reason I loved Monty Python and connected with it so dee=
ply
was because=2C to me=2C what they were saying was so true. They were questi=
oning the
way life was and challenging authority figures and being silly and to me
it felt incredibly vital.

What have been your obsessions? What books=2C films=2C songs=2C paintings h=
ave been
vital in shaping you or at least made you feel you weren't alone?

=20

Jasper: =93Good answer Harry.
Obsessions. I've been reading Alba these American books about 1890s kids
growing up in Utah.
They're called "The Great Brain" books. They were a big influence I
now realise. The kid with the great brain who swindles everyone and thinks
of money making schemes and solves problems too=2C is the one I wanted to b=
e. His
brother J.D=2C the narrator=2C is more modest. I asked Alba who she wanted =
to be=2C
she said the little brain J.D.=2C and I was surprised and asked why=2C she =
said
because he doesn't swindle people. I had no sense of that as a kid=2C I jus=
t
wanted to be the great one!

I carried on liking 'inspirational stories'=2C often with
anti-heroes. Hemingway men. Henry Miller's escape from bourgeois drudgery.
Stendhal. Updike=2C Roth=2C Proust=2C Celine=2C Cervantes=2C Kingsley Amis =
are
all in my favourites list. Heroes. I wanted to be the heroes in books and s=
aw
them as manuals for self-improvement and success. I sure was/am nuts.  I
also liked books with female protagonists as I saw them as research for fut=
ure
girlfriends. Recently I have been rereading books by Sybile Bedford=2C bohe=
mian
interwar freedom=2C and Updike=2C intensely observed aging. =20

I am obsessed with food. I want to eat meals that take me through highs of
emotion=2C but lately I watched too much Masterchef and great British menu =
and
that has made me sick of foodieism. I love TV too=2C Sopranos=2C Seinfeld=
=2C LA Law=2C
The Emerald Forest (made me worried about rainforests) and innumerable othe=
r
shows have imprinted themselves on my brain..

I tend to be really into stuff=2C then react against it=2C and say I have s=
topped
doing it and given it up. Let's talk about things we like... What are a few=
 of
your favourite things?=94

=20

Harry: =93I think it's really
interesting that you love something and then react against it. When I was a=
bout
11 I fell in love with so many things that I still love with all my heart.
Records such as Ian Dury's New Boots & Panties filled me up then and
continue to do so. Other favourite things? Well=2C I like to be asleep=2C r=
eally
deep deep sleep. And I like to be under water - I'm not a great swimmer but=
 I
love that first bit when you jump in. I like being in the arms of people I
love especially if they can take me away from the rest of the world. I
love getting drunk especially if it er... takes me away from the rest of th=
e
world. And I like music especially if it takes me away from the rest of the
world. I like wit. I like being with friends with sharp minds and tongues. =
I've
got a sad autistic completest streak in me which goes hand-in-hand with my
squirrel like desire to horde possessions such as records. And I like
painting because again I can lose myself in it and escape from the rest of =
the
world. Friendships are what keep me going though. Do you love your
friends?=94

=20

Jasper: =93I do love my friends. As I
get older I value them more and more=2C they give you a way of measuring yo=
ur own
changes=2C and a kind of family without so many childhood hopes and fears
distorting the relationship.  I try to never lose a good friend over a
silly argument=2C when I was younger (god I sound so old and pious) I used =
to let
conflict get out of hand and sometimes destroy friendships=2C and I realise=
 not
everyone likes arguing as much as I sometimes do ( I see it as being play i=
n a
way).  It's good watching their development from callow youth to person
with serious jobs and families and whatever=2C and you can look back and se=
e them
as a scared teenager or wild or introverted or girlfriendless. People chang=
e is
what I am saying and I like thinking back on that.  It's like I go to the
same two Chinese restaurants all the time=2C and look back on the different
friends I have been there with=2C I am conservative like that=2C eat the sa=
me pork
and duck on rice I have been having since my mum brought it home after she'=
d
been out shopping with my sisters=2C while I skulked at home.  This constan=
t
battle to accept and enjoy change while keeping a solid sense of yourself..=
. I
sound like I have been on the self-help again...=94

=20

Harry: =93It is a sad and beautiful world.=94

=20
=20
  		 	   		   		 	   		  =

--_7aa410e5-81ff-4601-ace7-39f8d44b64a4_
Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px=3B
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt=3B
font-family:Tahoma
}
--></style>
</head>
<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>
<br>

