Page 6 - LandEscape Interview

E scape Paul McCloskey

Land An interview with

Paul McCloskey

Hello Paul and a warm welcome to LandEscape.
I would start this interview with my usual intro-
ductory question: what in your opinion defines
a work of Art? Moreover, what could be the
features that mark the contemporariness of an
artwork?

Thank you for including me in your magazine. For
me a great work of art connects in some way other
than the superficial, connects on a deeper more
spiritual level, a great work of art resonates truth
and if the viewer is open to that work of art, with
an alert presence, a silencing of the mind, then he
completes the circle, in doing so there will be a
recognition, a knowing that is felt rather than
intellectualised. All great art comes from the artist
allowing, being present thus permitting spirit to
work through him, unhindered.
The more absent the mind/ego is the greater the
potential of that work of art. To me all art is
an interview with Paul McCloskey
contemporary if it’s relevant, therefore I’m wary of
‘trends’ often new media is hailed as more contem-
porary than traditional media, but just because it’s
new does not necessarily make it more relevant, so have been predominantly autonomous, art educa-
with contemporary media lies the danger of ‘the tion teaches independence, allows a safe environ-
emperor’s new clothes’ all mediums have the ment to discover your individual process and
potential to express the artist’s vision, nevertheless practice, the environment gives you exposure to
all great art that is born of spirit transcends time, your contemporaries to other creative’s, their
irrespective of the medium used, the century crea- practice, struggles, doubts and ultimate realisa-
ted or the subject told. tions, an environment of comparison, discussion
Would you like to tell us something about your and context therefore opening the door to your
background? You hold both a Masters Degree in own potential.
Fine art that you have recently received from My Masters encouraged me to narrow my focus
the De Montfort University UK: how has formal and examine all aspects of my practice; this has
training impacted on the way you produce your resulted in me exploring in-depth what art means
artworks these days?
to me, it has helped me put words on that
Yes I attended the National College of Art (NCAD) meaning and place it in context, my essay ‘Art
Dublin for five years also qualifying as a profes- and Spirit’ can be read on my website and it has
sional teacher of art and design and in 2010 I allowed me to investigate this theme across the
received a Masters degree in Fine Art from De trilogy the ‘Alpha and the Omega’ series which
Montfort University, in the UK. Apart from the are still ongoing
professional teaching diploma, I have found that
ultimately my degrees in artistic practice BA/MA etc

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