All photos by the author
You'll know Laurie Vincent as one half of the self-styled "primal" punk band, Slaves. He's the one who plays guitar and shouts, as opposed to the one who plays drums and shouts. He's also an artist whose first "proper" show – organised by curators and zine makers Loose London – opens tonight at the Hoxton Arches.Last month we met Laurie – and his seven-month-old son, Bart – in his Brighton studio for a chat and a preview of the work that's going to be exhibited from tonight.VICE: Hi Laurie, Hi Bart. Laurie, is Bart a regular in your studio?
Laurie Vincent: This is actually the first time we've been out together without mum. We're doing alright so far…You're doing your first proper show, in collaboration with Loose – how did that come about?
They approached me about a zine they were doing and asked if I wanted to submit anything. At the same time, back in October of 2016, they said they'd like to do a show with me. All my past shows have been really rushed and last minute; I've only done two DIY, and they've been thrown together. I was really impressed with Loose, so we've worked together all year, collabin' on ideas and finding the venue, invites, everything – so I see this as my first proper real show. They're kind of like a new breed of curators. They're kind of underdogs – they're not big gallerists. It felt much more like where I come from.How are you feeling about the show? I imagine anticipation about putting on a solo art show differs slightly to anticipation before a Slaves gig.
In comparison to my musical output, this terrifies me more. Before, I never sold work; I just put it on the wall. This time, everything is for sale, and that adds a pressure because you have to value your own work and add another thing that gives you a headache. I want people to come and look at it for the right reasons, but also people that are fans of the music are gonna want to come and check it out, too. There's a lot to think about. Lots of people are able to do more than one thing now, and its been really positive, but I feel like this is a chance to prove myself, so to speak.Your work involves a lot of lurid colours – is that something that came instinctively?
It didn't initially; my girlfriend would buy me bright colours as presents, and the more I did it, the more I got into it. When I was starting out I was really inspired by people like Danny Fox and Basquiat, and I liked the fact I was going extreme with the colours, throwing them in. Some people are like, "Ah, red and green shouldn't be seen," but I quite like the assault it is on you.With that in mind, do you think there are links between what you do musically and your art?
Stylistically, yes. I've always said, because we get called punk a lot, we coined the term "primal". The way I see it, we're quite primary colours – it's quite simple, yet bold, and I think my artwork is a sort of reflection of that. That shows my personality is quite consistent through everything I do; it's kind of the idea that everything I put out is not super complicated, but quite powerful and quite bright.When I did the last cover [for the Slaves album Take Control], it wasn't my idea to use my painting, but it's made the two tie quite well together. The fact it's so colourful might shock some people, but once they're absorbed in it and it's all around them, it makes sense.Laurie Vincent's exhibition opens tonight, the 10th of August, at the Hoxton Arches, with a private view. The show will be open to the public from the 11th to the 15th of August.laurievincent.com / Loose London
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Laurie Vincent: This is actually the first time we've been out together without mum. We're doing alright so far…You're doing your first proper show, in collaboration with Loose – how did that come about?
They approached me about a zine they were doing and asked if I wanted to submit anything. At the same time, back in October of 2016, they said they'd like to do a show with me. All my past shows have been really rushed and last minute; I've only done two DIY, and they've been thrown together. I was really impressed with Loose, so we've worked together all year, collabin' on ideas and finding the venue, invites, everything – so I see this as my first proper real show. They're kind of like a new breed of curators. They're kind of underdogs – they're not big gallerists. It felt much more like where I come from.
In comparison to my musical output, this terrifies me more. Before, I never sold work; I just put it on the wall. This time, everything is for sale, and that adds a pressure because you have to value your own work and add another thing that gives you a headache. I want people to come and look at it for the right reasons, but also people that are fans of the music are gonna want to come and check it out, too. There's a lot to think about. Lots of people are able to do more than one thing now, and its been really positive, but I feel like this is a chance to prove myself, so to speak.
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It didn't initially; my girlfriend would buy me bright colours as presents, and the more I did it, the more I got into it. When I was starting out I was really inspired by people like Danny Fox and Basquiat, and I liked the fact I was going extreme with the colours, throwing them in. Some people are like, "Ah, red and green shouldn't be seen," but I quite like the assault it is on you.With that in mind, do you think there are links between what you do musically and your art?
Stylistically, yes. I've always said, because we get called punk a lot, we coined the term "primal". The way I see it, we're quite primary colours – it's quite simple, yet bold, and I think my artwork is a sort of reflection of that. That shows my personality is quite consistent through everything I do; it's kind of the idea that everything I put out is not super complicated, but quite powerful and quite bright.When I did the last cover [for the Slaves album Take Control], it wasn't my idea to use my painting, but it's made the two tie quite well together. The fact it's so colourful might shock some people, but once they're absorbed in it and it's all around them, it makes sense.