C H A P T E R N Y

F O R T H E CULTURE

Friends Russell Tovey and Robert Diament’s love of art gave birth to the wildly popular podcast Talk Art. Now for GQS they pick some Black artists they love and unpack the diversity in minoritised art

Text KAMIN MOHAMMADI

hen friends – and self- Even over the stuttering video of Zoom – where visual artists, a potter… it’s trying to show a huge confessed art geeks – actor we are doing the interview – the two finish each diversity within minoritised art, within Black Russell Tovey and gallerist other’s sentences, expanding on each other’s artists. There are so many amazing voices.’ W Robert Diament decided to thoughts. ‘We were told to make the episodes 15 Rob interjects: ‘Also they are all artists who record their animated chats minutes or max 30, that no one would listen to have made the works that have touched me the about art and release them as a podcast, they had more, but quickly we realised we couldn’t do that, most in the past two or three years.’ no idea if anyone would listen, let alone that in and we did an hour or an hour and a half,’ says Rob and Russ’s recommendations of the artists the space of two years it would become one of the Rob. ‘We didn’t want to shut people’s stories down are distilled over the following pages, but chatting most popular art podcasts in the world. and people don’t often get access to those artists. over Zoom, their exhilarating and enthused Two years on, more than 1.5 million downloads Russell and I were incredibly privileged. He’s descriptions of the works leave me bubbling with and a book deal later, with nearly 100 interviews a collector, I’m a gallerist, and it was always the excitement. Their love of art is deep, heartfelt and with leading artists, musicians, writers, actors most special thing getting to talk to the artist completely contagious. At one point, Rob sums it and gallerists under their belts – including Sir about why they made the work. And I think that’s up simply: ‘It just gives meaning to life for me.’ Elton John, Lena Dunham, Grayson Perry and what people are connecting to, because that’s not ‘I really believe in breaking down boundaries,’ Tracey Emin – the friends are bemused by its something everyone gets to do.’ continues Rob. ‘Russell and I are examples of success. ‘We set it up for ourselves, basically,’ Their glee is evident, and as infectious as their people who have come from diferent creative says Russell, best known for roles in The History enthusiasm for art and the people who make it. disciplines to the art world. Russell is an actor, Boys, Years And Years and The Good Liar, ‘so that As much as they love the work, they also love for I was a musician. I think that’s the message: art we would have a chance to chat to like-minded stories to be heard. ‘We have done 95 episodes isn’t just for people who have studied art history. people and be geeks and meet our heroes.’ now,’ says Rob, ‘and each one is a portrait of And it shouldn’t be, either, because otherwise the ‘Neither of us really knew what podcasts were!’ that person at that point in their life. And you art world is never going to evolve.’ says Rob, who was the frontman of electropop can download them all. It’s giving a platform to ‘Art is for everyone,’ states Russ, nodding. band Temposhark before earning a master’s these people, to these stories. In these times of ‘Sharing ideas with people from different degree from Christie’s. He’s currently the director political instability, it’s great to create a show that backgrounds is what needs to happen to make of the Carl Freedman Gallery in Margate, Kent. celebrates people who are doing the world better. Art can give The pair met in 2008 at a dinner for Tracey Emin, positive things in the world. meaning to our lives, and it and began visiting galleries and artists’ studios, I think it’s important to show ‘ Sharing ideas reflects society way quicker starting what Rob calls ‘an ongoing chat, which is people who are dedicating their with people than any politician does,’ points what the show is. Me and Russ are friends; it’s not whole life to something that out Rob. ‘That’s why diversity staged, we weren’t brought together.’ is interesting.’ from diferent and representation in art is so Their friendship shines through on the show: The show has been praised backgrounds important,’ says Russ. ‘If you they spark off each other, their passion and for its diversity and inclusivity, is what needs don’t see yourself represented enthusiasm interspersed with light-hearted but the when the pair were on gallery walls, you don’t see teasing, often about their own lack of specialist asked if they were practising to happen’ yourself represented in society. knowledge, and their easy style makes their positive discrimination to There are so many people who guests reveal more of themselves. It’s like sitting come up with such a varied list of guests, they are missing from culture – swathes of minoritised at the kitchen table with them, listening in as they were bemused. The artists they pick are personal people – but as soon as you show them in art, you talk and gossip with an artist they admire. It’s choices who, says Russ, ‘have come along at are proving their existence.’ refreshing and has made the art world – often diferent stages of our art journey’. Rob bursts in with the last word. ‘I also think stufy and elitist – accessible to a much wider Similarly, the list of eight Black artists they it’s time to listen,’ he says. ‘That’s what’s great audience. Daily messages from listeners from 70 have curated for this issue of GQS have all either about the podcast: people are getting to listen to countries are testament to the pair’s enthusiasm appeared on the show or will do soon, and all are other people’s experiences. That’s the only way and passion for the subject. personal favourites. ‘Their language is continuing we are ever going to progress, by actually hearing ‘It’s a bit like when you’re a kid and you pretend art history but is taking it of somewhere else,’ diferent people’s perspectives on the world.’ to interview your friends,’ laughs Rob. says Russ. ‘It feels like they are really important ‘Talk Art: Everything You Wanted To Know ‘What started off as a passion project has voices. We have a non-binary artist there, we About Contemporary Art But Were Afraid To snowballed into this culture career,’ Russell have an artist who is disabled, we have a queer Ask’ by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament will shrugs. ‘It’s amazing!’ artist, an artist who deals with sound, some very be published by Ilex Press on 6 May 2021

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Art talk

CHEYENNE JULIEN architectural and environmental racism. We loved her recent 2020 solo Bronx-based Cheyenne Julien is an artist who tracks her history and show Phantom Gates and Falling Homes at Chapter Gallery in New the present day through an ongoing exploration series of self portraits, York, with portraits of both interior views and outdoor scenes to present portraits of her family members and imagined characters. She combines multifaceted views of city life. the device of the cartoon with her own signature style and a love of Of her work, Julien says: ‘Recently, reading has become an integral science fiction, which was derived from writers including Octavia E Butler part of my practice. By allowing diferent texts to inform my paintings, and Nalo Hopkinson. I am able to pull inspiration from outside of myself and consider how Her work initially draws you in through its striking visual language these stories and universal experiences intersect with my own.’ but within each piece are layers of unsettling messages exposing social, cheyennejulien.com

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