Perfect Day: Matthew Clark of United Visual Artists

For two decades UVA (United Visual Artists) has been at the forefront of the (now-rampant) wave of hyper-immersive art. The London-based collective, founded by Matthew Clark, delves into the cultural influences and natural phenomena that influence the way we perceive the world. The results are creations are akin to temporal events, where light, sound and movement coalesce. UVA’s artistic portfolio includes credits from the Paris Opéra Ballet, filmmaker Adam Curtis, musicians Massive Attack and James Blake, and a collaboration with Christopher Bailey for Burberry. In the depths of 180 The Strand, UVA is now marking their 20th anniversary with ‘Synchronicity’, their largest show to date. We took the opportunity to ask Clark about his fantasy ‘Perfect Day’, a journey through artistic influences, stargazing and non-fussy British food.

Morning  

I usually start my day by journaling and then take a walk in a local park, such as Peckham Rye, in South London. Some creative problems are best solved when walking outdoors rather than working in the studio. Sometimes, I stream a podcast. Lex Fridman produces my current favourite series; his podcast features guests from various fields, including AI, technology, science, philosophy, the arts, and more, making it a diverse and intellectually engaging show.

Afternoon 

After a few hours in the studio, I would have a late lunch with an artist like Sol LeWitt, Robert Irwin, Buckminster Fuller, or James Turrell, all of whom have been great inspirations for my practice. Alternatively, I might invite someone from a completely different discipline, such as theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli or historian and author Yuval Noah Harari. We would probably go to St. John, a restaurant in Clerkenwell for some decent, non-fussy British food.

Evening 

I would spend the evening with my family, having a quiet dinner. Then I would walk the dog. I prefer walking around the quiet streets of London at night rather than during the day. When I returned home, hopefully, it would be a clear evening with a crescent moon, perfect for stargazing through my telescope. Then a film or something on TV.

At bedtime, I would continue reading one of my many unfinished books. I’m finishing one related to one of the artworks in our upcoming 20th-anniversary show at 180 Strand. It is titled “Song from the Forest” by the late Louis Sarno, an ethno-anthropologist from New Jersey who uprooted his life to go and live with the Bayaka tribe in the Central African Republic. His work is directly related to our new piece titled “Polyphony,” which will also be our second project with the bioacoustician Bernie Krause. This installation artwork serves as a monument to the human and nonhuman songs that are being lost due to industrialization, urbanization, noise pollution, and species extinction.