For more than 30 years Paul has been working in the area of sensory stimulation with a specific interest in visual stimulation for children and adults with disabilities. His work has predominantly been with software to attract, engage and interact with people. He is fascinated by the light/colour of forms and their differing relationships to the objects around them. He believes that the nature of the light is somewhat different when it is emitted from a screen rather than reflected from a surface.
Here he answers our five questions…
1 - Could you explain your practice? Only you know why you do what you do.
For decades I have always loved to make different artefacts whether they are physical or virtual but do not feel drawn to any particular medium, although the computer screen has been my main focus for many years. There are three disparate themes in my work. Firstly, there is light. My decades of work in sensory stimulation have come out of a fascination with how light, colour and texture can captivate us whether that is a moving blob on a computer screen or the different approaches to light and colour taken by artists such as Turner, Monet, Rothko … This work is often found in my paintings, apps, and the videos I make from those apps. Secondly, I am interested in exploring memories of my life, especially around art, travel and cinema. This is generally explored using digital art. Finally, I am interested in political and environmental issues and enjoy actually making physical artefacts. To date, this has been through bamboo, but also in recycling some of the “leftover” elements of that construction, e.g. my brushes that have “set” in epoxy resin.
2 - Is art relevant today?
The short answer is that I think it is as relevant as it has always been. However, since the advent of photography, it Is not as important for recording images. I suspect that the advent of more conceptual and esoteric art does have a tendency to alienate more people. However, art remains a powerful tool to reach and engage with others.
3 – We are always asked what other artists influence us, we want to know what art you don’t like and which influences you?
This is very hard. In terms of what art I don’t like, I often find that with more exposure one can develop an eye and appreciate many new artforms that were initially difficult to engage with. There are numerous artists who have influenced me from Caravaggio, Turner, Cezanne, Monet, Mondrian, all of the abstract expressionists, …. However, if I have to be more specific, I would always go for Pollock and Rothko.
Gamma #156, 2020 (45cm x 63cm, oil and acrylic on mdf)
4- If you could go back 10-20 years what would you tell your younger self?
As you travel, make an effort to spend more time visiting different galleries around the work and take time to have a very close look at the works there.
5 – If you could go forward 10-20 years what do you hope to have done or not done?
I would love to get an artwork exhibited at one (or both) of the Tate Modern in London and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
Paul’s web site URL https://www.sensoryarthouse.com/ https://www.saatchiart.com/paulblenkhorn-digitalart
Social media - https://www.instagram.com/sensoryarthouse