<meta name=3D"Generator" content=3D"Microsoft SafeHTML">
JJ: This is a happy show with brightly coloured pictures which will make pe=
ople smile or give them&nbsp=3Bchildish pleasure. Because my studio is my h=
ome and my 6 year old daughter is around a lot=2C I have made things which =
will please her. There are no nasties or porno or things like that. I am si=
ck of shows which make you sad and upset."<BR><br>&nbsp=3B<BR><div><div dir=
=3D"ltr"><div>HP: The <em>Joffe et Pye</em> project didn't have an&nbsp=3Ba=
genda. I didn't intend to exhibit my first ever non figurative paintings. W=
e've both just been less guarded and followed our instincts wherever they t=
ook us. We've ended up with a show that is the polar opposite of The Chapma=
n Bros thing on round the corner. Vive la difference."</div><div>&nbsp=3B</=
div><div><strong>For the full interview scroll down</strong></div><div>&nbs=
p=3B</div><div><p style=3D"margin-left: 15px=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" ali=
gn=3D"left"><b><font size=3D"3"><i><span style=3D"line-height: 115%=3B font=
-family: Tahoma=2Csans-serif=3B">Joffe et=20
Pye</span></i><span style=3D"line-height: 115%=3B font-family: Tahoma=2Csan=
s-serif=3B">=20
</span></font></b></p><font size=3D"3">
</font><p style=3D"margin-left: 15px=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" align=3D"le=
ft"><span style=3D"line-height: 115%=3B font-family: Tahoma=2Csans-serif=3B=
 font-weight: 700=3B"><font size=3D"3">31 July to 28 August</font></span></=
p><font size=3D"3">
</font><p style=3D"margin-left: 15px=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" align=3D"le=
ft"><span style=3D"line-height: 115%=3B font-family: Tahoma=2Csans-serif=3B=
"><font size=3D"3"><span style=3D"color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B">PV</span> =
Saturday July=20
30<sup>th</sup> 2011 6-9pm<br>Open only on SUNDAYS 12 noon till 5pm<br>Unit=
 3=2C=20
7C Plough Yard=2C EC2A 3LP</font></span></p><font size=3D"3">
</font><p style=3D"margin-left: 15px=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" align=3D"le=
ft"><span style=3D"font-family: Tahoma=2Csans-serif=3B"><font size=3D"3">ht=
tp://</font><a href=3D"http://www.jasperandharry.blogspot.com/" target=3D"_=
blank"><font size=3D"3">www.jasperandharry.blogspot.com</font></a><font siz=
e=3D"3">=20
</font></span></p><p style=3D"margin-left: 15px=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" =
align=3D"left"><span style=3D"font-family: Tahoma=2Csans-serif=3B"><a href=
=3D"http://www.jasperjoffe.com" target=3D"_blank"><font size=3D"3">http://w=
ww.jasperjoffe.com</font></a><font size=3D"3"> </font></span></p></div><div=
>&nbsp=3B</div><div>&nbsp=3B</div><div><a href=3D"http://youtu.be/Yb0tcxpSa=
UY" target=3D"_blank">http://youtu.be/Yb0tcxpSaUY</a><br></div> <br><a styl=
e=3D"margin-right: 1em=3B margin-left: 1em=3B" href=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot=
.com/-WVO644Pow3s/Ti1t82joWyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/4-mY09ClBeE/s1600/The+Power+of+Su=
ggestion+2011+By+Harry+Pye+and+Rowland+Smith.jpg" target=3D"_blank"></a> <a=
 style=3D"margin-right: 1em=3B margin-left: 1em=3B" href=3D"http://1.bp.blo=
gspot.com/-psPPJESstBA/Ti1uufU5wzI/AAAAAAAAAFk/bE3ACBHCUog/s1600/charlie+an=
d+snoopee+4+panels+Jasper+Joffe.jpg" target=3D"_blank"><img border=3D"0" sr=
c=3D"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psPPJESstBA/Ti1uufU5wzI/AAAAAAAAAFk/bE3ACBHC=
Uog/s320/charlie+and+snoopee+4+panels+Jasper+Joffe.jpg" width=3D"320" heigh=
t=3D"213"></a><a style=3D"margin-right: 1em=3B margin-left: 1em=3B" href=3D=
"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVO644Pow3s/Ti1t82joWyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/4-mY09ClBeE/=
s1600/The+Power+of+Suggestion+2011+By+Harry+Pye+and+Rowland+Smith.jpg" targ=
et=3D"_blank"><img border=3D"0" src=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVO644Pow3=
s/Ti1t82joWyI/AAAAAAAAAFc/4-mY09ClBeE/s320/The+Power+of+Suggestion+2011+By+=
Harry+Pye+and+Rowland+Smith.jpg" width=3D"231" height=3D"320"></a><br>&nbsp=
=3B<br>&nbsp=3B<br><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: center=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal" align=
=3D"center"><b><u><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family:=
 "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 11pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Joffe et Pye=
: Le Conversation</span></u></b><b><u><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C=
 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 11pt=3B'></span>=
</u></b></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry: "This morning we agreed
to do an e-mail interview about the show. In your studio today I felt pleas=
ed
because you've already made more work than we could put up on the walls and=
 we
have at least three weeks till the show opens. I=92ve made a few things. Th=
e
first painting I made for the show was based on Lucian Freud's painting of =
a
woman and her dog. The title was "Nothing Happens By Chance" which is
based on something Lucian Freud's grandfather once said. The work I've been
doing now could be called "Everything Happens By Chance". I've always
loved Richter and Kelly's work about putting colours of the spectrum in any
order but I never thought I would do it myself. I guess you never thought y=
ou'd
be painting large Snoopys on cardboard - or did you?"

