The theme for this exhibition is to some extent in the title, Apertures. Many of the paintings have repeated stencil images. John has used this trick before, but in this case, he is reflecting on the idea of the image being doubled on the retina, as it might be after you’ve been looking at an image for a long time in heavy sunlight. Some of the paintings have quite good painterly qualities. Others are really nothing more than a repeated stencil in a grid formation, but nonetheless, effective. Many of the paintings in this exhibition were in fact square, an observation I later made to John Squire’s agent who must have been astounded at my critical abilities. I did find myself smiling as I walked around this one though, which I haven’t necessarily on previous occasions. Perhaps I am beginning to genuinely enjoy these exhibitions, despite my feeling almost obligated to be there. There is a familiarity I am beginning to understand, there is the formulaic style, and functional titles – “Plain View”, “Swarm”, “Green Composition”, to the sudden exception (itself almost part of the routine), such as in “Suspended by the Feet and Beaten with Hammers”, which obviously forces you to think of Christ, and religious devotion. This is a brash, bright red painting, which I did like, I must admit. In “Latency Period” which has a cartoon bomb as its repeated image, I wondered if there was a reference to John’s period as an artist with the cartoon, Danger Mouse.


I’d got round the whole place, before returning to the start, where John plus agent were now waiting – pretty sure they hadn’t been there when I’d come in. I glanced around at the pictures in this room. There was a painting in the corner called Sit, the stencil image on this one being an office chair. Next to it was a pink sofa-type chair. I glanced over at John, and for a moment, wondered if I was being commanded to sit, but I decided after all not to sit down, & instead went outside for a cigarette.


I came back in and had the chance to speak to John. Did not have much to say after all. He asked about the magazine, I gave him a copy of the latest issue. I also handed over a sheet of interview questions, which was quickly grabbed by his agent, so I don’t know if he ever even got to read them, let alone answer them. I asked about the forthcoming exhibition entitled Nefertiti, which I was interested in because Karen has an interest in Nefertiti. I tried to question him about something I’d thought of, ie. like the notion of images being repeated in our line of vision, which is almost a distortion of what we are seeing, unlike in a 3D film, when you see 3D normally, objects close up which you are not focussing on stay blurred, and I wondered if this effect could also be emulated in a painting. John didn’t really seem interested in this however – I’m not even sure if he was even all that interested in the subject of his own paintings, which saddened me a little. I also gave him a copy of the Smiles and Frowns album, one of my favourite albums, and this did seem to arouse some enthusiasm.


Apertures is showing at the Square Gallery, Bristol, until August 11. John has an exhibition entitled Nefertiti at the Henderson Gallery, Edinburgh, as part of the festival, until August 19, and has work at Burghley Sculpture Garden, Stamford until 29 October. More info at www.johnsquire.com


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