May 10, 2008, 12:20 am

Under the Influence

Matisse and my father

 

As a student at art college I was asked to give a talk on my work. I opened with slides of these two images.
I had found both photos in books in the college library. I said that these two men had influenced my work more than most.

Of course many in the audience recognised the photo of Henri Matisse, but none could identify the second man. I have used this device when teaching kids, see the 'Homer Simpson test'.

The other photo is of my father and is taken from a book, Covent Garden Market, by Clive Boursell - published by Studio Vista. This is a wonderful collection of photographs taken in the early 1970s, before the market moved to its current home in Nine Elms. Clive gave my Dad a number of photos and, if Clive ever sees this page, I hope that he is forgiving and doesn't nail me for infringing copyright.

Moments before Clive took the picture, some joker threw a bucket of water over my Dad. Covent Garden was that kind of place. I worked there as a porter in the summer of 1971, when Alfred Hitchcock filmed 'Frenzy'.

Copyright © 2008 John McSweeney