As Blondey McCoy presents his latest exhibition, Us and Chem, he shares some advice for young creatives
- TextTed Stansfield
Blondey McCoy knows what it’s like starting out as an artist. While he’s known for his skating and work with Palace, art has always been his first love and in 2015 he held his first exhibition – a show titled THAMES A.D. which comprised of a love letter to his hometown, London. He’s since followed it up with three further shows and tomorrow is opening the doors to his fifth: Us and Chem, which features 13 mirror works and a spin painting created in collaboration with British art world heavyweight, Damien Hirst.
Central to this exhibition is the idea of art as therapy – McCoy explains that the process making art is hugely beneficial to his mental health. “The show was created out of a compulsion to create, not one to show off, throw a party or make money,” he explains. “Its making has been a revelation in accepting the need to treat bipolar as a blessing rather than a curse, and to perpetually guarantee myself that from long hum drum periods of heightened sensitivity, my most genuine and life affirming artwork is born.”
Here, McCoy shares a preview of Us and Chem and five ways for young creatives to (in his words) choose life and not stitch themselves up in the process.
Dear Another Man readers,
In acceptance of this era of self-publishing, self-promotion and lack of self-awareness, please find below a series of jaded and gentle pointers to a generation of prospective centre-stagers.
1. Fun-Love-Money
If your ambitions lie beyond a nice new bit of kit and a 50 nugget dinner, do refrain from aligning yourself with brands with which you feel no personal affinity towards. It is (best case scenario) quick and easy money which you will spend within 25 minutes of having your beautiful face printed on the side of a double-decker alongside a quote re: how unwilling you are to accept that it is not butter.*
*At NO POINT become John Lydon.
2. Children, Know Your Worth
Nine times out of ten, people will choose getting as much out of you for as little out of them over giving you what you deserve. E.g. on the occasion of a job proposal: if the potential candidates job title is skateboarder rather than footballer they are expected to be flattered to have been thought of and do it for a free pair of sunglasses. Solution: take on some (and only some) characteristics of the footballer. Vinnie Jones of course being the only footballer I have ever heard of in my life, I suggest taking his approach.
3. Populism is Futile
Not everyone will like your work, that is by no means a bad thing. To achieve total creative freedom you must accept the impossibility of this prospect and focus entirely on producing work that you yourself are proud of. Never underestimate the simple fact that everybody can pretend to be another but only you can be yourself.
“All people are interesting, because you never really know what anyone is like – or what they are really thinking. For instance you don’t know what I’m thinking about now, do you?” – Agatha Christie
4. Time is Valuable
Instead of spending it with people who you’d much rather kick in the eye, force yourself to relax.
E.g. Allow 30 minutes a day to pop your phone in a zip lock bag and listen to Alan Bennett radio plays in the steam room.
5. Always Remember
Nobody’s perfect except the Captain.
Footnote: The Captain is yet to be identified, is it you? Probs.
Us and Chem is at the Heni Gallery, 6-10 Lexington Street, Soho from July 27 to August 27, 2017.
