My Space: Hamish Fleming

What makes a truly creative space?

Image and words by Interview Timothea Moylan

Describe your creative practice...

It’s grungy, traditional realism. People assume that means I paint flowers and old vases, but that’s because back in the day, that’s what people saw. Now it’s more like the disposable coffee cup on your desk. I also make 90 per cent of my own paint – it’s like the rolling cigarettes of making paint.

Describe your workspace...

There are some 1960s dining chairs I found on the side of the road. My pallet stand is covered in crispy, dried paint and I built the pigment shelf myself. I’ve also got these industrial 1950s lockers and an anatomic model of a skull.

How does the space influence your practice?

Well, I paint stuff that’s in here all the time! I’ve painted my jacket that’s hanging on the lockers. I painted the chair I’m sitting on. There are influences everywhere.

Where do you take your inspiration from?

Anything that disrupts or moves me in one way or another. I find beauty in unexpected things. Sometimes they’re not beautiful things – it might be something kind of gross or ugly or harsh.

Do you work best in order or chaos?

Both. I sort of order everything, and then I wreck it. I wreck and rebuild the space so I don’t have to wreck and rebuild my own life.

What are your go-to tunes while you create?

Ezra Bell is my number one. And Molly Nilsson, especially lyrically. I also love The Kills and The Empty Threats – Monster Truck Mondays is fantastic.

Keep up to date with everything Hamish Fleming is doing here.