Julian Gorham is a copywriter and poet. Nelly Dimitranova is an artist and joint winner of the Hugh Casson Drawing Prize 2021. They have collaborated on Ten Poems Too, the second in a series of pamphlets by Julian, printed by Paekakariki Press. The first, Ten Poems is now on sale.
How did you meet?
Julian: We both live in London, but haven’t met yet! At least, not in real life. We became aware of each others’ work through mutual friends. I’ve known and worked with the videographer and photographer Matthew Ford for years.
Nelly: Julian sent me an email saying he’d seen a drawing of mine at the home of my dear friend Katya Ford. She curated an exhibition of mine at the original Soho House. Julian and I have spoken a lot on the phone. We’ve agreed finally to meet later this year at the Royal Academy, where I’ve exhibited.
What inspired you about each others’ work?
Julian: Nelly is Bulgarian. I’m English. As well as different skills, we bring our different selves to the project. Nelly’s lines are fluid, magical – inky, thicks and thins. Some pieces remind me of Raoul Dufy, of whom I’m a fan. Her work is expressive, effusive.
Nelly: On reading and re-reading Julian’s poems I was emphatically drawn to their power of revelatory human experiences with such playfulness and tender touch. My intention was to come up with a scenic image, which would most truthfully, through my lines, archly embody my emotional response to Julian’s poems.
Did the collaboration change the work for either of you?
Julian: She’s changed the work, but also the way I think about collaboration. Nelly responds so intelligently – verbally and visually. She’s not just captured, but enhanced the spirit of Ten Poems Too.
Nelly: In my view, the collaboration in itself, opens exciting possibilities for new creative explorations. It’s been an opportunity to understand a different artistic process and moreover to grow in empathy through it.
How did it compare to experiences before or since?
Julian: I’m used to working with art directors and designers, but I listen more deeply than I used to. My collaboration with Nelly has been rich and rewarding – more collaboration than confrontation.
Nelly: I have collaborated before – as a designer at Pentagram and also as artist-in-residence for Red magazine. Neither Julian nor I have much time to work together, but there’s a lot of trust and respect. That has got to be the basis for any worthwhile artistic conversation.
Take a look at Julian’s “Meet A Member” interview from last month.