A look back at Here talks of previous years – #2 Eric Yahnker

Our fourth annual Here symposium takes place in the summer and in the run-up to the event we’ll be looking at some of the stellar speakers who’ve graced the stage in previous years. Here is all about insight and inspiration, through accessible and enlightening talks from an international array of artists and designers, from big names to cutting-edge practitioners. Over the next few weeks the It’s Nice That team will be flagging up some of their favourite talks from the past three years, and next up is Maisie Skidmore singing the praises of Eric Yahnker…

Maisie Skidmore

“Sitting down to watch Eric Yahnker’s talk at Here last year I was already aware of two things: 1. That he’s funny, and 2. That he makes enormous satirical drawings in coloured pencils. And by enormous I really do mean huge – they’re eight foot tall at times, and incredibly detailed. But I wasn’t fully prepared for just how hilarious or insightful he was going to be.

Placing his work within the context of “the triangulation between the brain, the heart and the loins” Eric explained that there’s a shallow end and a deep end to the work he makes, and that he is “just as happy splashing around ankle-deep in the the piss-soaked kiddy pool as I am going where my feet don’t touch the bottom. And if you want to put on a pair of floaties, we can go down there together.”

He also set out a list of guidelines to creating great artwork, titled Ten things Eric Yahnker thinks he knows that may or may not be useful to you, containing a wealth of knowledge bookended by the gem, “Don’t live with your parents.” But for the other eight invaluable golden rules, you’ll have to watch the full thing above!"

Here 2015 takes place on Friday 12 June and the confirmed speakers are digital guru Iain Tait, artist and designer Scott King, SHOWstudio editor Lou Stoppard, photographic duo Blommers Schumm, karlssonwilker’s Hjalti Karlsson and ManvsMachine founder Mike Alderson.

We’ll also be welcoming set designer Anna Lomax, illustrator Jordy van den Nieuwendijk, graphic designer Charlotte Heal and Nathan Cowen and Jacob Klein, the brains behind Haw-lin.

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