ARTS

Mr Gresty talks screenprinting, Shoreditch and finding inspiration on the toilet

25 March 2010

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Local screenprinter Mr Gresty’s latest exhibition (Hackney) Bubble will open on Saturday 27 March, at Biddle Bros. bar in Clapton.

OLIVIA ALABASTER spoke to him about where he finds inspiration in Hackney.

“I have ideas anytime, from anywhere, anything or anyone: on the 55 bus, in bed, on the toilet..! But for this exhibition I’ve looked to Hackney for inspiration for many of the prints, Hackney’s people, places, egos and the postcode wars.

I chose to exhibit at Biddle Bros. as it has good booze, hangs art, has DJs and quiz nights. It’s a walking distance from my flat, and I found out the space was available 27th March – 8th May so I had a deadline to start planning my first print show.

I’ve worked as a designer in Shoreditch for the last three years and moved to Clapton 18 months ago. After living in London for ten years I’ve started to feel like a Londoner and not a visitor.

Hackney is brimming with creative people and their work, from café walls to the alleyways outside.

I have a screenprint titled ‘Hackneyed?’ which is everything the makes Hackney a great place to live (in my eyes). Hackney is anything but Hackneyed and I’d like people to come see my work and take something away with them. Something to think about and a print or two!

As the show is in this great bar I printed the flyer onto a beer mat. A few people I’ve given the flyer to read the address and said “Is that murder mile?!” The way I see it Hackney doesn’t deserve this image.”