How did you get into art?

Always been into Art of some form from comic book to gallery. Been doodlin since I could and never really stopped.

How do you get inspiration for the pieces you produce?

Inspiration comes from everywhere for me, ecclecticism is my forte. Still have a fond affection for outdated graphics and encyclopeadia rummaging though. Travelling often leads my body and mind to other places but mostly it is the waking moments in the middle of the night that gives me most of my ideas. T.V, Film, Internet and Books still underpin most of this though.

What has been your best creation to date?

I  don't think that I have made it yet, but among my best are a set of tape measures that didn't measure, a swing that didn't swing and a painting of burnt matches.

How much do you think hype affects the public perception of what good art is?

I think it depends on what you call Public. If Public means any one person that sees your work then no I don't think that hype has anything to do with your Art work, you'll know when and if you like something or not. If we are talking about Public as a collective group of individuals then I think that hype undoubtedly holds sway with a large majority of people, primarily due to the fact that humans tend to want to belong and belonging often means that you are part of a group, team, crew, collective of like minded individuals. Generally I think that people fear being isolated and persecuted due to their choices not being accepted by others, no matter how many people say that they want to be original. If people want to affiliate themselves with a particular group, style etc. then they can make decisions to do this, if they chose to do this then they must be concerned with what other people think of them and will rely on other peoples opinion or 'the hype'. Why do people assume that they should know what good Art is ? Every Tom, Dick an Harry assumes that they KNOW what makes good art even if they have never lifted a pencil in their lives. Why does the PUBLIC assume that their opinion counts for anything? If we were to ask the same question about quantum physics, bio-chemistry, philosophy would people be as confident in their answers? I like the fact that people feel so comfortable with pieces of art work that they feel their opinion counts for something even if in reality it doesn't count for shit. Because of the nature of many forms of art work and the fact that artists choose to put their work in the public domain allows the public to enter into a dialogue and dialogue in my opinion is what makes Art work good, even if that dialogue is negative.
This is a massive question and I could go on for days but won't.

Last CD you bought/downloaded/shoplifted?

Young Blood Brass band: Centre;level;roar (Ripped from an unsuspecting ipod!)

How did you feel when you realised that art could make you some money?

Can it? Work makes me money, art might only be a part of that work and besides I have never sold a stand alone piece of my art so technically I haven't realised this yet.

Why do so many people spend money on music yet so few buy art?

Value. I don't think that many people see an inherent value in owning art. Ultimately many people are quite happy knowing that the work is there if they want to go and get it, have access to it via internet / books / postcards etc.etc. and in some sense people do spend alot of money on art, maybe just not directly. How many posters / postcards / books / prints / tickets to art shows etc have been bought? How much revenue does this create? Millions I'm sure. I think that we can only compare the experience of viewing art work with that of seeing a live peformance of a musician, and lets be frank not many people actually go and see the Live act compared to the figures of people buying cd's, downloads etc. Besides can you actually own a piece of music? Music is not an object so in effect cannot be owned only experienced. Many of the best works of art equally cannot be owned and only experienced and I think that that is what is really significant. Commercially they are both pretty successful though. Maybe some of the commerce will come my way and everyone can call me a sell out and I'll shout heeeeeeellll yeah!

Any close encounters with the law ?

Several, never to do with painting though, touch wood.
The closest was in university when I was advised to take caution in one particular piece of work which entailed squashing British currency. I was in breach of the law and technically could have been tried for treason against the monarchy, although I was never that worried seeing as though the last treason case was approx 50 years prior. A good try though!

Is painting on walls vandalism?

Yes......and No but not really for me to judge. Sorry.

Know any jokes?

Not good ones but.....
What's the difference between a drummer and a drum machine?
You only have to punch the rhythm in to a drum machine once. Yes I'm a drummer so I'm allowed

What makes you happy?

Oh loads of stuff makes me happy. Spray, sex, sand, surf, sight all the s's

What makes you sad?

Unfortunately loads of stuff. More frequently the news, I hate to say. Especially tabloid newspapers that report crap and manipulate facts and their readers, yes I'm talking to you Daily Mail, The Sun etc.
Inequality of wealth generally. Although lazy, screw up, dole scrounging, cop out, bigots can go screw em selves. I'm talkin about people who want to work hard and change not sit on their arse and wax lyrical about their hard life. Yes I'm talkin to you ya Nike runner wearin, Reebok classic lovin, racist rantin, homophobic, Mcdonalds eatin, bullion wearin, baby mama leavin idiots. I'd ship all you lot out the country before any of the refugees that y'all whine about stealin ya jobs. Ooh that feels better. I'll stop there but there's unfortunately too many things in this world that make me unbelievably sad and many that I can't do a thing about. Ultimately though I think that most of them are down to Us. Our nature (genetically or instinctively) dictates that some are prepared to do whatever necessary to another to make personal gains and all too often they get away with it with little or no consequences. That's why I am holding out on Karma and hope that all the stuff that people are doing is being clocked up by some omnipotent being, I doubt it though.

Sex, drugs or rock n roll?

Yes please. Preferably hetero/herbal/loud but I am open to options.

Last book you read?

The Time Travellers Wife and the Rough Guide to Sri Lanka.
Oh and numerous picture books eg. Cecil Beaton, Angus McBean, Masters of American Comics but they don't count as reading in my books.
Currently reading No Country for Old Men (Cormack McCarthy)
Revolutionary Road (Richard Yates) next.

Tell us a secret?

Errrm....no. It's a secret.

What time did you get up?

Today 8:47am day off
Usually  6:43am  or  6:47 if I think  that I need the extra four minutes.  Never set my clock to an even number though, don't know why...

Did you have a good xmas?

Well let's put it this way I was in Sri Lanka for Christmas and new year.......guess.

What else do like other than art?

Music, drumming, riding flatland, running, smoking, drinking coffee, travelling, reading, making films (guess that's art too really). Friends, family, watching the sea, looking at fire, finding things in the street, finding a bargain. Loooooads a stuff. like I said keep it ecclectic

Any regrets?

Many. But none that I can't resolve. I'm workin on them. Still got time yet.

Final thoughts...

Computers are evil and will one day take over the world. Along with cockroaches and ants. Computerised cockroach killers (there's a film in that!)
Elephants are currently my coolest animal again. Although bats are pretty darn cool too
Repetition is God but boring after a while.
Practice does not make perfect it just makes it permanent.

Interview - Mr. Burrows 08/01/07