"We are storytellers and objects tell stories." During the lockdown, we caught up with Johnny Messum, founder of Messums Wiltshire. With galleries in Wiltshire, London, and Harrogate, Johnny is an unstoppable and innovative influence in the art world.
Q: How have Messums coped with the immense changes to the industry in the last year? What have you learned?
A: I have learned that you need to be responsive, open-minded, and willing to adapt. You also have to be comfortable with change - especially change that is not of your making. Otherwise, you'll end up in a dark place!
Q: What made you decide on the Tithe Barn for your Wiltshire location, and what was the biggest challenge in restoring this 13th Century building?
A: The building was completed in partnership with the Fonthill Estate, which in itself was a huge challenge for them. They had to source the oak and go through the stonework, as well as find the right volume of thatch needed. The barn is the largest thatched building in the country. Our challenge was to bring it back to life in terms of use, so we worked to create an interior architecture and to fit the building out so that it could be used as it is now for exhibitions, installations, and events.
Q: Messums is more than just a gallery, offering workshops and a restaurant too. Do you have any further plans in the near future?
A: Yes we do! Obviously, we went online in the interim period and that led to a really exciting platform for sharing information and creative solutions that we call Active Environmentalism. This has grown into a talk programme every Wednesday and an online meeting place for ideas and exploring creativity. In the meantime, we are investing in new exhibition spaces to help provide regionally focussed exhibition programming and, again, that wonderful stitchwork of community.
Instagram has provided access to so much art from historical to contemporary makers. This has been the access point for so many to engage with places and institutions they may never visit or know about.
Q: You opened a gallery in Harrogate in the summer of last year, what prompted that and why Yorkshire?
A: Yorkshire is home to a number of our artists and a source of their inspiration. It is also arguably underserved by the gallery sector, which felt like a gap in the market. Plus, the use of the high street is changing so much that it seems we may want to rethink how these works are offered.
Q: Do you think there is growing interest in all things handmade/ handcrafted? Why?
A: Yes there really is, for a myriad of reasons! Firstly, I don’t think that interest ever really went away, rather digital and tech caught the light and the imagination. However, that has just brought the importance of the hand into focus. We are storytellers and objects tell stories.
Q: Did you always know you would join the business started by your father, or did you have different plans?
A: I had wanted to sculpt and I had wanted to work in the landscape. I joined my father's business then left to set up in Wiltshire and beyond. We remain friends and work together.
Q: Messums has a big London presence, are you a city or a country man at heart?
A: Country! Although I am writing this from the heart of London and I'm reminded of all the brilliant things that go on in this currently closed city. We are all missing those.
Q: You also founded the New Fine Art Exchange. What motivated you to start this online platform?
A: I wanted to address and find a way to lower the transactional bar for objects by becoming a platform for these works. Also, reselling works is not an easy experience and our platform helps with the process when it comes to it.
If art, creativity, and the use of the hand are not taught we lose one of the most powerful means of non-verbal communication.
Q: Do you think the art world has more work to do to become more open and accessible?
A: I think we all have to keep working on both of these points. Within the art world, we have to remember that art really is for everyone. After all, we are a civilisation founded on our ability to create with our hands. Long before humans were writing, imagery was their means of communication. One of the main problems here is the disconnect in education. If art, creativity, and the use of the hand are not taught we lose one of the most powerful means of non-verbal communication. Objects tell stories, but if you were never taught the language it is hard to understand what someone is saying.
Q: What project are you proudest of? Why?
A: I'm not sure I am into pride in that way. All I see are problems, so I am probably most proud of the fact we haven't hit a huge pothole– yet!
Q: In your opinion, what was the most momentous period in art history?
A: The invention of Instagram. Instagram has provided access to so much art from historical to contemporary makers. This has been the access point for so many to engage with places and institutions they may never visit or know about.
Don’t put art in an obvious place, such as above the sofa - you will never see it. Put the work at a turning point, the wall in front of the door as you come in or the turn in the stairs. The bit by the fridge. These are the places you are more likely to look.
Q: When you bring a piece of art home, whether it’s an oil painting or a sculpture, what factors should you consider when it comes to where to hang or display the piece?
A: Scale - don’t go small. Or, if you do, choose smaller pieces and group lots of lots of them together. You can probably be 10% bigger than you think is 'appropriate’ because it will enhance the drama. Don’t put art in an obvious place such as above the sofa - you will never see it. Put the work at a turning point in your home. This could be the wall in front of the door as you come in or the turn in the stairs. Even the bit by the fridge. These are the places you are more likely to look.
Q: How do you go about choosing artists to exhibit through Messums? What are the key criteria?
A: Firstly, whether the work moves me. In my definition, this is a work that is ostensibly well-made and has a narrative that is insightful and empathetic to wider concerns. Then it's purely a question of - are they actually a person I want to spend time working with and working for? Often those two things go hand in hand.
Q: How do you unwind in your spare time?
A: It's better not to unwind, that is how you unravel! But I do love suppers and I do love running.
Q: What has been your best lockdown purchase? Why?
A: A pair of recyclable running shoes and an Ordnance Survey map, which is the best thing ever. You can plan visits to anywhere in the country in extraordinary detail and load in other people's suggestions of where to go.
Read all of our Q&As on L-Shaped.