Carl Hickey Paints Real Life
Carl Hickey brings to light in his paintings grim situations like forensic investigations and tenant evictions.
We interviewed him and he explained his motivations for depicting these unconventional scenes and his ambitions for his artistic career.
So Carl, tell us a little about yourself?
Well, I’m a 21-year-old student currently in my studio+ year at NCAD studying fine art painting. Studio+ is basically an optional fourth year to further your education and to get a better understanding of where your practice can bring you after college. When I’m not in college I like to just doss around to be honest, I don’t spend a lot of time researching and going to galleries which is relatively funny for someone involved with art, but then again I do draw a lot of my research from this “dossing” around.
What got you interested in art?
I think I was always interested in art. I used to draw cartoons and doodle a lot when I was a kid but lost interest after primary school as I wasn’t allowed do art in secondary school, which looking back was probably a good thing. I never had plans to go to college even though I knew I could if I wanted to, nothing in particular interested me and I wasn’t forced to do something I didn’t like.
I honestly got into art because my career guidance teacher woke me up and asked me to fill in something in on the CAO. I decided to put down a PLC in Art, Design and Mixed Media in BCFE (Ballyfermot College of Further Education) as I had a passion for graffiti and had known a few people that had done the course. I originally planned it to be just a piss-take year but little did I know I was about to fall in love with something for the rest of my life. I’m very, very grateful that Ms. Murray woke me up that day cause god only knows what I’d be doing now. So, shout out to her.
The style of painting that you do is very unique, why do you paint these types of pictures? Is there a reason behind them?
Carl beside his work
It’s nice to hear that you think my style is unique. I think the reason why it is seen as unique is probably because not a lot of people from areas like mine go to college, and even when they do they somehow go off track and seem to alight different concepts and ideas which is cool as well. But for me I’ve always thought of art as a platform to show what you have seen. Whether that’s to a viewer who has little or no interest in what I have seen it doesn’t really matter, it’s about bringing up the topic.
When it comes to the forensic and Garda paintings, they are just a pinpoint reference at the moment. I like to paint, whether that’s a travelling community getting evicted from their gaff ten minutes from mine or just something completely irrelevant like one of the boys doing tags on a shutter. Although I don’t want to put myself in a box I do feel (as my tutors in college said) it’s almost like we as working class people have the duty or responsibility to showcase the world we see to people that wouldn’t normally see it — or more than likely choose not to see it. These things are happening, and I find great pleasure in bringing them into a different context.
Do you take any inspiration from any other artists?
I think the first artist I took great inspiration from was Edward Hopper, who deals a lot with the idea of alienation — something I like to present in my work. His use of colour would have had a great influence on me as well, but these days I am more inspired by the artists around me, young and old. There is a lot of great art surrounding us at the moment and I’m lucky to have a group of friends interested in similar underlying issues as me. Not only do I take inspiration from painters, musicians, printmakers, photographers etc, I do tend to get inspired from day to day people and generally the environment around me. It is really important for me to bring in a lot of inspiration from the world around me and channel it into my work.
Edward Hopper’s Gas (1940)
What are your plans for the future?
At the moment, I guess it is just to keep painting and see where that takes me. As next year it will be a very important year for me coming up to my degree show I have a bit of time before hand to keep experimenting with different ideas and materials. Hopefully after college I will be awarded a residency which will allow me to keep working without having to worry about paying rent for the studio. Regarding exhibitions, we haven’t done an exhibition outside of college since last February in JaJa Studios, “Bad Plastering” which was a great night and we got lovely feedback. There is something currently cooking up and in motion, and a lot of planning is being involved, there is more of a professional approach to this one more so than the last exhibitions, as we’re meeting with people who are heavily involved in the Irish art scene and beyond. I have a feeling that if it all goes to plan it will be our biggest yet so keep on the lookout for information about this on social media.
And where do you sell your items?
I’ve only started to sell my paintings as of late. I generally sell them from my Instagram page and at exhibitions. I wouldn’t normally take commissions as most people would want me to paint their dog or there nephew of some sorts which I find extremely hard to do as I have no interest in these things, but I would be willing to paint something that I find relatable. I’m not really worried about selling work at the moment, I mean if I do that’s great but I don’t have to make a living off of it at the moment. It will be important for me after college as by then I will be trying to make a life out of this for myself, and that’s the goal!
If you like Carl’s work, head over to his Instagram @carl.hickey_ and have a look at some of his other pieces.
Shane McLoughlin
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