Which artists have made the greatest impact on your life?

Posted by admin in UK Contributor / February 14, 2020

Name: Ajay Pabial

Age: 22

Hometown: Ilford, Essex, England

A clichéd question that as an art graduate I am no stranger to. It is a question when questioned by uninformed uncle’s, aunts and cousins was received with the vaguest of answers. How do you
narrow down the names of creative thinkers and legends you had been introduced to over the past 10 years into a list countable on your fingers? This is no Celebrity Free Pass, it is an attempt to
narrow down your heroes, your inspirations and companions as the greatest in my life. Tim Burton. An obvious choice right? But this choice has truth. Tim Burton’s works and I mean all his paintings, drawings, films and writings have always to some extent played a part in the way I think and see the world. Whimsical. Morbid. Messed-up. Terms that can
be associated with the artist. However, I feel he gave a representation to life like no other, I don’t know if refreshing is the word but it was the honesty of being or should I say daring to be different that was an inspiration.

As an individual I wouldn’t fall in that daring brackets but his works allowed an escape. I think it is the world of cinema that I keep running back to and I find that in the works of Anthea Hamilton. Like, I cannot express how much I LOVE her work! FUN FACT: She was my studio tutor during my first year at University. Anthea’s works have always been in their own time. For me they detach themselves from history and contemporary, they have a sense of familiarity nevertheless. It is Anthea’s ability to see the world in through a different lens that makes her so inspirational, she provides an allegorical sense to life and objects, spaces that we know how to behave in are neither alien or distant. I have on numerous times tried to encompass different ways of seeing (not a reference to John Berger but RIP to another legend) to failed attempts, actually failed is probably the wrong word but I think my work isn’t ‘there’ yet.

Fast Rewind

Not everyone who made an impact in my life is internationally renowned or creating art anymore. A shout out to all those art teachers who inspired me to keep pursuing the one thing I’m good at. I could of went on to become a stereotypical Indian doctor or lawyer but nahh! Ms. Alex Donohoe is probably the one person that you could say started my journey. Ms. Donohoe was a new art teacher that took over during my GCSE’s. She had a completely different and exciting way of thinking and I’m honestly glad she still has! Ms. Donohoe had taught me to be daring, she encouraged me to always put myself out there, really pushing the limits of my work. Throughout a-levels, college, university and life in general I have really tried to put myself out there and honestly I have done well no matter where I went. Enthusiasm is what this woman is made of and I’m glad we are still in contact and really hope I can share my future success no matter what they may be with her.

A hats off to all the Art Teachers out there who are inspiring the next generation of thinkers everyday!

More about Ajay:

” I have interests in Painting and making work with other mediums. I love films especially art films and anything fictional, as well as films I have developed an interest in documentaries on obscured cases, for example Shut-Ins: Britain’s Fattest People. I think one the great things of having creative friends also is the conversations we have, some can be very deep in scenarios and others can be the dumbest of topics, I don’t think there is an in-between but I like it anyway. Books are another interest; I don’t have a specific genre I read but fictional has been the majority.”

Author: admin

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