Ey Up Pavel Büchler

Ey Up with Harry Meadley

Quite a few years ago now - whilst still an art student myself and as an artwork in itself, I set up a small art prize for students on the Leeds Foundation course where I had previously studied. Though generated by a different set of circumstances, the creation of the Northern Art Prize at that time was clearly an influencing factor. Every year I invited the winner of the Northern Art Prize to be one of the judges on my one – and this was how I first met Pavel. It always stayed with me how seriously he took this role and how diligently he approached it – especially given how publicly he expressed his uncertainties of art prizes (and of the one he’d just won).

Known by many as an influential educator, internationally exhibiting artist, and regular subverter of symposiums, I have always enjoyed any chance I’ve had to speak with him, and hear some of his usually quite eventful stories. This time however, somewhat foregoing his own personal biography, he chose to share many of his thoughts on the nature of art, the teaching or inability of teaching it, and its many nonsenses.