DREI FRAGEN with Merny
Artist Merny shares his artistic wisdom.
Each Wednesday I ask a different artist the same three questions.
This week's featured artist, Merny, is a kindred spirit. We haven't met in person yet, but I was captivated by his mural work while dawdling from Bristol Temple Meads train station, and we have since connected via Instagram. I love his style; it feels akin to mine yet remains distinctly unique! Come to think of it, his art defo has Shrigley vibes.
1. What first sparked your interest in creating art?
I have been creating things since I was young. I suppose I didn’t think of it as art until later. Art seemed abstract like something that happens in museums and I could never piece together how someone made something and it ended up In a museum. I still can’t really. I used to make short films and take photos and DJ mixes and magazines and record labels and all sorts of things before I started making images and murals. It was meeting my partner Billy Colours who made me explore painting walls and encouraged me to believe in drawing and painting over photography and other mediums.
2. What are your regrets?
I don’t have any really because it’s all a logical progression. I wouldn’t be making what I make now without what happened before. My own journey makes my own work different. I would say unique but I’m not sure that exists. Everyone’s art is an amalgamation of influences. I’m happy with what’s happened along the way and what I make now is probably the best I’ve done so far.
3. What wisdom would you offer someone beginning their art career, or exploring art for the first time at any stage in life?
Focus on being yourself. Don’t try to be someone else or do what others are doing. Try and embrace your own thoughts and vibes and your style will emerge as a cocktail of your influences and experiences. Try to do it every day. Even if it’s a tiny bit. If that sounds too hard or you can already make excuses why that’s not possible then maybe you’re more into the idea of being an artist than the reality.
People desire the end of the journey but forget that the path to the endpoint is drudgery and commitment and discipline. Turning up every day no matter what. Also, the more you turn up the more likely you’ll do something good. It’s a numbers game. If you paint 500 pictures. You’ll probs do a few good ones and maybe one amazing one. If you paint 5 pictures they’ll probably all be shit.
Check out the awesome Merny on Instagram and buy all of Merny’s Art <‘ere.
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Wow! This interview is powerful as hell. I love the bit about the path being hard quite often, and Merny having no regrets. First interviewee of yours, SLART, who's said that. And the part about how art even actually ever does end up in museums made me laugh. Thank you so much, both of youse!