Jad Oakes graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2004. He joined the gallery in 2017. Working from found and researched camera imagery his work seeks to evoke the passage of time and memories from personal, cultural and collective perspectives. The sourced imagery is sensitively appropriated into new forms using varied media. His interest in using these found photographic and moving images stems from the romantic idea that they act as artefacts of our memories.
1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
I don't think there has ever really been a specific art movement that had a major influence on my practice. Perhaps that's because I have never really studied the movements in great detail so nothing comes to mind. Maybe an Art Historian will compartmentalise the work someday and reveal which art movements had influenced the work. More so individual artists and works that I have seen have been more influential.
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art?
A lot of the ideas behind the process and concepts develop out of the studio at unexpected moments when I haven't been thinking about the work or ideas. A kind of subconscious spontaneity. The studio is used for development.
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
My creative process tends to start off with an embryonic visual thought sketched or noted down with words. The initial thought builds over a long period of time and most often links back to previous ideas and thoughts. Once it feels like the idea has some weight it begins to evolve in through the process of physicalization. I make everything in the studio, and am often learning and adapting new techniques to work with the idea.
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
When growing up I used to be fascinated with the old masters. Rembrandt in particular, his ability to capture portraits and scenes with paint has always been mind blowing. I used to study the light, composition and his process of creating the painting. I think now what fascinates me is the time it took for the paintings to be created. All the layers involved in the creation of the paintings now act as an evolving memory of a time period spent between the painter and sitter/s.
5) If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
That's a tricky question.
6) What do you listen to for inspiration?
I am a massive fan of Bob Dylan's writings and for escapism, i listen to Max Richter's works. Any music that takes me on a journey through sound and lyric.
7) If you could own one artwork, and money was no object, which piece would you acquire?
At this moment, any one of Do Ho Suh's fabric sculptures. Home within a Home would be nice if I had space.
8) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
... Not so sure. Anyone who appreciates believes and connects emotionally with the work.
9) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
Shoot first, ask questions later.
10) What is your favourite book of all time (fiction or non-fiction)?
Don't have a book that would be deemed my favourite of all time. I tend to read a lot of autobiographic/ history graphic novels and the occasional history book. At the moment it's Arab of The Future series.
11) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non-traditional art setting, where would that be?
I like the idea of taking the work on to the streets to surprise the passerby.
12) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
Shoot first, ask questions later. Sometimes you can get bogged down with trying to make sense of anything you are creating. When I was at art college there was a strong emphasis on conceptualising the work before you began the creative process which stunted my development. At that time I wanted to learn the craft in order to execute the creative ideas. Till now I have to remind myself to shoot first, ask questions later.
13) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
... You'll find me 10 years from now.
Learn more about the artist Jad Oakes and his artwork here
