About this piece.

They say that a picture paints a thousand words yet Alan overlooks that fact and talked those thousand words per sitting- regardless! Our conversations ranged from Science and Art to Philosophy and Cheesecake. We discussed the links between Science and Art and recognized the similarities.

They are both methods of analysis where ideas are developed and then tried and tested in places where mind and hand come together—the scientist’s laboratory and the artist’s studio. Scientists like artists, study nature, materials, culture, religion and mythology— and learn to transpose this knowledge into something else. Alan could wax lyrical about this for what seemed hours and I had to end these discussions when I could no longer bear the stiffness in neck.

Our sittings were very sporadic and far between because we couldn’t find a common time to meet. When we did meet, Alan and I also discussed the similarity between Indian and Greek Philosophy. Not all our conversations were that intellectual- we also discussed cheesecake and Rolf Harris. I don’t think Alan appreciated it when I asked him to make his wooden palette into a “wobble board”.

As the light in the Art Studio changed so did the portrait and layer upon layer was added. Does an artist ever know when to stop? In the supposed final sitting Alan adopted the “Enid Blyton technique” and turned me into “Big Ears”. So as I write this, I am preparing for the final, final sitting.

I enjoy the conversations with Alan, recognize his remarkable talent and am slightly envious of the effortless way he is able to be as creative as he is.

Kevin Ebenezer

Portfolio / Dialogues / Kevin Ebenezer