Three years ago, we interviewed British photographer Matthew Stone (28) about his work. Back then, we were astonished with his mainly nude, chiaroscuro-like photos and installations. We wanted to catch up with him, and asked him to create an animated gif for us, existing of images that represent him and/ or his work at the moment. He submitted the animated gif above. Curious about mr. Stone?

What have you been doing the last 3 years?
‘I have continued to work with photography, performance, sculpture and events. More recently I have become interested in the ways that technology shape what I see as a contemporary attempt to create and describe spiritual realities.’

Your work still seems to revolve around nudity. Is this still your main field of interest?
‘It’s not necessarily about nudity. I just want a clean slate that could be from any time. I think about the past and the future simultaneously. Clothes are so present in most contemporary photography and often form a main focus for advertising purposes. I’m not interested in selling clothes. They distract from what I’m interested in exposing which is relationships between individuals.’

How did your work develop since our interview in 2008?
‘I still return to the body, but have focused on expanding the sculptural aspects of my work. Whilst I continue to work in multiple disciplines, I have also wanted to focus on the diverse energies that have defined my output. This has meant that I have been thinking about making objects that try to crystalise the ideas and spirit of all the different things I do.’

I came across your folded photo installation on your website, which looks really nice. Can you tell me something about it?
‘I have always believed that intuition is a superior type of thinking that encompasses logic, rather than being something that exists at its expense. I have tried to make structures that suggest a break in logical reality, so an object that we assume to be solid is shown passing into another or through a wall. With the folds, it felt like a way to suggest a process of moving from one dimension to the next. So.. from two dimensional planes into three dimensional planes. If we apply this type of movement to ideas then we can begin to imagine and then implement types of thinking that are multi-dimensional. To simplify, we move from single linear, logical ideas which are generally oppositional to a more poetic and multitudenous perspective. There is a contemporary fascination with having one clearly defined position on any situation and defending it. I just think that you can believe more than one thing at a time, even if it’s contradictory or even paradoxical. I see this as a way to defuse conflict in society. We should try to hold multiple perspectives on situations, not only our own. That way we can begin to understand the motivations and intentions of people who seem different to us. I often feel that the only thing that seperates two people’s intentions is the way in which they communicate them. We are all inextricably linked to each other.’

Is there a certain story you’d like to tell with your work?
‘I always want to talk about love and avoid voilence.’

You are settled in Milan at the moment, why are you there?
‘I’m here completing a three month residency at the gallery Viafarini. I was nominated for inclusion by Marina Abramovic, which was an honour.’

Are you planning any exhibitions or shows?
‘I’m working towards a show in London in May and artwork and videos for the band S.C.U.M.’

How does the gif you submitted explain you/ your work?
‘I think that the physical seperateness of our bodies confuses the rational mind from the reality of the vast interconnected nature of humanity. I make images that trick the eye into seeing different people as being physically connected. This is to remind of the complexity of our psychological or spiritual conections with each other.’

Is there something I forgot to ask which you would like to share with our readers?
‘Artists are not special or worth more than any other person. They are simply those, that have come to be conscious of the fact that every action is creative and can be beautiful in some way. The mindful choices that they make not only define their own lives, but shine like happy, truth-loving stars, born to illuminate and inspire the lives of those that encounter them.’

matthewstone.co.uk