To coincide with Foals new album release Total Life Forever; I catch up with the self named Jack of all Trades in a pub in Jericho, Oxford to chat breaking through into the creative industry, illustration, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mystic Meg, penis extensions, modelling, bin men and much more. Welcome to the idiosyncratic world of the charismatic character that is Tinhead.
How did you breakthrough into the creative industry? What elements do you think are necessary to be successful?
I broke through I guess by being proactive and by doing the record sleeve, namely for Foals. It’s a good size to work on especially in the early days when you have to deal with a lot of 7inch and 12inch singles. And then I have made the most of what has been presented to me, and done my best to capitalise on any success, for example through people I’ve met through Foals I now have a PR manager. But I met some of my other management just by being proactive at uni and making friends with the tutors. Through that I’ve had help on projects contracts etc. A lot of it is not what you know about art, it’s who you know. It’s no good having your work stuck under your bed, amazing work and no one seeing it, or locked up on your computer. Putting work on blogs and things like that but this modern culture of blog and emails its throwaway. I think you need to get out there and show people your work.
To be successful you have to be hungry and not give up, have a certain amount of arrogance and be headstrong. Know what you want and go after it.
What are your thoughts about contemporary art and illustration?
It’s alright innit! Because it’s the art world it inevitably will be full of whiners but on the whole it’s ok. Probably be worth if you were a politician.
How did you create the body of work that was used or the first Foals album Antidotes? Did you listen to the music to get your inspiration?
No I listened to hair metal and was half dunk when I did it and stayed up for about 2 days. I hadn’t heard much of their music it’s kept quite hush hush and the artwork has to be done usually before the tracks are finalised anyway. Deadlines baby.
Album artwork can be seen to be synonymous with the whole pop culture of its time. Do you think that your work embodies a movement or time in youth culture?
I am told that apparently it kind of does but I didn’t intend that to happen I guess that shows a good album cover though something that embodies the band ideal and as a result reflect on how it was at that time. I wouldn’t do anything like that now I mean stuff moves on quicker the band has developed etc.
My mum wanted to know why are you called Tinhead?
Because I ride BMX and when I was younger my ma would let me leave without my helmet so she bought me this chrome one that she thought was ‘cool’ the name stuck and has ever since, now I sound like a rapper or graffiti artist.
You describe yourself as “a Jack of all trades”, how do you think the juxtapositions of your life experiences, from model in Milan to Bin man and back again have affected your practice? Do you think it gives you a different perspective to an artist in his “ivory tower”?
Yeah I don’t put anyone or anything on a pedestal I met better people and had more fun being a bin man ironically than doing the modelling thing. I’ve seen a lot of shit that most people aren’t exposed to so that helps I guess on judging a situation I think everything in moderation counts. Don’t just sit in a room making art if you’re an artist because you’ll have nothing to respond to except your own worn out soul. Go out and be a bin man!
The aesthetic of 80’s films and bodybuilding are listed as influences on your works aesthetic. Do you find your personal interests make your work autobiographical?
Yeah I’m an 80’s film star and a bodybuilder cant you tell? Maybe subliminally they do, like the undertones of drinking a lot and taking the piss out of everything, I mean sometimes how far can I take it? When I take a backward glance to this I feel strangely calm and satisfied I want to eat it with a smile on my face and come out on top.
Are you interested in fashion and do you think it’s important?
Yeah I’m starting a clothing label called Raceplain. I don’t think we should take it that seriously, politicians should take themselves seriously not us. I wanna party.
What are your aims?
Get into adverts reach the real people rather than fags in a gallery, continue with contemporary illustration and fashion. I want to make films too. I want to earn enough money to get a penis extension, world peace and a Ferrari.
Are there any other mediums you would like to work with?
Photography, screen-printing, and to incorporate computer generated elements. What mediums do you think I work with? Do you mean Mystic Meg? She’s a medium isn’t she? What happened to that sour bitch?
You are interested in racing cars, what is your biggest passion?
Racing cars I love it! Speed power and control! Art for me is a love hate thing sometimes I leave it for 3-4 weeks but I always come back to it. Falling out with it can be good because it’ll send you down a new path.
You produced a large body of work for the recent Foals release, what are the themes you are working with? The pieces for “This Orient” and other screen prints on your blog are more abstract than your previous work, is that your general new direction?
I’m interested in Religious iconography, and am developing more photography, still incorporating previous techniques. I looked at the film Holy Mountain to an extent, Russian art and visualising a lot of ideas running around in Yannis’ and my heads although in the end a lot of stuff wasn’t used.
Do you think art is important?
Yes, not as important as health though and things like that. I think I’m too stupid to answer a question like that we need to talk to a philosopher.
What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
If you lose the dream you die, never, ever give up.
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