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><b><s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></b></p><font siz=
e=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Jasper: =93I have a hangover from that
book launch=2C art people are generally cooler than book people. Because th=
e show
is in my place I can work right up to the last moment=2C I am always hoping=
 that
the next painting will be even better than the last one. So next time you c=
ome
over I will have done 69 gray paintings or something. Yeah your colour
paintings are pure=2C remind me of Stuart Cumberland=92s show at the Approa=
ch=2C
paring it down to the essentials. It can be a bit wanky=2C but if you pull =
it off
makes you look deep and talented.&nbsp=3B I don't know whether my Snoopy ph=
ase
will last=2C I can't remember ever thinking what I'd be painting in the fut=
ure.
It's something I sometime&nbsp=3Bset out to do though=2C paint the painting=
s I
would paint in the future=2C so I will make faster progress. The progressio=
n for
me is always to be making better paintings=2C which maybe is a silly way th=
at I
think. Do the future now!&nbsp=3B What will you be doing in ten years time?=
 Do
you think you'll ever drive a car? I can't imagine ever learning to drive=
=2C but
if I moved to say Vermont=2C
I might learn.&nbsp=3B Can you imagine what your work would be like if you =
owned
a house=2C drove your kids to school=2C and went on regular summer holidays=
 to a
villa in France?=94

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry: "It's hard for me to
imagine riding a bike let alone driving a car. So you can imagine the idea =
of
being married and driving our kids to school is pretty much inconceivable.<=
br>
I just watched the comedy film Step Brothers. Towards the end there is a sp=
oof
corny bit in which the grumpy father remembers the foolish dreams he had as=
 a
child and decides to encourage his sons to follow their dreams rather than =
tell
them to grow up. I found myself weeping. Pretty much everyone starts off as=
 a
writer and an artist when they are a child at primary school but for some
reason most people stop and people like you and me carry on. You live in yo=
ur
studio and I make paintings in my kitchen. I never feel I'm wasting time wh=
en
I'm painting. I'd like to paint more. I don't care if it's not shown. Last
night I was making a stripe painting and I felt happier than I have in year=
s.
It felt like it was all coming together for me. Maybe it was partly&nbsp=3B=
because
I was completely drunk? Anyway for

<span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">me it wouldn't matter too much wher=
e I was living because my
work is about getting out what's going on in my head. My question for you: =
is
your painting a window or a mirror? Your sister said she saw paintings as a
window."

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

Jasper: =
=93I love how emotional you are about art and crap films! Hollywood films o=
ften make me want to cry=2C they have some
magical story structure that hits the basic emotions. 
Don't give up on the car and villa in France. Anyway I just see painting
as an activity and these mirror window metaphors don't feel relevant. I pai=
nt
paintings (paintings are paintings for me)&nbsp=3Band always trying to make=
 the
best one I can=2C which I have just said=2C so I am getting boring on this
subject.&nbsp=3B What do think of my paintings? An egotistical and awkward
question but interesting. If you tell me I will tell you about yours!=94</s=
pan>

