What is art for?
We are all part fact and part fiction. We live in our heads more than we do in the present moment. Art plays with that, and that’s why we relate to it more than just facts presented to us. We need it and always have done, from the beginning of human time. (source: Gillian Wearing Interview by Ben Luke)
You often use collage and assemblage, what attracts you to this medium?
When I was a young student, I was very affected by the work of Robert Rauschenberg. It had such a profound impact on me that I knew experiencing his work that I was an artist who collects. Much like my coming to Varla, this was very organic and I simply understood my role as an artist through Rauschenberg’s important work. The act of collecting objects mixing art and life really spoke to me and became my medium to this day. (source: Interview with Pepe Mar on his work safeguarding queer histories)
Can you describe two or three important projects that you have completed?
In your answer, you should show a critical awareness of the standard of your work (aka is it any good?) and how it might sit within a wider context, i.e. its relation to the world, art theory, and other people’s work.
Can you tell us what is important about these projects to you?
Peel back the layers of your work and give a sense of a technical and creative progression. How did you experiment with different materials, styles and skills? How did your interests and technique shift from project to the next - and why? What inspired you? What were you trying to achieve with each project, and were you successful?
Tell us about the trajectory of your career up to this point.
Show you are curious about the world and share any interesting experiences or interests that might reveal something interesting about you.
Why would you like to come to this university?
Your answer to this question needs to demonstrate an understanding of the college and the various resources it has to offer art students. You might want to mention a faculty member whose work you admire or cool facilities you’d like to take advantage of, giving a reason why (e.g. 3D modelling or animation suites, free gallery spaces etc.). Don’t forget to explain why you want to do the course: what about it appeals to you and how might it help you achieve your objectives.
What do you think you could contribute to the culture of the school?
The new recuits are someone who can see themselves as building a collective culture, someone that can be generous and has something to contribute to the group.
What is the most important/relevant/influential/recent book you have read on [insert subject]?
The interviewer is simply trying to figure out whether you actually care about your field enough to have read a few books about your field outside of the classroom. When talking about your book, show you understand the context in which it was written (i.e. why was it so pivotal at the time), but also don’t be afraid to express your own thoughts and emotions about it.
work and personal aspirations
工作和个人的抱负（发展计划）
trajectory of one’s career
事业的发展轨迹
radical
（作品）激进的
conceptual
（作品）概念性的
photographic
（作品）逼真的；如同照片的
overrated
（作品、人）过誉的，被高估的
underrated
（作品、人）被低估的
uncanny
（作品、人）奇怪的，难以解释的，超自然的
prolific
（人）创作过很多作品的，多产的
overlooked
（事物、人）被忽略的
a great turning point
一个伟大的转折点
collage [ˈkɒlɑ:ʒ]
（作品）融合多种风格的
a rich collage of 20th-century painting styles.
糅合了20世纪各种绘画风格
point of origin
起始点
Something is wrong at the point of origin.
某件事一开始就错了。
This show will be the point of origin for my next show.
This show will be the point of origin for my next show 这个展览将是我下一个展览的起始点。
it was the beginning of …
it was the beginning of a long road to being an artist.
这是成为一名艺术家生涯的起点
It made me realise that …
It made me realise art does not have to be a carefully composed painting.
它使我意识到艺术不一定是一幅精心创作的画。
start doing something after that
I started making clay sculptures after that in my bedroom
在那之后我开始在卧室里做泥塑。
neatly sum up …
He neatly summed up how we perform in life
他清楚地概括了我们在生活中如何“表演”。
return to
Which writer do you return to the most?
你最经常翻阅哪个作家的作品？
be like
Her writing is like philosophy.
她的作品就像哲学。
the greatest the world has ever seen
If she had been a philosopher she would have been one of the greatest the world had ever seen.
如果她是哲学家的话，她一定是世界上前所未有的最伟大的哲学家之一。
be far more + adjective
Overrated is far more subjective.
“过誉”这个词过于主观。
be classified as such
Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh and many more have all been classified as such at some point.
达芬奇、梵高等等，在某个时候都被划分为这一类。
It was important for me to do something
It was important for me to take some time to make my music better.
对我来说，多花时间改进我的音乐是很重要的。
get into the painting itself
I want to get into the painting itself and for the picture to show itself to me.
我想深入了解这幅画本身，让这幅画展示给我看。
an inspiration for me
she is still a very important inspiration for me
对我来说，她仍然是一个非常重要的灵感来源。
have a particular obsession with
I had a particular obsession with a rag called The Wire.
我对一个叫《连线》的小报社特别着迷。
one day I came across
One day I came across an issue from the 90s with Varla on the cover.
一天，我看到一期90年代发行的杂志，封面上印着Varla。
This immediately captivated me
This immediately captivated me and I wanted to learn more.
这立刻吸引了我，我想了解更多。
as part of my practice for my works
As part of my practice for my works, I go regularly to these stores.
经常去逛这些店铺，是我的作品练习的一部分。
On one visit
I go regularly to these stores. On one such visit, I found Varla’s actual paintings and purchased them.
我经常去这些商店。某次，我发现了瓦拉的真迹并购买了它们。
be fast becoming
It was fast becoming my third major project on this subject.
它很快就成了我在这个课题上的第三个项目。
the viewer will have more of [topic] to experience
In the end, this means the viewer will have more of Varla to experience which is what inspired this project.
最后，这意味着参观者将体验更多的关于本作品的灵感来源的瓦拉的元素。
to explore in depth
South Beach is the central place which I have explored in depth since I came of age in those 17 blocks.
South Beach是我在这17个街区长大后深入探索的中心地带。
mostly unknown to the public
It’s a particular place full of important histories, mostly unknown to the public.
这是一个特别的地方，充满了重要的历史，大部分是公众所不知道的。
give somebody a platform to do something
It’s entirely possible to give someone a platform to express their views on a specific topic
给大家一个平台来表达他们对某些问题的看法是完全可行的。
become all the more + adj.
It’s more important now because …, a persona like Varla becomes all the more powerful.
现在更重要了，因为……。像Varla这样的人更加具有影响力。
a character that I created to do something
Paprika is a character that I created to confront the world we live in, as the “other” or as outsiders.
Paprika是作为“其他人”或局外人，勇敢面对我们生活的这个世界而创造的一个角色。
It’s a character without …
It’s a character without gender, race, religion, sexuality, an embodiment of all beings.
它是一个没有性别、种族、宗教、性的角色，是所有生灵的化身。
take inspiration from works
I will take inspiration from works in the permanent collection which have rarely if ever been exhibited
我将从长期收藏的、很少展出的作品中获得灵感。