Marc Standing is an African/ British/Australian artist who was born and raised in Zimbabwe. He obtained his BAFA honors degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa with distinctions in painting.
After spending a decade in Australia and Hong Kong he now resides in London. Standing has taken part in numerous group and solo exhibitions internationally and is represented by Grove Square Galleries in London and Art Labor in Shanghai. He has also been a finalist in many art prizes over the years, including the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, and is part of The Groucho Club collection in London.
Over the last three years, Standing has been an artist in residence at Amilla Fushi in the Maldives and has taken part in residencies in the Philippines, Shanghai, and Mexico.
Standing’s vibrant and inventive painting has developed along a complex path. Sublime in the originality and mastery of his brushstroke, they are informed by anthropology, biology, and the complexities of existence, both physical and metaphysical.
Self-taught or art school?
Art school. I studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Anything made by Frida Kahlo.
How would you describe your style?
That is a tricky question. It certainly has elements of surrealism but the work is difficult to put in a box. It encapsulates both abstraction and figuration to a degree. I guess I have spent years trying to find my own language.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
Well, my process is very in line with the surrealists using psychic automatism, which is a very spontaneous and subconscious way of working. I never know what I am going to paint until the process begins. The painting begins to dictate to me what needs to happen. I also studied printmaking at art school so my practice is also very much about mark-making. I always work on multiple pieces at the same time too so each body of work becomes a stream of consciousness made at a unique time and place in my life.
Is narrative important within your work?
I prefer the viewer to make up their own stories. Everybody sees the world in a unique way and I think my paintings are quite emotive as well as visual. I’m always fascinated by what viewers do see in my work. I think as the paintings are very layered there is a lot more going on than what you see at a first glance.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I’ve always been drawn to artists who have an emotional intensity to their work. Goya, Francis Bacon, Frida Kahlo, Egon Schiele, Wangechi Mutu, Marlene Dumas, are just a few.
What or who inspires your art?
Africa in general is a large inspiration for me. I was born and raised there until my early 20’s. It is in my blood and I have always taken influences from there. Mythologies, mysticism, masquerade, patterns, colour, masks, textiles and shiny things.
The natural world is another inspiration Bones, skulls, corals, plants, horns…..
Traveling and seeing the world has also had a big impact on my practice. This latest work for example all began in Kenya. It would never be what it is if that experience had never happened.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
I have a studio in Wembley Park with Second Floor Studios. It’s my sanctuary and I love it. It has very high ceilings, great light, and lots of wall space!
Do you have any studio rituals?
I have got to have a coffee when I get in and get into my studio clothes which is nothing glamorous but very comfy!
What are you working on now?
At the moment I am experimenting with raw canvas. There are a couple of pieces that are wall hangings in my upcoming show ‘The Whispering Tongues’. I’m exploring more of this process.
I’ve always found it interesting how one element begins to thread into the next body of work.
Where can we buy your work?
In London with Grove Square Galleries and with Art Labor in Shanghai.
Marc Standing’s work is on show in The Whispering Tongues at Grove Square Galleries, London, until 6 August.
