LISTEN:
“People who have something to say find people to listen to them. If you have things you want to do, and you’re good at it… I think when you speak to artists you find the same thing. People invent themselves. They have no choice because everyone’s trapped in the way they grew up, the language, the culture.”
This episode:
Episode 2 of The Stuart Semple Show invites experimental, multidisciplinary architectural designer Ron Arad to discuss his viewpoints on working with fabricators, the worrying inclination towards gatekeeping, and finding your voice in the art community.
Never one to stray from difficult subjects, Stuart Semple dives straight in and discusses the perception of Ron Arad’s work. Who decides what art is? Is a crushed chair really art? What does it mean when someone says, ‘I could’ve done that myself’?
Stuart Semple champions art for all. This episode details how art helps ‘people invent themselves’ and how art is born from rebellion.
This episode covers:
- Working with fabricators
- Repurposing mundane objects
- Using 3D printers
- Gatekeeping in the art community
- Multidisciplinary viewpoints
Links & references
Ron Arad Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ronaradstudio
Ron Arad Website:
http://www.ronarad.co.uk/home/
Ron Arad Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RonAradStudio
Ron Arad Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RonAradStudio
Stuart Semple Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stuartsemple/
Stuart Semple Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MrStuartSemple/
Stuart Semple Website:
Culture Hustle:
Episode highlights
“I jump from one thing to another. I’m not a methodical person. I can drop everything. If I have a different idea, if I get curious about something, I have to go there.” – Ron Arad – 02:02
“I think a lot of your work feels like that, doesn’t it? Whether you’re crushing a Fiat or repurposing or recontextualising a piece of iconic furniture by manipulating it in some way. It does have an overtone of being punk ass. It’s a bit naughty. It’s rebellious.” – Stuart Semple – 05:34
“There’s a relic of some myth about the artist and chisel.” – Ron Arad – 33:51
“One of the things that fascinates me is just how multifaceted what comes out of you is. It is truly multidisciplinary. And I think one of the things that really inspires me about you Ron is the fact that you work across so many things. It really legitimises the creator’s ability to play in lots of arenas.” – Stuart Semple – 15:26
“People like to compartmentalise the world. Someone writes about art, so he is the gatekeeper, and he decides what is art and what isn’t. It’s not about that. Stealing from Oscar Wilde, ‘there’s two types of people in the world, tedious people and charming people.’” – Ron Arad – 16:26
“That’s the thing with technology, isn’t it? You’ve always embraced it. You were one of the first people to play around with rapid prototyping and 3D printing. It was so progressive. You always seem to be at the forefront of these things.” – Stuart Semple – 29:51
“Some people can work with their eyes with their hands in their pockets.” – Ron Arad – 35:32
“A lot of people are told they can’t do things. They need permission to do things. We have an education system that does not support people to make creative things. I think we are at a time where people are hugely discouraged from showing up and crashing ideas into reality.” – Stuart Semple – 44:33
“People who have something to say find people to listen to them. If you have things you want to do, and you’re good at it… I think when you speak to artists you find the same thing. People invent themselves. They have no choice because everyone’s trapped in the way they grew up, the language, the culture.” – Ron Arad – 47:37
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