PLEASURABLY DISORIENTING

MODEL, ACTOR AND ARTIST, PARIS BROSNAN, IS BRIGHTLY COLOURING OUR LIVES IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS, WITH HIS URBAN STREET-LIKE FREE-FLOW PAINTINGS THAT ARE AS IN-YOUR-FACE AS GRAFFITI. WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE RISING TALENT TO TALK PALETTES, PASSIONS, AND RAW ENERGY.

There is such an energy to your paintings. Not just in the bright colourful vibrancy, but the emotive movement and narrative that resonates within the compositions. How would you describe your artistic style?
I would call it some form of expressionism because that’s what I’m doing – expressing myself. Whether it’s abstract or surrealist, I paint characters out of my imagination with colours that I think are interesting and complementary. I love bright colours and pastels; I think they can be easy on the eye when balanced correctly. They can make you feel happy and energetic, and I’m still learning how to find middle ground with my colour palettes. I try not to overthink my work or put any labels on it, I’ll leave that up to the art critics and gallerists …and just keep painting.

Left Full look **Miu Miu**
Right Jacket and pants **Miu Miu**, shoes talent’s own

When you start a new piece, as you add to it, does it feel like you’re having an intense conversation with it? Do you ever need to stop and go back to it, and maybe tinker with the conversation?
I start my paintings with an open mind which allows for spontaneous creativity. I usually play music I like and get into a groove. I paint reoccurring characters and figures that are familiar to me, and I like to paint for a while before taking a step back to really look at the work. Occasionally I move onto a new or different painting and then go back to the first painting so I can see things differently and come at it with a new approach.

It’s conversational, sometimes literally because I write words and phrases on the canvas, especially in my earlier works or on the back of my paintings. I have old paintings hung up on my wall that I will just go up to with a paintbrush or sharpie and scribe on.

Is art an escape for you?
Yes, it’s an escape and embodies freedom to me. My favourite thing about painting is that there aren’t any real boundaries and I’m free to do as much or as little as I would like. I can add, take away, bring back. I decide the story, and I determine the outcome.

So, tell me about your process?
In my earliest paintings I used very limited materials, a can or two of spray paint, some oil markers, and tubes of paint. It can be fun working with less materials at times because it makes me more resourceful and, in some cases, more detailed. For example, I would spray paint a canvas and then paint thousands of dots over the spray paint. Now that I draw with oil sticks and paint with brushes, I have more choices of materials and sometimes I don’t know where to start… so I just grab my brush or oil stick and get going.

Who or what inspired you’re ‘aha, I love painting’ moment?
I’ve been painting since I was a little kid. I grew up watching my father [Pierce Brosnan] paint and he’s been doing that since the mid 1980’s and is a true artist in every sense of the word. His artworks really inspired me to take my art practice more seriously, and at the same time to do just it for myself.

Any other artistic inspirations, or arty quotes that fuel your passion for it all?
So many! Jean Dubuffet, David Hockney, Keith Haring, Peter Beard, Damian Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Willem De Kooning among others. There are also so many new and outstanding painters and visual artists whose work I appreciate. As for quotes, I really like Francis Bacon’s “I work much better in chaos… chaos for me breeds images.” It just reminds me of working in a crowded studio with paint and canvasses everywhere while blasting loud music. That’s where I make most of my work.

Let’s talk about some of your other passions too. You’ve made some short films, including one which raised awareness about child famine and poverty, and you’re now stepping on to the big screen in your first theatrical role. Tell me more.
I’ve always had a love for filmmaking and telling stories, and I hope to do more humanitarian based short films, and I’m working on writing and producing my own show. And yes, I’ve just worked with an amazing Australian director, Richard Grey, in my first acting role in a film called Unholy Trinity. It’s a western set in Montana and it was such a pleasure working with Richard and watching him bring the movie to life!

You’re also saving the marine environment too. You’re quite the influential activist.
I’m inspired by my mother who has done so much important work to protect the environment. Recently I travelled to the Maldives with Global Green, where we were doing beach clean-ups, collecting plastic which was recycled into things like chairs and tables. I even made a four-panel canvas out of plastic and painted on it! I plan on auctioning it off for charity and donating the funds to the local school I visited in the Maldives.

What’s your take on sustainability and the fashion industry with this climate crisis we’re in, as you’ve previously collaborated with eco-fashion brand Paul & Shark in the past?
Sustainability in fashion is very important to me as it’s one of the most wasteful industries in the world. Fast fashion is a no-go for me. I like clothes that are durable and timeless and can be worn for a lifetime. Buy less, buy quality and thrift more! Donate what you don’t need to others. For example, I gift clothes I’ve outgrown to my nephew or friends. I think we can all benefit from minimising, and one of my guilty pleasures is thrifting for vintage Levi’s!

Any favourite pieces of fashion you own then?
My father’s old jackets and button ups that he’s passed down to me. He’s also gifted me most of my ring and watch collection. Laurie Stark made me a beautiful Chrome Hearts suit that I will have forever!

You also worked with iconic brand Golden Goose on a limited-edition collection that featured your artwork. Are you planning any more partnerships or how about launching your own line one day?
Working with Golden Goose was a dream come true, and they gave me such creative freedom. It was a full circle moment because I remember wearing their shoes growing up! I’m planning more partnerships with like-minded brands, including a watch company, and may have something of my own in the works soon!