JONATHAN CHERRY: What did you have for breakfast this morning?
THEO SIMPSON: Coffee.
JC: Any emerging artists inspiring you at the moment?
TS: Too many! Thomas Albdorf, Ana Kraš, John Opera to name a few.
JC: What is your current project all about?
TS: It’s about the 1984 miner strike in the UK, which is known as the ‘12 months that shook Britain’.
I’m investigating not only the tragic and suspicious deaths but also the duration, how long the country was on the brink of civil war.
JC: What was the last photography book you flicked through?
TS: 2 1/4 by William Eggleston, published by Twin Palms. A beautiful book.
JC: What has 2011 got in store for you?
TS: Hopefully finishing a couple of projects that are really important to me. A bit of lecturing at the university in Sheffield and a 3 week drive along the West coast of America.
JC: What is eight all about?
TS: Eight looks at the Architectural vision of Sir Reginald Blomfield who was tasked with designing and selecting some of the most controversial structures ever built in the British landscape. It records a very ordinary selection of British pylons, intent on showing the intricacies and consideration of everyday structures.
JC: Tell us about how you go about creating one of your publications.
TS: It’s a case of using the printed form to extend the ideas of your project, when you do it yourself you have control of everything, which leaves tremendous scope. The danger is not to go far with all the freedom you have and start detracting from the work itself.
More than anything I like materials, considering how it feels not just how it looks. It’s about being involved with creating something and watching it evolve as a book.
JC: Words of wisdom for recent photography graduates?
TS: Someone said recently ‘80% hard work, 20% talent’ I’d agree with that.
JC: Other thoughts?
TS: I’ve started this project with Craig Barker and were currently looking for submissions.
