Interview
Mike McAdam Clark
Mike first exhibited his paintings in Edinburgh in the Grail Gallery in 1968 and 1969. After studying Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art, he left Scotland to discover the world and subsequently lived in 9 different countries and was involved in many interesting architectural projects in the Far East, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. During this time he drew constantly.
In 2007, he began to paint again more seriously and this resulted in a number of Group and One Man Shows. Mike became an Architect because it involved drawing and he continues to draw constantly. He draws people, places, landscapes and especially buildings. His paintings have become increasingly abstract in recent years, often with a strong geometrical basis. He is fascinated by geometry and its influence on the arts. He has written ‘ A History of the Square in Art from Babylon the Malevich and beyond’ which discusses the square in the architecture of prehistory and the Middle Ages through easel painting in the Renaissance up the present day. He lives and works in both Anduze, France and Marlow, UK.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was always drawing as a young schoolboy and had my first exhibition in the Grail Gallery in Edinburgh in 1968. Subsequently, I studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating B. Arch in 1976. I chose architecture largely because it involved drawing and I learnt a lot about composition and visual communication during that time.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired to create stuff in various media, simply to try to more precisely define my attitude to the world to try to express what I love about life and also the aspects of the world that distress or disturb me. I find nature fascinating but at the same time very dangerous. I view the current climate crisis as Nature fighting back as per the the Gaia theory and a lot of my recent painting has my concern about climate change at the core of the images. I love old buildings. Especially, I find inspiration in the fact that these were built by human hands with minimum tools and are expressions of a past culture.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My principal themes are, firstly, the menace of Climate Change. It seems that collectively, we are not taking it seriously enough. In my clumsy way, I try to use colour to express the threatening nature of perceived future events on our fragile existence. Secondly, Geometry. I view geometry as man's first tentative attempt to understand and describe his environment. I use geometry a lot as a compositional tool, particularly the square, as I believe that compositions incorporating a geometrical basis produce powerful images. The square is a shape in which the horizontal and the vertical are balanced. Thirdly, the human condition. Good relationships between people involving love and compassion are essential to a stable world.”
“I find nature fascinating but at the same time very dangerous.”
How would you describe your work?
“I am principally an abstract artist now. My work has links to Geometrical abstraction as well as Colour field painting, however, these terms devised by the art world, don't really tell you very much. All artists are unique. I am very interested in the visual struggle between the horizontal and the vertical and finding a balance between them.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I am fascinated by several prominent abstract artists. Nicholas De Stael, Joseph Albers, Mark Rothko, Joan Miro, Picasso, Antoni Tapies, Patrick Heron, Joan Eardley and Piet Mondrian from the 20th century. Also contemporary artists like Dorothy Fratt, Sean Scully, David Hockney and Ai Wei Wei. I find that the pictures I really enjoy are those that I can look at often and frequently see something I hadn't really noticed before. All of the above have the ability to produce such images.”
What is your creative process like?
“I paint mainly in Acrylic paint, mainly because my process always involves a build-up of multiple layers and acrylic dries so much faster than oil. I generally start from a sketch, normally drawn in my sketch book. This is usually simply to check the composition but sometimes to try out actual colour combinations This then is transferred to the full size surface, either Arches paper or canvas, and forms the start point. The first run practically never survives intact. After assessment of the image the image itself begins to take over and suggests possible improvements. This process then continues until I am satisfied with the result.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Visual art is system of communication. The painting communicates the artists message and the viewer picks up the energy stored in the work and is, in the case of good art, moved by the image. I firmly believe that a work of art that is unseen by anyone but the artist, does not, in any real terms , exist. Through my work, I use colour and form to try to create images that are not ugly and which promote a feeling of calm in this frenetic world that we inhabit. I hope that the images I produce can stand long term viewing and have enough energy to sustain this.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My recent exhibitions include: London, UK at the Brick Lane Gallery, 2019 Anduze, France at The Garage Gallery, 2019 Anduze , France at the Salle Voutee, 2022; among others.”
Website: mikemcadamclark.com
Instagram: @mmcadamclark
