A brush with... Alvaro Barrington An in-depth interview with the artist on his cultural experiences and greatest influences, from Johannes Vermeer to Tupac Shakur
Alvaro Barrington talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work.
For Barrington—who was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1983, but grew up in Grenada and Brooklyn—painting is the bedrock of a practice that incorporates installation, sculpture and found objects, textiles, the written word and community events.
He weaves together broad references, drawing on his personal and cultural background, and hugely diverse influences-particularly from art history, literature, political thought, and music-to create arresting and often exuberant constellations of imagery and materials.
He discusses his early interest in the Akira manga, his admiration for artists as diverse as Louise Bourgeois, Jeff Koons and Johannes Vermeer, the significance of Audre Lorde's essay Poetry is Not a Luxury, and why he feels hip-hop legend Tupac is the most significant artist of his lifetime.
He gives insight into life in the studio, and reflects on the importance of his move to London from New York in the 2010s. Plus, he answers our usual questions, including the ultimate: what is art for?
