12
What is the best piece of advice you can give?
Never take any advice from me!
Where do you find ideas for your sculptures?
In everyday life I think it’s interesting to play with the familiar and create a question around it.
What is the most indispensable item in your studio or workshop?
Unfortunately I don’t currently have a studio or workshop so I’m limited by what I can do at home or in college. The one thing I always have with me is myself and I can’t get anything done without me and my crazy mind. Despite sometimes wishing I could escape the chaos that lives inside my head.
What couldn’t you live without?
The constant longing for human connection. The need for and lack of it keeps me going.
What would surprise people the most about you?
That I’m actually a very shy and anxious person and I’m not very fond of attention.
You can find Gerard on Instagram: @gfloydart
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Winning the Surrey Sculpture Society Prize has been amazing, so that is an incredible response in itself. However, there was one response from an elderly lady who saw my work at Landmark. She was looking at my work so I approached her asked if she had any questions. She asked… “What’s all this about?” as she waved her walking stick in the direction of my work. So I gave her my very best ‘arty’ explanation, to which she just shrugged her shoulders and declared “don’t get it”. I found her reaction refreshing and memorable; it made me laugh. I think she was pretty amazing and if I had the money I would employ her and install her to stand in front of all my exhibited work and declare “don’t get it” to every person looking at my work.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
There are lessons that life has taught me and I’ve developed a healthy disinterest in what people think of me. But a friend of mine, who is an established and respected artist in his own right, said to me: “Exploit every opening!”
The photo on the left, is part of a series wherein Gerard wanted to explore the idea of freedom using latex canvases. Inspired by a quote by Michel Foucault, "Visibility is a trap", Gerard explains: "Latex felt like a natural material to explore this as it feels like skin. Also, the more you push against it, the more visible you become and the more trapped you feel."
The mirror piece on the right is one of Gerard's favourite works. He trained as a person-centred therapist, liking himself to a mirror. Gerard says: "I love and fear the idea of obscurity."