Inspired

Mitch Cunningham
Cunningham Design

The Inspired section started an interesting discussion among us – four different people, four different approaches.

Kit Boothby: During the late 1980s, early 1990s, Pop Will Eat Itself were at the forefront of the indie scene. In addition to their futuristic sound was some of the most incredible artwork I’d ever seen, produced by The Designers Republic. The two together stuck out a mile and I was hooked.

Denise Cunningham: A man called Harman Sumray (1920-2006) inspired me to draw. He taught life drawing techniques that made you move your pencil fast and rhythmically, taking away the apprehension. As you drew he kept up a lecture of ‘keep looking, keep moving’ – thoughts that I have applied many times since.

Tom Smith: Something that kick-started my visual awareness was the work of MC Escher. I’ve always been intrigued by the symmetric nature of his work, in how it can appear so simple and striking, yet contain a complexity that hurts the brain.

Mitch Cunningham: My biggest inspiration from the past 12 months is the DIG! DVD, which introduced me to the music of the Brian Jonestown Massacre. On the surface their music is free and easy, but underneath it’s tremendously organised – qualities I would love to capture in my work.