Rueben Dangoor Interview questions + research

Research

• Studied at Chelsea college of art & design - Animator and Live action Director, an illustrator
• Oil paintings grime scene legends painted in 17th century settings - ‘legends of the scene’  
• Oil paintings of current news stories - some politcialy charged - always captured in comical light. 
• Directing music videos: diplo music video + Odd Child recordings (labrinths label) Raf Riley and Etta Bond (still involved with these) - regel ramond - if you like (shot and directed) Matti roots - lust (directed) 
• MAPS (Get.Cape.Wear.Cape.Fly ALBUM COVER) - how did these album cover illustrations help 
• Co created and stared in ‘being a dickheads cool’ with Raf Riley - The start of their collaborations? 
• Hackney creative social club - artists studios - selling dangoor prints - how was this connection formed?
• Deviant Art page - how would you say you style of illustration has developed since your earlier comic based illustrations? 

Questions

1. Considering you are now an established artist, what was the best and worst career decision coming out of Chelsea College of Art & Design? And how did these decisions influence your career path? (directing music videos + oil paintings) 
2. Your work includes a diverse range of source material. Where do you find your inspiration/source material from? and are there any painters you have looked up to or tried to emulate in your work?
3. Do you listen to music and consciously decide to create work inspired by music or does it unconsciously become part of your work whilst you listen to it? 
4. How would you say your style of illustration has developed and what has inspired you to change your style over time? 
5. You directed and shot the music video for Regel Ramond - if you like (2009). The imagery and content of this music is in strong contrast to the more lighthearted funny videos like ‘being a dickheads cool’ (2010), do you find a comical approach is key to your enjoyment and quality of your work?
6. You created a viral hit with yours and Raf Rileys youtube video ‘being a dickheads cool’, with the attention from this and for some of your other work like your 'Butters Theme' with Diplo , do you feel you have a sense of what might go viral?
7. There is a political element to a lot of your work, do you feel it is essential or at least important for an artist to tackle current political issues?
8. Your depictions of geo-political events and people are fun and satirical. Do you employ humour to highlight the absurdity of these situations or is it in the hope that humour will help carry the message better than having ago at people?
9. How do you start a project? Working digitally, drawing, collage etc...
10. How essential is collaboration for you and have you always had a collaborative practice? 
11. If you were to look back at yourself 10 years ago, what advice would you give yourself regarding your career?