“It could be perceived as a bit wanky,” says the British artist, writer and punk rocker Billy Childish about painting live at Frieze London, at Lehmann Maupin’s stand, alongside his two children. “I did think it was a bit weird when they asked me,” he says, but “I don’t really care” about painting in front of an audience.
Childish is no stranger to performing live, having played in several punk rock bands since the late 1970s (being cited as an influence by the likes of Kurt Cobain and Jack White). “I find it much more challenging [performing live in a band]. I’m there to make a show,” he says. The idea of performing “is closing the gap” between the artist and audience, he says, which is what he hopes he is doing by painting at the fair. “You’re exposing the ease of creativity.”
Despite making work for decades, it is only relatively recently that Childish has found success in the art world. As well as exhibitions with Lehmann Maupin, he is also showing works with Carl Freedman Gallery at the fair.
Childish had a well-documented relationship with Tracey Emin when they were younger. The two artists did not speak for many years—“I never fall out with anyone, but people fall out with me”—but Childish says Emin is now “very supportive—since my overnight success 14 years ago.” When asked what he thinks about her works being on show across the aisle at Counter Editions, he says with a smile that “she can pop over and give me some advice”.
Childish’s works on the Lehmann Maupin stand range in price from $50,000 and $100,000, according to a spokesperson. Eleven sold by the end of the first day, including the landscape of trees that Childish was making as he spoke. Talk about buying a painting while still wet.
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