The Interrobang Interrogation – Chris McQueer Redux

Whenever we think about hot young Glasgow writer Chris McQueer, we think of him bringing down the house at our War On Christmas party to launch 404 Ink’s awesome ERROR. So we know he’s going to be the perfect guest for the exercise in mentalism that is But is it ART?!

Also, he gives good INTERROBANG?! Interrogation

Whit?!
“A deid dug, ye say?” “Aye. A deid dug.”

Chris McQueer is a 25 year old writer and sales assistant from Glasgow. Some of his work has appeared in magazines such as The High Flight, The Football Pink and most recently for 404 Ink. When he isn’t writing weird short stories, selling shoes or busting queues he can usually be found spouting nonsense at a party somewhere with a bottle of Buckfast in hand.

And here’s how he answered our questions:

?!:  Do you have a favourite piece of art you’d like to tell us about? It doesn’t have to be visual. Or does it?!

CMcQ:  My favourite piece of art is probably the big shark Damien Hirst preserved in formaldehyde and displayed in a glass box. I remember seeing a thing about it on the telly when I was younger and the shark had this really fucked up, wrinkled face. It’s haunted my dreams ever since.

Ya wee nyaff!
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living – WHO ARE YOU CALLING “WRINKLED”?!

?!:  If ‘you’ (in whatever capacity you define that to be) could be represented by an established piece of art, what would that piece be?

CMCQ: If I could be represented by a piece of art it would definitely be the Salvador Dali painting with the melting clocks since I’m constantly late for work.

But don't tell him that!
Don’t worry, he’s on in the second half!

?!  Pick a song or piece of music that you would have playing as you walk into the most important moment of your life?!

CMcQ; Sticking with the art theme, I’d have to go for Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The music video for it still blows my mind.

?!: Inspired by the One Minute Sculptures of Erwin Wurm, apparently

Now, define ‘not art’?!

CMcQ:  I’d say something would be classed as ‘not art’ if the artist took themselves too seriously. Whether you’re drawing, painting, sculpting, writing or whatever you can use your creativity to represent anything in the world – don’t just use it as an opportunity to try and make yourself look dead deep and clever.

?!:  Draw us a picture? Go on!

CMcQ:  Here’s a drawing of my dug, Timmy:

He can draw, too?! Ib is jell.
Aw! Looks like a happy wee fella!

Thanks a lot to Chris for putting himself through Interrobang’s grueling Interrogation again. Come along to INTERROBANG – But Is It ART?! on 18 February and experience his art in the flesh!

ESAF are selling advance tickets through social enterprise company Tickets for Good.

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The Interrobang Interrogation – Ross McCleary Redux

Since Ross McCleary is an artist who writes about an artist who creates art as an artist – and we feel an appropriate amount of time has passed since his rapturous reception at INTERROBANG – The First Time?! – we thought he’d be a perfect guest for But Is It ART?!

Also, we get to ask him to complete another Interrobang Interrogation. Strap in!

We're saying he's a work of art. Keep up!
Some art. And a bunch of writing.

Ross is still from Edinburgh. He has had work published recently by Five2One and Constellations. He is an editor of the spoken word podcast Lies, Dreaming, helps run Inky Fingers, and is obsessed with Flat Earth memes and the Edinburgh Watch twitter account.  At INTERROBANG – But Is It ART?! he will be reading from his novella published by Maudlin House.

And here’s how he answered our questions:

?!:  Do you have a favourite piece of art you’d like to tell us about? It doesn’t have to be visual. Or does it?!

RMcC:  My favourite pieces of art at the moment are Orange & Yellow (1953) by Mark Rothko and Sailing at Night by Mary Ellen Bartley. Abstract Expressionism is one of my strongest influencuse es. I enjoy the strength of colour and the surprising amount of depth in something seemingly so straightforward.

?!:  If ‘you’ (in whatever capacity you define that to be) could be represented by an established piece of art, what would that piece be?

RMcC:

Yes, but is it art?!
Erased de Kooning Drawing by Robert Rauschenberg [?!: Well, that’s on point.]
?!  Pick a song or piece of music that you would have playing as you walk into the most important moment of your life?!

?!: We like! Squelchy!!

Now, define ‘not art’?!

RMcC:  ‘Not art’ is all the things that people who say “that’s not art” about conceptual or abstract art consider to be art.

?!:  Draw us a picture? Go on!

RMcC:

I see clouds
“I Used To See Faces”

Thanks a lot to Ross for eduring Interrobang’s Interrogation again. Come along to INTERROBANG – But Is It ART?! on 18 February and experience art in the flesh!

ESAF are selling advance tickets through social enterprise company Tickets for Good.

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