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry: =93What do I think about your
paintings?&nbsp=3BI think you're like David Hockney in that you're someone =
that
can never be written off completely. Hockney does a project using photo cop=
ied
images of felt tip drawings of&nbsp=3Brich people's dogs or something and I
think: "God=2C He's really lost it this time" but then he's off again
and&nbsp=3Bthe next project is a hundred times better. I don't think you lo=
ve
colour in the way some painters do. Patrick Herron and Henri Matisse are re=
ally
in love with colour. I think you're more about energy=2C pushing boundaries=
=2C
being challenging. It's good to be proved wrong sometimes. I&nbsp=3Blike it
when&nbsp=3Ba description of a painting (or film=2C book=2C song) is like a=
 list of
things that shouldn't work but&nbsp=3Bwhen you see it you're pleasantly
surprised. I've told you before that&nbsp=3Bmy favourites of your paintings=
 were
in your solo Notting Hill show but I also really liked your Himmler. Your H=
ockney
tribute was pretty good and I like a lot of your really old stuff too. I li=
ke
the fact&nbsp=3Bthat there is no easy answer to your question - that is wha=
t I
think is good about your work.=94

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3"=
 face=3D"Times New Roman">

Jasper: =93Huh?.. David Hockne=
y! Suppose he's not too bad to be compared to=2C
and I love colour! I take criticism very badly obviously=2C but good to hea=
r
still. What people say about my work remains fixed in my head for decades..=
.

<span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Your paintings are good on colour=
=2C clarity=2C humour=2C simplicity=2C
and composition=2C and story. They make other paintings look like they are =
trying
too hard. Sometime the surfaces can be a bit dull especially when you do la=
rge
scale work=2C and I think that you don't need to work with others=2C though=
 it must
be fun. You are a good painter but stupid people think they are simple and
South Parkish sometimes.. I don't get that=2C but probably something you ne=
ed to
confront or not. What would you do if you weren=92t an artist? How come you=
've
gone abstract?=94

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><b><s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry</span></b><span style=3D'c=
olor: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-s=
ize: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">: =93All artists are sensitive
souls.&nbsp=3BI think of the large scale ones I've done only a couple were =
any
good. I rate Jesus&nbsp=3BWashing The Feet Of His Followers and the one of =
me
playing chess with my dad - Marcus Cope and Rowland Smith contributed loads=
 to
both of them. I feel like I'm only starting out as a painting=2C like I'm r=
olling
up my sleeves and getting ready to surprise you all.&nbsp=3BA painting I
made&nbsp=3Babout 6 years ago got damaged recently and it upset me. It was =
pretty
much my first painting. There are some good ones I've made in this 6 year
period but I think I can do a lot better. Some people will always say my wo=
rk
is like a children's book illustrator or like South Park
- I don't mind that. And people have compared me to David Shrigley which
I&nbsp=3Bthink is fair enough. I think it's bad to be too concerned with wh=
at
others say about your work. Often&nbsp=3Bone can think for&nbsp=3Byears abo=
ut a
comment someone else made and forgot about 10 seconds later. I'm into strip=
es
and coloured squares at the moment. I think it's just a phase I'm going
through. Nothing to worry about. How many good paintings do you think you'v=
e
done so far and do you feel the best is yet to come?</span></p><font size=
=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p style=3D"text-autospace: ideograph-numeric=3B" class=3D"ecxMs=
oList"><b><span><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp=3B</font></=
span></b></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

Jasper: =
=93I don't know about how many good paintings I've done.
Sometimes when I am on a high=2C I think wow I've done loads and they're re=
ally
creative and different and I am a genius. Then other days maybe none=2C jus=
t a
bunch of junk which trails about with me=2C all cack handed and worthless.<=
/span>

What type of books do you like to read? I read a lot of fiction=2C and I&nb=
sp=3Bget
the impression you don't=2C your paintings tell stories but you don't like =
story
books?

