DAVID FERRY

ELIN KARD (EK): Why an artist should tackle with the topic of exile? Why would it be interesting (necessary etc) to make an artistic comment on theme of exile?

DF: Within a none life threatening regime, the idea of ’looking’ across to a place you once lived, can be a wonderful opportunity to re-discover. The artist can use ’memory,’ ’nostalgia’ and ’past happenings’ with a refreshed insight and a certain amount of warmth.

EK: Whether the media of graphic fine art enhances or diminishes the signification of the notion of exile.

DF: The graphic media is a perfect medium to convey or enhance the position of ’exile.’ Printed words and photographic imagery are very powerful human ’keys.’

EK: What is the main connotation of the word ‘exile’ for you? Does it mean lifelong status of a refugee, of self reduction and homelessness or, on the contrary, big freedom ?

DF: For me the idea of ’exile’ as a ’place’ is not restricted by location. The word exile conjures a type of liberation (from the ordinary or mundane).

EK: Do you have any personal experience of exile?

DF: Only of ’self-imposed’ exile. This was a liberation and very much needed at the time.

EK: What kind of impact has the world of globalization, that evokes people to adapt with new neighbourhoods and emerges cultural backgrounds and ethnicities, on your work?

DF: I enjoy the cultural ’nonsense’ that occurs when one cultural imperative is ’mixed with another. A good example would be the ’Monty python’ sketch involving Canadian mounted police and lumberjacks!

EK: Is it necessary to leave one’s country to experience being in exile?

DF: Not necessarily, as there are many sub sections of society within the many cultural and sociological regions that make up any country. However, I like to leave my own country as often as possible.

EK: What does the word nation signifies for you? Does the nation join with concept meaning of yourself when it is dispossessed of traditional characteristics ?

DF: ’Nation’ signifies the very worst of the human condition. Pride in a nation has become like a fear of the unknown, it produces aggression and loathing of anything from the ’outside’ becoming more indigenous ’football-nation’ = violence.

EK: Exile in the private environment – how it connects with the general idea of the exile?

DF: The world and language of the computer has allowed instant access to the concept of ’time travel.’ In your room you can connect to a different location or reality.

EK: What kind of ideas and emotions evokes in you the following words:

· Communication – the internet
· Generations – a concept of time
· political violence – legitimate anger
· alienation - loneliness
· multicultural society – a celebration of modern world
· language – interesting as an association with the past. Frustration is caused by not being able to speak a certain language.
· nomadic modus vivendi – in the future this may be synonymous with mans expansion of the great universe.
· territory – home – the artists studio
· tourism – a commercial commodity available ’on-line’ on ’DVD’ or through a travel agent! Tourism is not discovery.
· bound – boundless – the common place and the fantasy
· conquering – seizure – migration – history, inhumanity, bird watching!
· ethnic epuration – genocide – too awful to make an honest comment about.
· crimes against humanity – war crimes – the human ability to self destruct
· religion – the human ability to self destruct
· solitude – discovery of the self
· trauma – pain – oppression – emotional darkness
· unconformity – anomie – celebration, comedy and optimism

EK: Does art possess refugee-like status in the society?

DF: Perhaps artists themselves do!