This is the second interview in the not so new Artist in Focus series we started this year. We initially thought we would be able to do about two a month, instead this is the second this year. Turns out artists are very busy people, and we’ve been busy too. Don’t ask us what we did with the time though. Hope you enjoy the interview below.
AM: Did you attend art school?
Perrin: Yes.
AM: Are you a self-taught artist?
Perrin: A little of self-taught but of course I acquired a degree in the arts.
AM: Would you advise someone to attend art school?
Perrin: The way the country is, it is just better you do a first degree and then find your way around internships, it’s going to help. You can’t get all in school with the way the system is running now; we are not properly equipped and ready for that standard we are looking for. So, you know, it’s better to do your studies then find your way around internships.
AM: What was support from your parents, extended family and friends like?
Perrin: That’s a long long time ago because, I mean, I’ve been in practice for years now. I mean years… But well, when I was growing the support wasn’t there. Of course parents and family members won’t really understand what it is to be an artist and to live on art. It was like “eh let’s gamble, let’s give him a trial; let him just go with his passion” and all that. But here I am today; I’ve been able to pull it off.
AM: What’s your approach to your art: do you create for you, or for your audience?
Perrin: Sometimes I create for myself but on the other hand, you try to find out what the market will prefer. The market sometimes will point you towards things that they probably would like to buy and see, while sometimes, some people want to see the other part of you which is more of you being very creative; and of course you have to be very sure that you get the market. That’s very important.
AM: How do you go about creating new work, learning new skills and reinventing yourself?
Perrin: Well for me, I’ve not been too particular about living on a particular style. Some other artists have been working on one particular style and are known for it over the years. I’ve just always loved to play and enjoy myself, do what I think I know will sell and of course something I know that will be of standard, because sometimes you work and you find standard. Most importantly is to find standard.
AM: What has inspired your work in the past? What currently inspires your work?
Perrin: I get a whole lot of inspiration when I listen to loud music in the studio. That’s one. Secondly, inspiration sometimes comes when you think “oh well, I need to up the game”, so you get inspired. I’ve been in practice for a long long time now.
AM: How long?
Perrin: For more than thirty years now. For more than thirty years, I’ve been in practice.
AM: I was going to ask about your approach to generating creative ideas but I feel like you’ve answered that already so I’ll just move to the next question. Does it ever become easy for you?
Perrin: Well it does. You know the more you practice and the longer you stay the easier it is. It’s a lot easier for me now than when I started.
AM: What are your thoughts on artist collectives and collaborating with other artists?
Perrin: There’s so much to be done around Rivers State. Recently I had a campaign to get artists to understand that we haven’t even scratched the surface. There’s no market here for the artist. When I say no market, I mean we don’t have galleries, we don’t have stakeholders, we don’t have people that can get your works and take your works to where they think it should be. The artist will want to do everything which is a no-no. You can’t be an artist, finish your studio work, bring out your work and start looking for people to buy. You can’t do all that. Your work is just to produce this body of art then the marketers will now come in to takeover. The problem we have now is that we don’t even have a primary, tertiary market or a secondary market; none at all. I think that once that comes in then the question is answered. If we have two major standard galleries in Port Harcourt, then every other market will open up. The arts will definitely get more development.
AM: Can I ask what the campaign is about; are there any concrete steps you’ve taken?
Perrin: I hope to work with some artists. It’s a campaign that every artist will have to take and push too. We need to find people who will invest in the arts; people who have the money, people who love the arts. People need to come and say “look, let’s have a standard gallery in Port Harcourt”. Port Harcourt doesn’t even have one gallery.
AM: I’m trying to convince people with money to do that. I don’t know what it will take now. We have to try. Thank you for your time.
