CANDICE TRIPP / INTERVIEW

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Candice has been exhibiting her work since 2007 when she was offered her first show at Electrik Sheep in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her work has since appeared in shows in New York, LA and London.

“In terms of how people view my work, what I set out to achieve is a feeling of having found a single page from a story book. I like the idea of depicting either cause or effect by hinting at a bigger picture often in the context of social situations. To balance out the harmless painting style itself, my subject matter tends to lean towards the dark side. I usually paint what amuses me and I find the best method of communicating that fact is by employing the right use titling. Often a title will occur to me before the idea of an image, so one is as important as the other with regard to how people will consider the end result.”

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Who´s the first artist/photographer that comes to your mind first?

Antony Micallef

Tell us a little bit about yourself, where do you come from and where is your journey going to?

In summary I sprang from my parents loins towards the end of 1985 in Cape Town, South Africa.

When I was 18 I moved to London to study fashion. Instead, I landed a job that involved remembering 60 cocktails, making them upon request and serving them to the city folk near Old Street. By 2006 I was living in Newcastle upon Tyne. The 3 hours I used to spend commuting every day in London were suddenly mine, which afforded me the opportunity to start painting.

In 2010 I got my British citizenship. It enabled me to pursue a career in art full time, which I promptly did. I don’t know where I’m headed, but I hope it's upwards.

How would you describe your style?

I don't. I prefer to show people pictures. I don't always like hearing artists describe their own work at length, so I try to refrain from doing it myself.

Your house is on fire, what do you save?

Get ready to be underwhelmed: My handbag and external hard drive. I’m working on the basis that my boyfriend and cats are already safe.

Something you want the world to know about you?

I want to design my own silk scarves (I don't know if the world cares about that though)

Tell us a song that has haunted you.

American Pie.

What keeps you motivated and inspires you go to on every day?

My incentive is the job itself. If I want to continue to do it, I have to make it work. I love what I do.

When I was seven I spent the school holidays listening to Roxette and drawing cats all day long. That’s more or less exactly how I spend my day now at the age of 26 (only without Roxette and I get paid). I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of proud of that.

What did you want to be when you were 13?

A forensic investigator.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

I cut my overheads to accommodate erratic earning, I religiously save in preparation for tax bills and I try to avoid the things that have stung me in the past.

Also, I’m trying not to pussyfoot around so much. I struggle to talk to galleries about money and always just hope that we’re on the same page, which is the exact opposite of what I should do. It's a lesson I keep failing to learn.

What can we accept from you in 2012, any concrete plans?

I’ve got my first London based solo show with Black Rat Projects this June. We’re also due to release my next screen print soon. At the moment I'm working on illustrations for a story written by Gogol Bordello which forms part of a larger project for Waxploitation however, I’ve not got a concrete date for when they will be exhibited.

italian or chinese?

I don't mind, as long as it includes something green.