Friday, November 12, 2010

Interview with Christopher Tay + giveaway.

Interview with Young Creative Christopher Tay about his work and the work on show at the moment at Allan's Walk Artist Run Space in Bendigo.


Have you always wanted to create art?
I was quite interested in creating crafts when I was at a young age. I spent quite some time making cards and posters whenever I get the chance. The term ‘art’ is still very new to me then. I came to realise its true meaning when I went to Singapore for studies three years ago. I was a Science student inside out before that. In Singapore they introduced a new syllabus where you have to choose a contrasting subject. I took three Science subjects and for my fourth I had to choose an Arts subject. I thought to myself: why not art? I was very lucky because I had two very good art teachers then and from then on I decided that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So here I am in Australia pursuing art, and I have to say I’m really glad I did.

What inspires your work?
You’ll find my works very personal most of the time. I realise my strongest works are those that I drew inspiration from my personal memories, dreams or feelings. Art, for me, is a channel to express my feelings visually and conceptually, as well as a way to connect with viewers on a personal yet universal level.

What draws you to the medium you work in?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist. I make drawings, paintings, sculptures and films; I use sound and photography too. But my favourite of all is installation art. I find it fascination to create art that is able to interact with the viewer directly. The relationships between the artwork and the artist, and between the artwork and the viewer are of paramount importance to me. I like my viewers to be able to see different things at different times when they look at my work. There isn’t one particular way of looking at it. That, to me, is the beauty of installation art.

The story behind having your work on display at Allan’s Walk Artist Run Space:
This is my final year of bachelor degree here in Bendigo and I figure why not end it with a blast? I have been thinking of having my first solo show since my joint exhibition with a colleague last year. Allan’s Walk was the perfect place in Bendigo to display my work of installations involving projections that requires dark rooms. So I put in an application early this year and everything just kind of fell into place!

Finally where are you headed in the future?
I’ll be heading back home to Malaysia end of November to work in an art auction house. This will be a whole new chapter of my life! My mindset at the moment is that I’ll learn all I can from this industry and hopefully come back into making art after a few years because I’m totally in love with it! All these experience of creating art and preparing for exhibitions are very tedious but rewarding at the same time. I really think artists has the best job is the world! We get to do what we want and I don’t think there are many jobs out there that is like that.

Silent Clouds by Christopher Tay is now on at Allan's Walk Artist Run Space untill November 20th.
Shops 5 & 7.
Allan's Walk.
Bendigo.

Giveaway ~
I have a copy of Christopher Tay's book "Where Is My Cloud?" that was launched with the exhibition to giveaway.  He created a limited run of 50 prints. If you would like to be in the running for this leave a comment below with a contact email. You must also be a follower of my blog. Entries close November 19th with a winner drawn on the 20th via random.org


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

ooooooooh it sounds lovely! pick me! pick me! blackbirdcorner@yahoo.com.au

TK said...

oh can I be so greedy......pretty pretty please may the lucky numbers fall my way!!