Artist Interview: Orlando Richardson on Inside

Orlando Richardson, an amazing associate TNG artist and illustrator, whose work features in our Inside exhibition at Aspex Portsmouth, shares insights around his impactful work and taking part in This New Ground’s exhibition. Find out more about Orlando background and work here.

What are you looking forward to about the ‘Inside’ exhibition?

I look forward to displaying my work in a new place alongside the work of TNG’s Inclusive Arts Committee as one of the two commissioned artists and seeing what my work is like being displayed alongside theirs.

Tell us about the art you have created for the exhibition

I have done some text art based on quotes from Ray, a learning-disabled person who shared his story as part of an oral history project by This New Ground where they interviewed people with a learning disability people in Portsmouth. I added some small symbols to some of the text art. I have also done some portraits of Ray at different ages. I decided to use only black and white for my artwork to help make people understand Ray’s story of living in Coldeast (a former hospital in Sarisbury).

What are the main techniques you used for your exhibition pieces?

For the drawings of Ray and of Coldeast, I did drawing with pencil on A1 paper then put special tape over the outlines and covered the drawing with black paint. Afterwards I removed the tape revealing white outlines. To do the drawing, I had used a projector to draw round the images. I did the text drawing by hand on A1 paper and used paint and acrylic markers to add colour.

Orlando took part, alongside other Inside exhibition commissioned artist Nathan Wong, in a month-long residency at Aspex Portsmouth last September/October. During the residency Orlando and Nathan developed brilliant new ideas and art works for our exhibition.

How was the residency at Aspex?

I enjoyed it as I got to work in a new space away from my home studio and also somewhere a bit larger meaning there was more space I could use for a project to do my large-scale drawings with a projector. I also had a chance to experiment with new materials.

I have liked meeting the This New Ground artists on a regular basis and working alongside them.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given as an artist?

I had been given advice from one of my old art teachers that mistakes can always happen. If I did something wrong, I could always correct it and find a way to make it look right.

Which artist/s have had the most impact on your work?

I have mostly been impacted by pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Litchenstein as well as Shepard Fairey who uses a lot of text in his artwork. I also take inspiration from Italian Futurist artists such as Forunato Depero.

What helps you to get creative?

I like to do drawings and art pieces that work towards a plan I have made or a brief that I have been given as I find it easier to work so I know what I am doing.

Why were you drawn to the words ‘I’m A Portsmouth Thing’ in your art work?

This is one of the quotes from Ray’s interview. It gives mixed emotions, such as the experience that he had at Coldeast and the nostalgia from when I was studying an MA in Illustration at the University of Portsmouth.

What are you working on next?

I am thinking about developing a zine relating to Neurodivergence and various experiences.

What is your favourite thing about Portsmouth?

The fact that it’s by the sea giving it a good atmosphere and that it is on an island as well. I also like that it has a community of artists and there is also street art in the area as well.

TNG’s ‘Inside’ exhibition is on at Aspex Portsmouth from 27 March to 7 June.

For more information visit: Aspex Portsmouth - Inside, This New Ground