The Visual Narratives of Chris Orr

Engaging with contemporary themes through the lens of personal experience and urban energy

Chris Orr discusses the influence of urban landscapes on his art, the role of observation, and the significance of nostalgia and dialogue in his creative journey.

Few voices in the dynamic field of contemporary art are as profound and perceptive as Chris Orr’s. Orr is renowned for his ability to skillfully combine intricate ideas and intimate stories; his art goes beyond simple beauty to engage viewers in a meaningful conversation about urban life and the human condition. His work, which is frequently influenced by the vibrant energy of places like Shanghai and New York, reflects on memory, observation, and the complex interactions that form our realities while capturing the essence of contemporary life. Whether it’s through elaborate illustrations or provocative installations, Orr’s work pushes us to pay closer attention and interact with the world more fully.

Chris Orr discusses his thoughts on the cities that inspire him, the value of observation in his creative process, and how his position at the Royal Academy has influenced his artistic viewpoint in this exclusive interview with WOWwArt Magazine. He talks about the value of conversation in art, the impact of nostalgia, and the symbolic meaning of trains in his most recent piece, “The Midnight Special.” Orr’s observations provide a rare window into the thoughts of an artist whose exploration of the terrains of memory, imagination, and existence never fails to enthral and inspire audiences around.

Chris Orr’s work elegantly bridges personal narrative and urban experience, provoking deep reflections on life, memory, and artistic engagement.

How do your travels to cities like Shanghai and New York influence the themes and subjects you explore in your art?

I am a city person. Some places have always had a special place in my imagination. All my life I longed to see Shanghai. When I went in 2004 the convulsive frantic energy didn’t disappoint me. New York, we think we know before we visit from movies and books. The reality is a city of changing dreams. I made a drawing, Companions in the Canyon, that sums up my relationship to the contradictions of Manhattan.

What role does observation play in your creative process, and how do you translate everyday moments into your artwork?

To be an artist is to look. To look at the world around you and to look inside yourself at your memories and feelings. To combine these you must dance a careful path using all your senses. Looking carefully is meditative and introspective. You have two allow the subconscious to play its part.

How has being elected a Royal Academician and your role at the Royal Academy impacted your perspective on the art community?

The Royal Academy is a wonderful institution, championing the visual arts. I have been privileged to play a role in running the place, working on the Summer Exhibition, the educational programme and as Treasurer. The Summer Exhibition is a national treasure and provides an outlet for so many artists. I have shown at the RA Summer Exhibition every year since 1995 and have gained a huge audience for my work and ideas.

In what ways do you believe your work engages with contemporary life, and how do you hope it resonates with viewers?

For me being in a city is essential. Learning from all the creative developments that happen around you in the other arts, sciences and politics stimulates the juices necessary to make your own work. My ideas invite a reaction, a dialogue, an opinion. Both through teaching and exhibiting I am in contact with older and younger people. My work is in many homes and work places where I hope the dialogue continues.

How have your long train journeys, especially on the California Zephyr, influenced the characters in “The Midnight Special”?

Slow is sometimes good. Although I appreciate “Bullet” trains when I go to Japan, I love the slow evolution of a traditional train journey. Time in observing and getting to know your fellow passengers, and seeing the landscape gradually change is time well spent. On the California Zephyr I left Chicago, temperature was minus 5 and 3 days later arrived in San Francisco 30 degrees plus. Everybody on the train felt they were pioneers going to the Promised Land.

In “The Midnight Special” how does the train serve as a metaphor for life’s journeys, and what role do nostalgia and toy railways play in your work?

The train is a microcosm of life. Trains are linear, snaking through landscape and time. The train is democracy. The train journey is a love affair.

My first toys were trains. Clockwork, unrealistic but strangely beautiful they haunt my dreams. Where I went to school there was a railway at the end of the playground. Just at playtime the all pullman Golden Arrow bound for Paris thundered by. I longed to be on it.

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