Exhibition - Castle Fine Art, 24 Bruton Street
A sneek preview of works to be included in this forthcoming exhibition. From 27 September 2013
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CAPTURED CASTLE
ALTERED IMAGES Castle Galleries have been lucky enough to chat to Stuart McAlpine Miller, the leading contemporary artist, about his mesmerising works and brand new collection entitled Altered Images. CG: How did you come up with the original concept for your work? SMM: My current style is a product of working as an artist over the last twenty years. I have been influenced by Renaissance art, especially Caravaggio as he had a great approach to figurative art – my favourite of his works is The Supper at Emmaus, which is very dark and dramatic. Also, imagery that’s transparent has been a growing fascination of mine and gradually this has become the focus of my work. So the basis of the concept lies in Renaissance art but with a surrealist and contemporary edge. CG: You have described the message/aim of your work as to draw the viewer closer and identify the different layers in your works, but do you ever hide images within your pieces; as secrets that only you know are there? SMM: I aim to include very clear imagery in my pieces and don’t hide aspects intentionally. The sub-images within them are supposed to be un-ravelled over time by the viewer. Often layers of a piece I will think are the most hidden appear to someone else first and vice-versa, which is interesting because it just shows how the mind can work in different ways. CG: You have admitted that you toiled at the coalface of the art world for 20 years – how does it feel now to be gaining critical recognition? SMM: There have been earlier stages of my career that have been very good; when I first moved to London I signed a contract with a big gallery. But I didn’t want to be restricted and looking back, I was possibly afraid of success ultimately. I don’t think I would have handled it very well when I was younger. I have to say, I don’t really think about the critical recognition. I am very happy that people enjoy my work and I’m just passionate about what I do. CG: Are you looking forward to your exhibition at Castle Fine Art, Bruton Street and how have you had to prepare for it? SMM: Over a year’s worth of work has been created specifically for my Altered Images show in London, which will comprise of 35 new canvasses. It’s been an interesting and positive experience – I always enjoy finishing a piece and learning from it. I would say that there is quite a difference from the first piece I painted for the show compared to the last piece, which I’m finishing off at the moment, notably in its composition and how I developed the idea. The show will include a few larger pieces too, which I really liked working on as they were challenging due to their size. CG: What direction do you see your work taking in the future? SMM: The last piece I’ve been working on for the Altered Images show at Castle Fine Art, Bruton Street definitely leads on to my next collection. I wouldn’t say I’m taking an obviously different direction but I feel that subconsciously I have been influenced by Caravaggio, much like in my earlier work. My future collectons will be a natural evolution of my style. CG: As artist-in-residence at The Savoy you painted celebrities of times gone by – just for fun, which of those celebrities would you choose to be holed up in a hotel room with? SMM: My favourite era has to be the 1940s and 1950s so I would choose Marilyn Monroe. I tried to paint her in a way to show her innocence and purity trapped in mayhem, which is how I see her. I enjoyed the film ‘My Week With Marilyn’ (2011, dir. Simon Curtis) because it showed how often what we see of celebrities is so different to the truth. Celebrities are just normal people but for many they are a source of escapism. View Stuarts full collection of limited edition artwork.
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BBC Radio London - Robert Elms, With Estelle Lovatt, Ben DeVere, Sam Mullins and Gary Brooker
Listen to Art Critic, Estelle Lovatt pre-viewing McAlpine Miller’s forthcoming "MIRROR MIRROR" exhibition on BBC Radio London, Robert Elms show, today. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02bl1y4 The Art Slot starts - FF 35:02, and at 41:27 is McAlpine Miller: MIRROR MIRROR
