Ozonas - Art From Rubbish; Interview with Robert Bradford

Art from rubbish?

Robert Bradford is a well known artist from the United Kingdom. He creates his sculptures out of items that no one really needs, otherwise called rubbish. He started sculpting in 1997 and since has become very popular, all his pieces are constantly being exhibited in London, Paris, and other cities.
Mr. Bradford not only converts rubbish into interesting artistic figures, but also uses his experience as a psychotherapist, he expresses his emotions and reveals socially important messages.
He uses his life experience and feelings in his art and what is left is shared with the family.
We at Ozonas were fortunate enough to get hold of Robert right after his famous Big Ben sculpture unveiling and he revealed some more of his life and perspective on art with us.


Can art be ever ecological?

Yes. I don't see the reason why not. Even though it is no the reason why I make it the way I do. I started doing it because I liked the idea not because of recycling, the fact that it is positive and ecological just makes it better.

Do you think your work encourages people to recycle?

I like the fact that most sculptures that I make have history, that they are weathered, that they have a personality, less bland, have the human touch. I like the idea that the material I use had another life. Many who look at them say it's beautiful, and then they realise they have that kind of stuff at home then they can think they can do this or that. Most people when they look at the toys on the floor they just see toys, but there is more.

What inspires you most?

The work is always about what it's like to be human, I hope it comes from life, there is a lot of feeling in it, also ideas, a lot of it is also from my previous experiences as psychotherapist, reflecting the culture and the society.

When did you come up with the idea of using second hand things for art?

I was in this sculpture park in Surrey and I saw this horse, from afar it looked quite beautiful but when I came close to it I saw that it is all rubbish and quite horrible, it's the idea of transforming. However some people just can't get past the rubbish idea.

Do you recycle?

We do now. We are currently renovating a house so we do a lot of sorting, cardboard, electricals, metal, paper all of it, my wife is the more active one in the recycling idea but we both do it.

If you where to come up with a statement to encourage other people to use recycling as a form of art what would that be?

Start with seeing usefulness and beauty. It's a matter of looking. There's lots of things you can do and lots of things you can transform.

So where is the famous Big Ben sculpture now?

It went to the South Bank of Thames and was put up there for a few hours for pictures to be taken with the real Big Ben in the background then it was dismantled and taken to Coca Cola bottling plant in Edmonton, education centre. I have to go down there sometime and make sure all is fine.

Which of your sculptures is your favourite?

I do like the big figures, Toy Soldier is funny and serious, humorous. All of the human figures, toy boy, toy girl and toy soldier, the whole series. Also I like dogs, everyone likes dogs, it's an ongoing thing so there will be lots more of dogs.

What can we expect in your next project? What are your plans for future?

Many things I'm doing right now are dogs and humans, I'm currently working on an angel it's made from toys, big guns also an ongoing project, most recent was the Paris kalashnikov.

Is the kalashnikov an anti-war message?

Yes in a way it is, as it takes a scary object that has killed millions of people and then making it funny and pretty, that way it has less horror in it.

What are you working on at the moment?

Various dogs coming, making two dogs a sausage dog and a sniffer dog on a commission and working on a big angel, from toys. Dogs are an ongoing series and today I've been shopping for more plastic to make the sculptures.

Do your children steal the toys?

Yes, even though they are teenagers and shouldn't be interested, when I come back from car boot fairs, that's where the most of the material comes from, they keep checking things out how does that car work and so on, but they loose the interest quick enough and then I get them back.

Roberrt Bradford is represented by
MAUGER MODERN ART
www.maugermodern.com