Roger in Marbella. Photo Austin Brown.
Sur in English Oct 1 2010.
“I chose to make paintings with themes and titles taken from literary and historical subjects”.
Roger Cummiskey is an accomplished watercolourist, originally from Dublin, living now fulltime with his wife on the coast. He has developed a unique individual style and specialises in paintings that take their themes and titles from the wanderings and writings of James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Miguel de Cervantes and other literary and historical personalities. Roger’s paintings have been exhibited in Australia, China, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA, and in many national and private shows in Ireland and on the Costa del Sol.
Tell us more about your background in art, and how you discovered and developed your unique style?
I have had a lifetime interest in art; since I was a child. My fascination increased when one day my father brought home a ‘painting by numbers’ kit which he painstakingly filled in using oil paint over a couple of weeks. He let me and my brothers watch. I thought it was magic.
Why do you have this fascination with poetry and prose and fuse it into your work?
It’s since my childhood; as a boy my friends and I used to swim at the forty foot bathing hole in south county Dublin at Sandycove. There was a tower there and one of the gang knew a little about its background. It had been rented by James Joyce and his friend Oliver St. John Gogarty in the early part of the 20th century. Joyce went on to feature it in the opening chapter of his famous book, ‘Ulysses’.
When I started painting seriously I chose to make paintings that took their themes and titles from literary and historical subjects as I could combine these dual interests in my work. I became a recognised Joycean painter and my paintings had their own particular “look” that became popular.
I have painted poems where I used the words from James Joyce’s ‘Ecce Puer’ and Chamber Music series of poems. I lifted quotations from ‘Ulysses’ and put my own spin on the subject matter. I have also painted poems based on Patrick Kavanagh, Samuel Beckett, Yates and Behan. These always give me a good excuse to re-read tomes produced by these literary luminaries.
You’re from Dublin, so what was your early life like in Ireland? Do you come from an artistic family?
As a boy and young man, Dublin was a great place to live. I remember the weather was always good; we swam; participated in sports and hung out with lots of friends. We lived initially in Blackrock in south County Dublin. My parents were well off so we all (I had four brothers) got a very good private education before going on to university. I qualified with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1965 from University College Dublin. I would like to think that my father was very creative in his thinking and his actions.
You split your time between Spain and Dublin – where do you call home now?
I really do not go back to Dublin too often now; although my wife does. About ten years ago I stopped the ‘three months here and three months there’ way of life as I am retired and have reached the milestone of being a healthy ‘Old Age Pensioner’! Spain is now my home. I am resident here.
What brought you to southern Spain?
My parents first brought me to Spain in 1964 with two brothers. We stayed in the hotel ‘Tres Carabellas’ in Torremolinos. I came back in 1969 and couldn’t find the hotel as the area had developed so quickly. In those days we used to go to Málaga city, to the bodegas; or to the Alhambra in Granada, for a day out. My parents loved Spain and particularly Fuengirola where they bought a small apartment on the seafront. I used to go there with my children often from the late seventies, for Easter, summer or Christmas holidays.
So Spain has grown on me to such an extent that I claim it is my second country.
You’re part of the Andalusian International Artists (AIA) Group – what are the group’s aims? Does one need to be an artist to be involved?
A small group of six artists came together six years ago and decided to form a loose alliance in order to seek out venues for exhibiting and displaying our artworks. This has worked out very well and we now have members from all over the world. We have strict criteria that we follow and insist that our members put some effort into the continuing success of the AIA-Group. We have a number of non-artist members who assist as mentors and helpers and who bring a wealth of past experience to our small group.
Are you involved with other ex-pat groups here on the coast?
Five of us are members of NADFAS (Costa del Sol Decorative and Fine Arts Society). Several are members of other groups east of Málaga. I am also a proud member of Asociación Española de Pintores y Escultores – AEPE. Celebrating their centenary this year. I exhibit with them and also I am a Member Asociación de Acuarelistas de Málaga – AAM. I also exhibit with Stephen Howes Fine Arts.
Are you getting involved with Malaga’s bid to be European Capital of Culture 2016?
Both personally and as a group (AIA-Group) we have formally pledged our support for Málaga to become the Cultural Capital City of Europe in 2016. To win this accolade will be a great honour for both the city and a huge stimulus, not only from a cultural point of view, which will benefit all the citizens of Málaga province, both Spanish national and international.
What do you think of the arts scene here in Southern Spain?
The arts are well served by the town halls but they must cater for everybody. There are arts centres, such as the ‘Casas de Cultura’ across the coast, but generally the market here for fine art is limited. Maybe this is because many are residential tourists and are not tempted to invest in original fine art for properties that are empty much of the year. I am afraid that this subject is worthy of an article in itself!
Do you consider yourself well integrated with your fellow Spaniards on the coast? Do you speak Spanish?
Integration is a difficult subject to cover in a short interview. For perspective, I try to compare how immigrants blend in with the native population in Ireland or England and I feel it is not easy for them and that integration is not as good as it could be.
Here in Spain my wife and I get on well with our neighbours who are primarily Spanish and who treat us with great respect and politeness. We do not have any English TV only Spanish, therefore we know what is going on locally and countrywide. We both studied Spanish at the local Casa de la Cultura over a four year period and we are not so bad at understanding and speaking it. But not too good either! There is always room for improvement!
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Published Xornal Galicia Oct 7 2010 – views 9,800 by 9/10. Over 14,625 views so far! Gracias Antonio.
Roger with some paintings. Photo SBPost.
