21st–century troubadour.
STREET ART, BY ITS VERY NAME, ALMOST DEFIES definition. For years, the formula of, “Let’s put art from the streets into a gallery, but what is it?” has been a legit discussion, but rarely do we view it from the other end by considering what happens when an artist takes a gallery practice and brings it into the street, transforming our perception of public space. Using words and LED light sculptures to create political interventions in urban areas and natural landscapes, Scottish-born, London based artist Robert Montgomery balances the intimate and ethereal characteristics of prose and poetry, forging them into a fine art practice and a poetry imprint, New River Press. By placing his artwork in situations where advertisement-speak dominates language, Montgomery actively amplifies his art, inspired by some of the great wordsmiths and thinkers of the twentieth century. After his participation at Nuart 2016 in Norway, we sat down in his London studio and considered Bob Dylan, the idea of permanence, and the power of good street art.
Evan Pricco: When I disconnect you from ownership of the work, this sort of anonymous, whimsical spirit emanates from your poetry. Some just feel like they don’t have an author and exist as quotes from time. And then you have works that feel so personal and direct, especially the wheatpastes. Both these methods are impactful. Does that observation resonate at all with you?
This story is from the February 2017, n193 edition of JUXTAPOZ.
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This story is from the February 2017, n193 edition of JUXTAPOZ.
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