Have A Word… w/ Robi Walters

Robi Walters is a fantastic artist; fantastic because he recently secured a place in the Telegraph’s Amazing 15 competition which handpicked 15 of Britain’s most exciting talent today, and also fantastic because he not only creates one bit of art a day, but his works include a lot of recycled and reworked materials.

He is hot stuff on the art scene right now and as Beautiful Crime kept spotting him at pretty much every art show we went to, we thought we’d hassle him for an interview…

Here, Walters talks to Beautiful Crime about conversations with Chris Ofili, transforming materials for his works and what it means to give something back to the community via art.

I think I was introduced to Chris Ofili by a friend, Charlie Dark. I was a big fan of Chris’s work and it was a honour to meet him. I was living in Canada and wanting to focus more on my art. I was talking to Chris about how to get started and his advice to me was to draw everyday. At first I resisted and didn’t really want to do it. After few months I hadn’t noticed but my drawings were getting bigger and bigger until they had become 6 feet long. I realised how much the practice of drawing something every day had enhanced my development and style. I started with the ’365 projekt’ which started out by painting everyday on a discarded item, titled with a news headline. This lasted a year and now I do a drawing every day on used envelopes. I’m looking to turn last year’s project into a book and then work towards exhibiting and publishing it.

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2) What are the main purposes or influences of your artwork and what’s it all about?

The main purpose of my art is to create something beautiful for someone to buy and display. I don’t have a direct influence that I can pin point. I love to learn especially about subjects I don’t know much about. I watch a lot of interviews and documentaries whilst working. Always trying to find the best person in different subjects and watch them. Most of my work contains materials that have been used before. Transforming materials is a passion for me. I love it when you look at something and when you get closer you notice its made from something you recognise.

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I just hung work in Home House on Portman Square in London. I’m currently working on a piece for a children’s auction, work to go to Miami Basel and a solo show with my gallery Waterhouse and Dodd in Cork St for next Spring. I’ve enjoyed all the shows I’ve been involved with, one that stands out is a group show in Puerto Rico. There were so many great artists involved in the show that I look up to – Jose Parla, Swoon, D-Zine, Lee Quinones, Logan Hicks – it was good to be in their company.

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Giving back has always been something of interest to me. I needed a lot of help when I was young and understand how a little help can go a long way with someones life. I try to work with at least one charity every year. In the future I plan to work with young people and art. Trying to encourage them to keep their creative doors open. I’m currently working on building a team to make this happen. Its not set in stone yet but I do know I want to start small and to keep growing it, so that it goes beyond me.

My two kids are the best company at the dinner table Zion and Ananda. They are fun and see the world in a fresh way. Always laughs and jokes.

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