5 questions for the pontillist painter Gavin Rain

Gavin Rain, pointillist painter from Cape Town, South Africa. Photo © G. Rain

1.Tell us what you do and your beginnings.

I’m a pointillist painter, having painted in this style for around 15 years. I began thinking about this style about 20 years ago, but it took me a few years to figure out how I could realise it. I had this idea to do a painting that looked like a digital photo close up – playing on the idea of going from digital to analogue – kinda flying in the face of the world trend which was in the opposite direction.

I was trying to point out that with digital we lose something – those gaps between the dots. We sacrifice quality for speed: again, a trend in our society. But once I started planning the painting I realised that a good comment the painting style could make was that things can be hidden in plain sight – and we need to step back to see the full picture – an allegory for our lives.

2.What are your favorite museums in the world? Why?

That’s hard. Obviously I have to mention the Louvre Museum, but in all honesty the museum that had the greatest impression on me is the Uffizi Galleries. I guess I’m partisan to the artists each museum houses, more so than the museum itself.

So I’d have to mention Het Paleis (for Escher) and the Mauritshuis (for Vermeer). Actually, there are so many… I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.

3.How important are social networks in your business? And which platform do you prefer and why.

Well truthfully I don’t have a lot of time to spend on social media, but I do like the fact that I can show my work to people all over the place. I like that engagement. I use Instagram and Facebook for that. As to why, well I guess it’s just that I know these…

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