The 5-Minute Interview: Gavin Turk, Artist
'Even when I have lunch, I wonder if it's a kind of art'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The conceptual artist Gavin Turk, 39, has donated for auction a remake of Pierre Manzoni's breath installation in support of the charity Asthma UK to explore the theme of breath and breathing at the Jerwood Space until 6 February
My art is...
An attempt to make people think about things they possibly already know about or overlook. In my work I have a fixation with the idea of the signature. Someone signing a painting is like a defacement of the art work because a signature lives in a different world to that of the painting.
If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...
Cleaning glass. I have all these cabinets that I have to clean for this exhibition at The Hague. I am constantly working. As an artist you are constantly on holiday but you are never actually on holiday. Even when I am having lunch or breakfast I wonder if I am performing some kind of performance art.
A common misperception of me is...
That the work that I make is made primarily for some sort of self-aggrandisement, as an arrogant statement. I try to make work that is about a questioning of that process rather than just simply an acknowledgement of it.
The most surprising thing that happened to me was...
Having children. I have three: Curtis, Francis and Caesar. It wasn't planned. I suppose the surprise is unleashed incredibly slowly. You probably never recover from the shock. Being born in the first place is a shock.
A phrase I use far too often is...
For a time I used to say, "To be honest", and then I probably got tired of it. A lot of people say "just" as in, "Let's just do 10 minutes", but it means so much more.
I'm good at...
Being patient. I try to let things take the course that they're going to take.
I'm very bad at...
Being organised or delegating tasks. I'm not very good at telling people what to do.
I wish people would take more notice of...
It's hard to think of the things that people are taking any notice of to point out what they should take notice of.
I am not a politician but...
If I were I would absolutely panic. I suppose I would slowly remove cars and television. Hackney Council announced they would start recycling plastic, I thought "great". But they also said that if you don't recycle you get fined 1,000 quid. Then I thought, "I'm not sure I want to recycle". With every law we are penalised for disobedience. I find it very small-minded. So I don't know.
The ideal night out is...
In a gooey respect, having some nice friends round for dinner and hanging out, chatting.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:
Yeah, I don't know.
Sara Newman
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments