Interview with Tom Hunter

We are delighted to welcome Tom Hunter as one of two Invited Artists in this year's Annual Open Exhibition. Tom is an artist using photography and film, living and working in East London. He is Professor of Photography at the London College of Communications, University of the Arts, London; an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society; and has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East London. Tom has earned several awards during his career - his latest in 2016, the Rose Award for Photography at the Royal Academy, London.

Before the exhibition opens on Sunday 1 October, we asked Tom some quick-fire questions...

RWA: Where do you find inspiration?

TH: In life around me, stories from the pub, people in the street, places where I run and cycle, nature and people.

RWA: Who is your hero?

TH: Heroes always seem to let you down.

RWA: What other jobs have you done?

TH: Tree surgeon, forestry worker, bar worker, building labourer, waiter, cycle dispatch rider, farm worker, gardener, painter and decorator, oil tanker inspection worker, oil refinery pipe painter, handy man, van delivery man, bouncer door man, litter picker,

RWA: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

TH: Give it a go

RWA: If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

TH: Rich

RWA: If you could own any piece of artwork which would it be?

TH: Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian, its got everything I love, chaos, gods, alcohol, love, animals, myths, debauchery and the most beautiful blue sky with the stars shining. I see something new in it ever time I see it. But if I owned it, I would still leave it at the National Gallery where every one could see it for free. I’m not up for hoarding it away.

RWA: What made you want to take part in the RWA Annual Open Exhibition?

TH: I was invited.

Tom Hunter will exhibit in the 165 Annual Open Exhibition (1 October - 3 December 2017).