Artist Jamie Kyle
There are few things we love more at The London Word – apart from a G&T in the park on a really sunny day – than discovering up-and-coming artists that we think might just be the next big thing.
I first saw Jamie Kyle’s playful, quirky illustrations when he customised a hat for my brother with a mad tapestry of mini cartoon figures. A closer look shows that he’s no one-trick pony – his work incorporates pen and paper illustrations, animation, mixed media and moving image – all with his trademark witty touches.
London is a famously tough place to make your mark as a creative, so Jamie and his friends have recently teamed up to set up their own design collective, ‘65’, named after their student flat in Elephant and Castle. Watch this space…
I caught up with Jamie to find out whether he rates the Turner prize, where he heads for a good London Saturday night and why he’ll never make it as a professional footballer.
I love your illustrations. Can you sum up your style for our readers?
‘I’d say its surrealism combined with abstract expressionism, with a few cartoon and internet references. I like to look at imperfection and exaggeration, and I try to convey that through the ‘scratchy’ technique I use, it brings an interesting energy and feel to it. I also love to include a sense of repetition, I could easily spend all day drawing the same shape over and over in a tessellation.’
Have you always wanted to be an artist?
‘Always. My parents are both creative and have always encouraged me to do it, so it’s been around me forever! Without sounding too melodramatic, it was one of the only ways I could fully express myself and feel comfortable about myself. I was very shy growing up and art has always been where my confidence is. It was the only subject at school I would truly care about grade-wise, even if I got a B I would be in such a sulk. Anyway, my hopes of being a professional footballer for Arsenal fell through when I didn’t get picked for the school team.’
My brother has a fantastic hat that you’ve customised with your artwork. Will we see your name on a fashion label soon?
‘I wish! All customised clothing I’ve done has only been for people I know, mostly hats and footwear. I would love to do more of it and to do some T-shirts as well. I’ve always been open to the idea, so it might be time to pursue it seriously.’
You’ve just started up your own design collective, ‘65’. Where does the name come from?
‘It originally came from the name ‘Studio 65’ which my former housemates and I would jokingly refer to ourselves when we shared a house in Elephant and Castle during our university years. 65 was the number of our house.’
Who else is involved?
‘My former housemates who all studied on the same course as me at London College Of Communication: Adam Grant, Leo Vick, Jon Urquhart and Masum Khan. Our biggest strength is that we cover lots of areas in design between us: illustration, web, typography, conceptual, animation – nearly everything! We have different outlooks but we share a lot in common so we generally get along very well. As well as being good friends we can feel comfortable explaining an idea to each other and asking for feedback on it.’
Do you think the recession has made it hard for creative types to make their mark on the London scene?
‘I guess so, although I don’t think it’s a complete disaster as a theme and style has come out of it. For example, DIY exhibitions and makeshift studios have added a new element to it all which you have to admire – all on a shoestring budget. Art always reflects the culture and society it’s around at the time, so it’s a natural process and you just have to make the most of it. It’s definitely tougher to get a break and get noticed in London though, there are more creatives than taxis!’
What would be your dream job?
‘Making music videos for a living, whilst doing a few illustration commissions on the side. I don’t like to stick to one area so a combination would be great. But ultimately music videos – that would include anything and everything I want – it’s the most creative and exciting outlet for the moving image. To have my own studio too would be amazing, I would love to be my own boss, I’d boss myself about all day!’
The Turner Prize. Groundbreaking, bullshit or boring?
‘All of the above. Each year is completely different as it’s an incredibly subjective area, all art is. I think last year’s winner, Susan Philipsz, was groundbreaking as her piece was an audio piece and very original. Generally, I respect the Turner Prize but I know I’m not always going to like it. It’s always, at the least, thought-provoking, which you could say is what art is all about so that can’t be a bad thing. But I can understand that it can be contrived at the same time, it has to be a careful mix of ingredients.’
Which five people (alive or dead) would you like to invite to dinner?
‘Laurel and Hardy (they can share a seat), Chuck Close, Michel Gondry, Dave Grohl and Olivia Wilde. That was quite hard! But each of them would bring a really interesting element to the dinner as well as several ideas and thoughts, I like hearing about why people do things the way they do and why.’
What is your favourite area of London and why?
‘I do love central London, Covent Garden, South Bank, Tottenham Court Road. There are so many secret little roads in these areas, you can easily find somewhere new to go every day of the week. Plus it is beautiful, you take it for granted seeing it nearly every day but the architecture is wonderful. I’ve lived in London all my life and there’s still a lot to find.’
Best night out in London?
‘Starting in a Samuel Smiths pub in the centre, then heading on down to a late night pub or bar in Camden. Camden always has a really good going out vibe, particularly in the summer by the canal. It has a lot of character and there’s a lot on offer.’
How would you spend a perfect Sunday?
‘I’d wake up to a nice coffee and a small breakfast, pop down to the pub in the early afternoon for a huge Sunday Roast – chicken preferably – washed down with a couple of ales, catch a bit of the Sunday football then retire back home to watch a film.’
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