Framed Interview: George Howlett (The Other Side Art Show)

Saturday 25 February will see The Rabbit Hole gallery hosting 'The Other Side', a multi-sensory art experience featuring visual and music artists, "collectively rendering a conceptual world". It'll play host to some of exciting young artists, set to a soundtrack from DJ Miko and live act Phocal (more info can be found right HERE), one of whom is George Howlett, a lighting/sculpture artist who also uses canvas. We sent him a few questions to get to know him a little better, along with some examples of his work:

A/S/L?

27, Male, Fremantle 6160.

Where are you now? What are your immediate surroundings?

At my studio sitting on my balcony trying to guess my neighbours wifi password.

Please describe a typical day:

Wake up, walk to studio, layers of paint, make lunch, more layers, a beer or coffee, some more layers, read, more layers of paint, eat dinner, read and then, sleep.

What mediums do you use?

Any industrial lights or neons I can get my hands on. Acrylic paint, usually miss tints I find at Bunnings or any paint store. Canvas or Aluminium plates. That's at the moment - last year I did a series on pools where I used projectors and screens.

Is there a particular time or place in your life that seems to generate a lot of your ideas?

Sleep deprivation. Ideas come and go I have never been good at keeping visual diaries so I have 1-5 on the go at any time with ideas scribbled through them. It's hard to keep track.

Who/what inspire you and your work the most?

It sounds lame but my mother was a huge inspiration for me - she is a painter and I have watched her paint for my whole life. I have friends who are producing a lot of great work which keeps on my toes and working all the time.

What have you been listening to lately and do you listen to music while you work?

My friend showed me Patti Smith on the weekend, when I am in the studio I usually play a song on repeat till I'm sick of it. Right now it is the cover she did of Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever received?

I've been giving a lot of advice and a lot of the time I don't use it. I do remember a funny bit of advice that's stuck with me from art school: Strain yourself, don’t sleep (there's plenty of sleep when your dead), read lots and turn your TV off.

Three artists/illustrators/creatives we should check out?

Dan Flavin, Alexander Tandy, Mariaan Pugh.

What are your favourite and the best things to do in the city that you live in?

Painting is always good.

Thanks a lot for you time! Any last words/shout outs?

Turn your TV off.

Follow George Howlett: INSTAGRAM