D o you come up with a concept before you begin a piece or does the work evolve from what [material] you’re working with? It’s a little bit of everything really. Sometimes I can picture the complete image before I start making it. Sometimes I play around with the materials and it evolves until i’m happy with it. Sometimes I try to make one thing but screw up and it ends up being something completely di ff erent. NS I think someone mentioned that one of your works reminded him of Kohei N awa. what other artists have had an influence on your works? I don’t know much about and don’t often look at famous art. I ’m what the art world calls an outsider. I ’d rather see relatively unknown art or just stay in my own little world. T here are some famous artists I like including K ohei Nawa, for example Banksy and MC E scher, but I wouldn’t say that any of them have directly influenced me in ways that made me think, “oh that’s a good idea, i never thought of that. i think i’ll do that.” the patterns I see as I move around in my daily life influence me more than art. NS W hat’s been the most difficult work you’ve exhibited in terms of logistics? I haven't exhibited very often but I did fill a small truck so i could show as many pieces as possible when i had the chance. There were a lot of blankets and bubble wrap involved as some pieces are either heavy or fragile or both so carrying them across town there and back was a bit nerve wracking. T he gallery owner was shocked at the amount of art and it took an entire day to hang it all. NS There seems to be a symmetrical and mathematical quality to your works. Do you hear music or sounds (synesthesia) when you see these patterns? Is your work informed by music? T here are definitely a lot of mathematical patterns in my art but no, I don’t hear music or sounds when I see the images. However I always listen to music when I ’m making the art. it’s pretty much essential. Only one poster. my friend and I did a small joint exhibition together. T he theme was red, white and black word art. H e made his posters and I made mine separately but we made one together which was used in the entrance just as a kind of practical welcoming piece. I t was the least artistic one of them all. A ll the pieces you have done have been done by yourself. H ave you ever done a collaborative work? NS NS Neil Storkey is a British artist based in Tokyo who makes mathematically inspired visuals and three-dimensional pieces. His work features explorations of patterns, reflection, and symmetry. He’s talking with us today about his process and his influences. INTERMIX Interview INTERMIX FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND JOIN OUR COLLECTIVE