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3"=
 face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry: Well=2C I've worked in the
book shop&nbsp=3Bat Tate Britain&nbsp=3Bfor
15 years. I do read lots of exhibition catalogues=2C&nbsp=3Bart magazines=
=2C music
magazines=2C children's books and artist biographies. The most interesting =
book
I've read so far is probably&nbsp=3BThe Autobiography of Malcolm X. I was t=
alking
the other day to someone about our press release for this show and the quot=
es
we had selected. I think we've&nbsp=3Bbeen lucky in that we've&nbsp=3Bboth =
had a
few writers who like the cut of our jib and have been very encouraging and
complimentary. But have you ever had a proper review? Has anyone ever reall=
y
taken on board what you're about and talked about their engagement with wha=
t
you do? &nbsp=3B

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><b><s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Jasper:</span></b><span style=3D=
'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font=
-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US"> =93Hey Harry.&nbsp=3B I wasn't
accusing you of being illiterate!&nbsp=3B(though&nbsp=3Bif the cap fits=2C =
ha
ha)&nbsp=3BJust interested that you prefer biographies to fictional stories=
. Was
there any reason why?<br>
By proper reviews you mean I guess an art magazine writing seriously or a
newspaper critic. I've had much more press coverage of my shows in terms of
them being a newsworthy event. I would like a review in the New Yorker or N=
ew
York Times because it would be nice to get someone whose opinion you're rea=
lly
interested in=2C look carefully at your paintings and present their views t=
o a
big audience. When I give talks I have had people really engage with my art=
 in
a satisfying way... Perhaps it makes more sense as an oeuvre... I love that
word. Do you crave attention and are you a show-off!?</span></p><font size=
=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry: =93I've given lectures in a
few places now. There's always one person who comes up&nbsp=3Bto me at the =
end
and asks me about&nbsp=3BBilly Childish. And there's usually one person who=
 asks
for my autograph.&nbsp=3BOnce I had the rare honour of&nbsp=3Binspiring a s=
ong.
Students of Chester
wrote a song about me&nbsp=3Bhaving a head on me&nbsp=3Blike a potato and p=
ut it up
on You Tube. It's&nbsp=3Bgetting far too many hits. I'm glad I don't make p=
eople
nervous and that&nbsp=3Byoung people feel comfortable enough to do that sor=
t of
thing.

<span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">When I was about 12 I became obsess=
ed with Monty Python. The sad
thing is that since then there have been lots of things I haven't been able=
 to
take seriously. In a lot of cases when I begin to read a novel my brain goe=
s on
a walk and starts thinking how Python would have parodied it. I don't feel
happy about&nbsp=3Bthis but there you go. When I try reading novels by Will=
 Self=2C
Martin Amis etc I can only see faults and errors and ways it could have bee=
n
better. 
I think that Remains of the Day is a great novel and I can
remember&nbsp=3Bwishing it wouldn't end. It is strange how our minds work t=
hough
and how our tastes develop. I would say a children's book like The Tiger Wh=
o
Came To Tea by Judith Kerr&nbsp=3Bgenuinely has had a massive impact on
me.&nbsp=3BI have read the book Raymond Briggs made about his
parents&nbsp=3Bseveral times and&nbsp=3Bit always makes me cry. Michael Ros=
en's Sad
book about the death of&nbsp=3Bhis son is also important to me. I think the=
se
books contain truth in a way that&nbsp=3Bnovels by Will Self don't. I don't=
 think
Will Self has done anything that needed to be made whereas Briggs=2C Kerr a=
nd
Rosen have. Munch said he didn't believe in any art that didn't&nbsp=3Baris=
e from
a person wanting to open their heart. I relate to this. I know some people =
will
never see any value in&nbsp=3Bthe paintings I make but all I can say is it =
wasn't
made for them. The reason I loved Monty Python and connected with it so dee=
ply
was because=2C to me=2C&nbsp=3Bwhat they were saying was so true. They were=
 questioning&nbsp=3Bthe
way life&nbsp=3Bwas and challenging authority figures and being silly and t=
o me
it felt incredibly vital. 
What have been your obsessions? What books=2C films=2C songs=2C paintings h=
ave been
vital in&nbsp=3Bshaping you or at least made you feel you weren't&nbsp=3Bal=
one?

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Jasper: =93Good answer Harry.
Obsessions. I've been reading Alba these American books about 1890s kids
growing up in Utah.
They're called "The Great Brain" books. They were a big influence I
now realise. The kid with the great brain&nbsp=3Bwho swindles everyone and =
thinks
of money making schemes and solves problems too=2C is the one I wanted to b=
e. His
brother J.D=2C the narrator=2C is more modest. I asked Alba who she wanted =
to be=2C
she said the little brain J.D.=2C and I was surprised and asked why=2C she =
said
because he doesn't swindle people. I had no sense of that as a kid=2C I jus=
t
wanted to be the great one!

