Paul Robinson (LUAP)

Paul Robinson (LUAP)

Portrait of artist Paul Robinson in CAKE
Photo: Antoinette Haselhorst

There is something wonderful about children playing, from the sound of their laughter and squeals and interactions, to the inventiveness they display, striking a relationship with imagination and reality in a world of pretend. Climbing trees exploring abandoned places. We all are familiar with  being children, from our own experiences to being a parent. This imaginary world is encapsulated  by Paul’s most recent works of The Pink Bear in a realistic and fictional environment lost or  wandering, sometimes taking us into a more political storyline of the world as it is today. 

Artwork by Paul robinson
I ♥ Day Dreaming by Paul Robinson
Artwork by Paul Robinson
Tempest by Paul Robinson

Paul narrates the adult topics of climate  change, the exploitation of our environment as well as our current affairs, through the eyes of  innocence. These artworks come in themes, I used to be a Polar Bear, representing the idea that the  Polar Bear may become a mythical creature in our future, where nobody will know whether he  existed or not, as well as Pink Bear, BedTime Stories and Pink Bear Is Coming To Town. It is renascence of childhood, loss of innocence and those lost moments of happiness that we all  encounter within the realms of family. His bear is inspired by an old photograph, of just that, family life with his mother, father and brother, as they meet a Care Bear in the 1980’s. The patterns that  Paul uses in his paintings, is the metaphysical layering of wallpaper that his mother painted over  many times in the home where he grew up. His love of trees; as his father chopped down the apple  tree to make room for a swing, when he preferred the real tree. The good intentions of parenting and  the true effect it has on our innocence. 

contemporary art by Paul Robinson
Rainbow Bright  by Paul Robinson
Contemporary art by Paul Robinson
Rarer than a  Unicorn by Paul Robinson

When you meet Paul, a tall man with a strong athletic build, one can easily forget the gentle soul that  resides. A highly successful driven student, he accomplished A levels in Art, Design and Technology  as well as Maths and Physics. He bought his own dark room at 16 with money he earned, then  studied A level Photography, and completed a foundation course before applying to Goldsmiths. He  didn’t get in, he tells me, grinning. After studying Fine art at Canterbury, Goldsmith approached him  to talk about his Pink Bear artwork. Oh the irony! 

Pink Bear art by Paul Robinson
Solar Rise by Paul Robinson
Contemporary Art by Paul Robinson
Naughty Step by Paul Robinson
artwork by Paul Robinson featured in CAKE
Recollection of Innocence by Paul Robinson

If you are thinking to yourself that he was privileged; he grew up in Grimsby, made famous by  channel 4’s benefit street. Paul was an academic scholar though, always top of the class, as well as  being an accomplished athlete. p. His determination did not deter him even after his parents split  when he was 16, he was already showing his artwork by then “They supported me with anything I  wanted to do.” Choosing Art because it gave him the freedom to explore. His father is also an artist,  a sculptor, however he spent most of his life working on the oil rigs in the North Sea to support his  family, and now he is retired he does what he loves. 

Pink Bear artwork by Paul Robinson
Wanderlust by Paul Robinson

After Uni in 2005, Paul moved to London. So he could pay the bills, he worked as a Creative  Director for prestigious advertising agencies and charities. He is very cautious, treading a careful  line, he doesn’t want to have nothing. We touch on the subject that some successful artists have the  advantage of having wealthy parents to allow them the freedom to be artists. Business acumen is  what has become a necessary part of many modern artists today. 

Contemporary Art by Paul Robinson
Followers by Paul Robinson

His artworks do create debate and are subjective, he was recently challenged by a woman at one of  his shows at the art fair, who appeared a bit aggressive, as he tried to explain the artworks are about  human trafficking. This conversation between humans through artistic mediums is so essential to  our lives. Paul’s painting decorates a wall in the exclusive Belgrave Hotel, alongside legendary  artists Andy Warhol, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Joan Miro, and Mark Chagall. His work has appeared in 35 shows from every corner of London from Mayfair to Spitalfields, and around the globe from  Dubai to Hong Kong. He is currently working on his next show, large canvases that he meticulously  layers that leave you too gaze for a long time. I heard a quote recently by a famous collector who  said “You Gaze at art, gazing is much nobler than just looking”  

Interview: Antoinette Haselhorst

Portrait of Paul Robinson Luap
Photo: Antoinette Haselhorst
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