Xavier Pick

From Saga - Site Vibing......

hello

i've just got bck from an alumni event at the royal college of art, where xavier pick gave a talk about his work as a artist in residence with the M-O-D in Iraq.
Fascinating.
when he was studying at the rca he drove an ambulance to bosnia over the christmas vacation, and he spent time in beruit documenting the situation there in the 90's.

he spoke about being an artist, not a journalist, and the differences, the way people respond to them, and their differing aims.

He spoke about being a peace artist, about being aware that he was commissioned by the army, and being sensitive to this, but having the desire to speak the truth of the place through his drawings.
of the humanity he saw, in the british soldiers, the iraqi border guards, and civilians.

he spoke of his heritage (from york with lebanese roots) his judeo christian back ground, and his Buddhist meditative practice. he mentioned his faith impacted his outlook and what he wanted to convey and how it was how he coped with the difficult conditions in iraq.

he was an eloquent speaker, and his drawings were startling fresh and rich.

he spoke of justice. faith. and art.

i spoke to him afterwards, and said that the issues he had been speaking of resonated with those of greenbelt,
and that i particularly thought they were pertinent to the 'art of looking sideways' theme.

the idea of conveying a situation, but not giving the answers,

to provide questions
not answers

we didn't talk expansively, but he said that he'd be up for talking about his experience.
i'd also want to show his paintings/images

he told me to get in touch,

so talks and visual arts what do you think?