Sunt asa putine initiative in care forma si fondul sa aiba ponderi echilibrate, ca 100towatch a aparut ca o surpriza f placuta in peisajul cultural de la noi. O initiativa care ne-a facut curiosi, si am vrut sa aflam mai multe despre. De la Tom Wilson, citire:) Am pornit in romana, am terminat in engleza, una peste alta am aflat multe chestii interesante despre proiect. Interviul integral il puteti citi in revista igloo de luna viitoare, unde o parte din theKITE (eu si Sma) lucram la un supliment cultural de mare finete care se va regasi de acum in igloo:) Enjoy.

theKITE: Care e scopul final al proiectului? Care ar trebui sa fie implicatiile pentru artistii selectati in album?

Tom Wilson: Well, obviously the 100 artists are benefiting from lots of additional exposure. 900 copies of the book went to art galleries, critics and art magazines and publications all over the world – to 340 different places like the Saatchi gallery, the White Cube, Flash Art Magazine, the Times, Modern Painters – and the website is getting a huge volume of hits: 8,000 unique visitors in the first week. I’d like to think that the artists in the book will actually get real benefits out of it – exhibitions, jobs, new clients. However, to be honest, they 100 artists are not the real focus of the project. What we wanted to do was present the creative scene in general. This is why I feel so sorry for the hundreds of artists who deserve to get into the list, but didn’t, simply due to lack of space. It’s not as though the artists in the book are necessarily the best – it’s not a definitive list – it’s our list. It’s a very good list, and I’m very proud of it, but we could easily have chosen a different 100 artists to write about. What matters is that we’re showing people in other countries that Romania has such an exciting creative scene. This isn’t a project for Romania. It’s for foreigners. Everyone complains about the stereotypes that Romania still has attached, and the real aim of the project is to make Romania synonymous with the arts. I want a painter in Denmark to want to get on the next plane to Romania to check out the scene.

theKITE: E cineva in opinia ta care merita sa fie in album si n-a fost selectat?

Tom Wilson: About 150 people. Seriously, I could send you pages and pages of people who should have got in. I’m scared to even mention a few names, because the people I don’t mention might get annoyed! However, on a really personal level, I would have liked cartoonist Alexandru Ciubotariu (http://undergroundbd.blogspot.com) to get in, because I have a soft spot for his street art and his cartoons, and I really respect his work. I also feel sorry that designer Carla Szabo (www.carlaszabo.com) didn’t get in. One of the reasons that we didn’t put her in, actually, is that she’s a good friend, and we were trying to be objective. Sometimes you’re harder on your friends than on anyone else… I also personally regret not putting Livio & Roby in the music list. They’re doing big things at the moment, especially in the kooky-disco area, and that’s really exciting. The must list was my responsibility, so I’ve nobody else I can pretend to blame! Actually, the single biggest mistake was to overlook Studio Basar. (http://www.studiobasar.ro/) They’re incredible, working at the intersection of contemporary art and architecture. If you’re reading, chaps, we’re really, really sorry! Please forgive us!

theKITE: Cati din artistii din album se sustin exclusiv din produsul artistic pe care il creeaza? E mai degraba o regula sau o exceptie?

Tom Wilson: Hmmm, good question. There’s a big difference between, say, Adrian Ghenie, who sells his work for over E50,000 for a canvas, to the young artists who make no money at all. I have no idea what kind of proportion of artists live from their work. If half of them are living from art, then we’re doing pretty well – it’s a tough life, living from what you create. People probably won’t believe me when I say this, but it’s a lot easier living from creative output Romania than it is in the UK. Romania should be trying to turn into a base for artists from all over Europe.