We catch up with Stiff Records art director Julian Balme to find out more about Ian Dury's career before the Blockheads.
Before the Blockheads, Reasons to be Cheerful and Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Ian Dury was an art student at RCA, part of the youth-charged Pop Art set of the 1960s. Formally, he studied at Walthamstow Art College where he was taught by Peter Blake, who would become a life-long friend. It was Blake who originally asked Dury what he wanted to paint, to which he replied, “pin-ups, rock ’n’ roll and gangsters.” Blake asked why he wasn’t painting them already, sparking what would become a series of characteristic paintings comprised of text, colour, paisley patterns and sequins; rock’n’roll misfits reminiscent of Dury himelf that helped to shape pop culture of the 1960s.
For the first time, his work is being shown in a 30-piece exhibition at the RCA, curated by former Clash manager Kosmo Vinyl, Stiff Records art director Julian Balme and Dury’s daughter Jemima. Through his work you are reminded of his humour, his bohemian background and his wild, chaotic personality, found within pencil and acrylic studies entitled “Danny Bubbles” and “Lee Marvin.” His paintings hold the same warm humour and cultural significance recognised in his music, with a similarly rough, dark edge. Here, AnOther speak to Julian Balme about the exhibition and Dury’s legacy.
What inspired the exhibition?
I’d worked with Kosmo Vinyl back in the early eighties on The Clash and we’d remained good friends. He sent me an album in the post by Vera Lynn and asked whether I recognised the cover artist. To be honest I hadn’t a clue but when he told me it was Ian Dury I was really taken aback. Both of us knew Ian had an art school pedigree but neither of us had any idea as to what extent. Curiosity got the better of us and before long we’d approached his daughter, Jemima. Turns out she had loads of his work, both personal and commercial – an exhibition seemed the next logical step.
"Dury's art is definitely the work of a storyteller looking for a medium"
What do you think Ian Dury's work represents?
It's definitely the work of a storyteller looking for a medium. He was definitely a wordsmith and would go on to write some amazing songs but he was also a very accomplished portrait painter. Billericay Dickie or Plaistow Patricia could so easily have been one of his gangster drawings or girly paintings. Many of his fans will find the exhibition strangely familiar despite only a fraction of the work having been seen before.
In your opinion, what is it about that period between the late 60s and early 70s that is so appealing / significant?
It's a very personal view and although there was a great deal of plundering from the thirties, for me was the last truly creative era. From there on the culture I’m interested in becomes a cycle of regurgitating old ideas – some are even good!
Ian Dury: More Than Fair – Paintings, drawings and artworks, 1961–1972 is currently on display at RCA and runs until September 1.
Text by Mhairi Graham
