The Nerve Centre Interview... Carl Fletcher.

Nucleus of Change.

 Following a busy and well attended day at The Nerve Centre, I decamped to the nearby Egg Cafe for a chat to friend of Nerve and charismatic local artist Carl Fletcher. As ever a lively personality and lucid conversationalist, Carl and myself discussed many things from his art, to Liverpool's history to The Nerve Centre over a stimulative beverage of coffee. Read on to discover a snapshot of our conversation:

The Nerve Centre: You've been here most days at The Nerve Centre. How are you finding The Nerve Centre thus far?

Carl Fletcher: Absolutely brilliant! It's been a nurturing experience for me.

TNC: Any highlights?

CF: Everyday! Everyday is a highlight to be honest!

In the foreground, Carl's piece White Storm.

TNC: Onto your own work, what have been your influences in producing them?

CF: In 1989 I lived in Los Angeles in San Fernando Valley. Just after my brother tragically died, I went to Los Angeles and went from the frying pan and into the cauldron of madness.

TNC: How so?

CF: I became superficial. Flaky. Shallow. (Thinks) Basically, Movie town! The greatest eye opener I've experienced as regards super rich and super poor.(The difference) was fucking incredible! Absolutely! It's all about Hollywood. You have super rich people then you turn the corner and see families of Mexicans living under the highway! The extremes are unbelievable. I met everybody from chihuahua carrying porn stars to poor farm workers. That's the comparison! 

TNC: Do you have a favorite piece of your own work?

CF: Nucleus of Change. I made it in collaboration with Walk Unknown through Marco Mueller, who is an absolute inspiration!

TNC: Many people have commented on our friend The Centurion. What are your thoughts on him?

CF: He is a reflection of the supposedly civilized world where we get our culture from. Greece, which is still what Western Civilization is based on. Greek philosophy, that is. The sad thing is that they made their greatest philosopher Socrates swallow Hemlock because the rich classes didn't like to hear what he was saying. Similar to Doctor Kelly in recent times, in fact. Basically, it's a fantastic piece of art. Man stripped down to most basic, bare form.

TNC: Art and Liverpool. Why does that combination make perfect sense?

CF: It doesn't. So many talented artists in Liverpool have no chance to show their work with no distribution of funding.

Carl flashes a grin during a show at The Nerve Centre!

TNC: Is there anything you'd change about Liverpool and why?

CF: I suppose the self-loathing. For example, that we can't achieve what we want to achieve.

TNC: What is the message of The Nerve Centre? 

CF: The message? (Thinks) To point out and highlight injustice.

TNC: What advice would you give to an artist trying to get noticed?

CF: For me, it's not about profit. It's about reflecting the time despite how bleak it maybe. But also giving hope despite the issues in your work. 

TNC: Any final words for the many people involved with The Nerve Centre?

CF: May it live on in whatever form it takes once it closes. 

Thank You to Carl for a fascinating conversation! To be in with a chance of owning a genuine Carl Fletcher original, pop into The Nerve Centre and pick up a raffle ticket for free! (Picture of piece in question coming soon, but either way it's a great opportunity to own a great piece of work!)

The Nerve Centre.

Interview and Photography by Sebastian Gahan.