<span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">I carried on liking 'inspirational =
stories'=2C often with
anti-heroes. Hemingway men. Henry Miller's escape from bourgeois drudgery.
Stendhal. Updike=2C Roth=2C Proust=2C Celine=2C&nbsp=3BCervantes=2C Kingsle=
y Amis&nbsp=3Bare
all in my favourites list. Heroes. I wanted to be the heroes in books and s=
aw
them as manuals for self-improvement and success. I sure was/am nuts.&nbsp=
=3B I
also liked books with female protagonists as I saw them as research for fut=
ure
girlfriends. Recently I have been rereading books by Sybile Bedford=2C bohe=
mian
interwar freedom=2C and Updike=2C intensely observed aging. &nbsp=3B 
I am obsessed with food. I want to eat meals that take me through highs of
emotion=2C but lately I watched too much Masterchef and great British menu =
and
that has made me sick of foodieism. I love TV too=2C Sopranos=2C Seinfeld=
=2C LA Law=2C
The Emerald Forest (made me worried about rainforests) and innumerable othe=
r
shows have imprinted themselves on my brain.. 
I tend to be really into stuff=2C then react against it=2C and say I have s=
topped
doing it and given it up. Let's talk about things we like... What are a few=
 of
your favourite things?=94

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry: =93I think it's really
interesting that you love something and then react against it. When I was a=
bout
11 I fell in love with so many things that I still love with all my heart.
Records such as Ian Dury's New Boots &amp=3B Panties filled me up then and
continue to do so. Other favourite things? Well=2C I like to be asleep=2C r=
eally
deep deep sleep. And I like to be under water - I'm not a great swimmer but=
 I
love that first bit when you jump in. I like being in the arms of people I
love&nbsp=3Bespecially if they can take me away from the rest of the world.=
 I
love getting drunk especially if it er... takes me away from the rest of th=
e
world. And I like music especially if it takes me away from the rest of the
world. I like wit. I like being with friends with sharp minds and tongues. =
I've
got a sad autistic&nbsp=3Bcompletest streak in me which goes hand-in-hand w=
ith my
squirrel like desire to horde&nbsp=3Bpossessions such as records. And I lik=
e
painting because again I can lose myself in it and escape from the rest of =
the
world. Friendships are what keep me going though.&nbsp=3BDo you love your
friends?=94

</font><br><p class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C =
42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"=
EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

<s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Jasper: =93I do love my friends. As I
get older I value them more and more=2C they give you a way of measuring yo=
ur own
changes=2C and a kind of family without so many childhood hopes and fears
distorting the relationship.&nbsp=3B I try to never lose a good friend over=
 a
silly argument=2C when I was younger (god I sound so old and pious) I used =
to let
conflict get out of hand and sometimes destroy friendships=2C and I realise=
 not
everyone likes arguing as much as I sometimes do ( I see it as being play i=
n a
way).&nbsp=3B It's good watching their development from callow youth to per=
son
with serious jobs and families and whatever=2C and you can look back and se=
e them
as a scared teenager or wild or introverted or girlfriendless. People chang=
e is
what I am saying and I like thinking back on that.&nbsp=3B It's like I go t=
o the
same two Chinese restaurants all the time=2C and look back on the different
friends I have been there with=2C I am conservative like that=2C eat the sa=
me pork
and duck on rice I have been having since my mum brought it home after she'=
d
been out shopping with my sisters=2C while I skulked at home.&nbsp=3B This =
constant
battle to accept and enjoy change while keeping a solid sense of yourself..=
. I
sound like I have been on the self-help again...=94

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><span=
 style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif=
"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">&nbsp=3B</span></p><font size=3D"3"=
 face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><p style=3D"text-align: justify=3B" class=3D"ecxMsoNormal"><b><s=
pan style=3D'color: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-se=
rif"=3B font-size: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">Harry</span></b><span style=3D'c=
olor: rgb(42=2C 42=2C 42)=3B font-family: "Tahoma"=2C"sans-serif"=3B font-s=
ize: 10pt=3B' lang=3D"EN-US">: =93It is a sad and beautiful world.=94</span=
></p><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman">

</font><br><br><br><div>
<div>
<div>
<div>&nbsp=3B</div>
<div>&nbsp=3B</div>
<div><a href=3D"http://www.worldwidereview.com/" target=3D"_blank"></a>&nbs=
p=3B</div></div></div></div> 		 	   		  </div></div> 		 	   		  </div></bod=
y>
</html>=

--_7aa410e5-81ff-4601-ace7-39f8d44b64a4_--