| Introducing LIAM GERRARD... |
| Written by Esther Blackwood | |||||
| Tuesday, 17 May 2011 23:16 | |||||
While LIAM GERRARD may not be a household name [yet], you have probably trotted past his work on the street. He's the boy-genius behind this piece:
A Kiwi-born illustrator, Liam has an eye for both detail and the disgusting. Focusing predominately on portraiture, Gerrard's illustrations are beautifully crafted and usually highlight some of human-kind's more unflattering features. With drawings that stand up to an impressive 2.5 metres, Liam's talent is something to be seen, and see it you can, at his new Gallery show, 'NEW WORK'. Coup De Main caught up with Liam to talk about his exhibition, as well as some other stuff... CDM: How did you get started? LIAM GERRARD: I've been drawing for as long as I can remember - always at a remarkably high standard of course. It was probably a love of cartoons and comics that got me into it as a kid and has just snowballed since then. I got into the gallery, art-career side of things after finally finishing art school and not wanting to make that seem like a waste of time. Or get a proper job. CDM: What is your career highlight to date? LIAM GERRARD: Probably something simple but not very exciting like having people buying my work, and a gallery interested in showing it. CDM: Do you have a piece of work that you're particularly proud of? LIAM GERRARD: I can't think of any I'm properly 'proud' of. I tend to feel 'satisfied at best' with my work. I was pretty happy with The Checks' album cover, but still feel it could've been cooler or used better. CDM: What was your inspiration for the 'Alice By The Moon' album cover? LIAM GERRARD: The band said they wanted "an animal made out of other animals" for the cover and I kind of took it from there. I was thinking some ragged 'hellhound' type creature would suit the album and at a museum I found a suitable model in the Cape Hunting Dog. It's this wild African dog, and I just based the overall illustration on that, then working back made it up from other animals. So I guess that dog's the inspiration, and the band telling me what to do.
CDM: Who do you find inspiring? Is there any particular person or item that influences you and your work? LIAM GERRARD: Mel Gibson. CDM: Can you tell us a bit about your creative process? LIAM GERRARD: I'll either think of a subject I'd like to draw then find an image to use, or just come across an image that makes me want to turn it into a big charcoal drawing. Then I pop said image on my iPod and rock out while I smudge and sketch until my eye goes twitchy. CDM: What can we expect from your upcoming exhibition 'New Work'? LIAM GERRARD: Bizarrely, you can expect a bunch of new work. Actually I think there might be one old work in there too to make up numbers. But things seem to be getting a little weirder, which I like. CDM: Where will Liam Gerrard be in five years? LIAM GERRARD: Top of the mountain, baby. CDM: Do you have any tips for young creatives? LIAM GERRARD: I need the tips! HEARTS LISTENING: Kyuss, Springsteen, Bill Simmons podcasts. HEARTS READING: 'Decibel' magazine. HEARTS WATCHING: NBA playoffs. Robin Williams in serious roles. HEART OF THE WEEK: Matt Crawley.
You can check out 'NEW WORK' from May 17th - 29th at SANDERSON GALLERY (251 Parnell Rd, Parnell). |
