CONRAD CARVALHO ON THE EMERGING ARTISTIC TALENTS OF THE WORLD: A CONVERSATION
February, 2019
The full article is also available here: https://lapetiteromaine.com/2019/02/20/conrad-carvalho-on-the-emerging-artistic-talents-of-the-world-a-conversation/
Art Consultant at the Oaktree & Tiger Gallery, Art Investor, and Director of an International Art Prize. Conrad Carvalho, who is also a Consultant Lecturer at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, clearly has great experience in the art scene. It’s thanks to his great abilities, in fact, that he has worked in the past for the likes of Rise Art and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
I am beyond happy to have had the possibility to interview such a brilliant mind, and such a kind and creative spirit. During our conversation, Conrad reflects on his past studies, his work as a consultant for young artists, and, finally, some anticipations on an upcoming Art Prize.
Now Chairman and Director of the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize, in fact, he has been spending most of his recent time examining all the entries to this year’s competition, and even though the deadline for the emerging artists to submit their works is in three days, he somehow managed to share a few words with me. What an incredible man, am I right?
For more information on the prize please follow the link at the end of the page, and, as always, I hope you will love your reading!
How do your past mathematical /scientific studies help you in your current job?
It doesn’t really! Well, my maths background trained me to be a great problem solver, strategist, and logical thinker. So when I’m looking at new projects or mentoring artists, I’m good at figuring out isn’t working and create ideas to fix it.
You have seen many emerging artists’ exhibitions: what do you think is the artistic trend of the moment, and what inspires it the most?
With the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize, I will look at over 4000 artworks, and I also visit lots of exhibitions by artists at all levels. I actually organised around 8 exhibitions in 2018! I’m seeing a growing interest in digital art in its various forms. Maybe most significantly is the growing focus on women artists, whether it’s re-examining (and discovering) roles in art history, exhibitions of women only artists or the debate around the whole topic; there is a lot of exciting and fascinating things happening right now.
In Art History we usually attribute one period of time with one main artistic movement. Which one do you think is the most emblematic of our time/will be featured in future art history books when talking about this era?
Until this time has passed, it’s difficult to see what will be forgotten, and what will survive and be documented by the art historians. Anything can happen! I might take a guess and say that the ‘canvas’ is losing its dominance faster than ever before because of new digital forms of art, incorporation of new technologies, a growth of photography, and many other reasons.
What is the key to stay creative and what advice would you give to people who are trying to launch themselves into the art community?
Stay creative by questioning everything, having an open mind and exposing yourself to as much as possible. I also think imagination needs to be constantly exercised, and the ability to get your imagination out there in a way that effectively engages with people. Painting stuff you like and that interests you is a hobby for yourself, the urge to encourage people to discuss what you think is important is where your focus should be. Keeping that in mind is key, and then you need patience and a lot of effort to get your art out there. If your art connects with people and develops that engagement, then the opportunities to make a living out of it will come.
What city do you consider to be the most artistically beautiful in the World? And why?
London is because of its diversity. It has a wide mix of cultures and communities, the architecture spans quite a bit of history, and also looks to the future with some brilliant and often controversial architecture.
Which one, instead, would you say has the richest concentration of artists and young creatives?
Again London because of its diversity and position as a contemporary art’s hub, but this is getting tougher because artists (and many galleries) are being priced out of the city. Our creative economy is a significant and growing part of the whole economy, so maybe one day we start to get more support for it.
In a previous interview with Rise Art, you said that Pablo Picasso is your favourite artist. Could you expand that and explain exactly why that is? And which one is your favourite painting from him?
He was immensely creative and intense, a hedonist and wild man – something I wish I could have been but have accepted that I’m not, so I’m happy to admire from afar. I have a rewarding and fascinating life as it is, even though it’s simpler and quieter. Guitar and Violin (https://www.wikiart.org/en/pablo-picasso/guitar-and-violin and the Old Blind Guitarist (https://www.wikiart.org/en/pablo-picasso/the-old-blind-guitarist-1903 ), but my favourites change all the time depending on my mood or what I’m working on.
What is your favourite literary café around the world? And in London?
Waterstones in Picadilly Circus has a great café on the top floor, but Foyles is also a favourite.
What made you decide to enter the Art world, and what would you do differently in your career if you could go back?
I originally wanted to be an art collector but then found it would be much more interesting working with artists because I’m not someone who gets attached to any artwork for any length of time. I’d achieved a lot in my previous career and got as far as I wanted much earlier than I expected, so wanted to do something completely different where I would be learning again. I love collecting, but I need to be closer to the creative process, so it looked interesting to become a gallerist and dealer.
You are the Director of the Oaktree & Tiger and of one of the biggest art prizes in the UK (Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize): what motivates you in your work and what keep you going no matter the large amount of work you have to handle?
It’s greatly rewarding when you can help a lot of artists to grow their career, and I get exposed to all the types of art which are being created right now. We have a lot of comments, emails and posts from artists giving their positive feedback and compliments and each and every one of them makes it all seem worth it!
