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As soon as you walk into the dimly lit, absinthe cocktail bar Some Place, the tantalizing art filled walls envelop your senses as much as the smell of liquorice.
Through providing Liverpool with absinthe infused delights Some Place become a must-visit establishment for those looking a chilled out place to drink.
The master of these creations comes in the form of Michael Lacey. We caught up with the talented artist, to discover his influences and how he set about daubing such a unique place with artistic delights.
Who is your most favourite artist and what made you decide to be an artist?
I think you decide to be an artist every day and I have no idea why I keep doing it. I could pack it in and get a proper job at any time and potentially have a much easier life but the idea of doing that fills me with dread. My favourite artist is either Max Ernst or Magritte.
We notice that you like comics, who is your favourite superhero?
I used to read Batman and Superman comics when I was younger but I think most if not all superhero comics are rubbish nowadays (too much serious stuff, ugly photoshop colouring). That said, my favourite superhero is Krypto, Superman’s flying dog.
Are you a fan of drinking Absinthe?
Pablo Picasso was a huge fan of Absinthe which no doubt aided him in his creative works.
Did you use the same aid when working in Some Place where they have Absinthe in abundance?
I like drinking more or less anything, absinthe being a particular favourite, but not when I’m working. Hangovers are more fertile creative ground for me.
What thought process did you go through to achieve your fantastic work in Some Place?
I did a lot of research into writers and artists who were fond of absinthe and into the absinthe-fuelled Parisian night life of the 1920s. From this, a certain kind of aesthetic and shared mentality became obvious, and I was able to build the work out from that and incorporate a lot of the research materials in the form of sketches and collage.
There is a surreal element to your work; reminiscent of Salvador Dali. Would you ever be tempted to grow a moustache like him?
Probably not, I don’t think I’ve got the requisite pizazz to pull off a moustache like that.
What do you think is more important; content or technique?
I’m not sure if you can value one over the other, but I think there is a bit of a resurgence in popularity of technically skilled work in traditional mediums, which is long overdue.
Liverpool has been enjoying a cultural renaissance for some time and is a really vibrant city. Where are your favourite places to go?
Second hand bookshops, Sefton park, the Walker art gallery.
michael-lacey.co.uk