The ‘Secret Art Lover’ Gremlin:
ROTHKO’S. BIGGEST. FAN
This is a story about my friend Greg and how he inspires me to share who I am.
Greg is a slick, 6ft something, Brazilian-West African, born and raised in London. We met three years ago in the gym. At that time G was working behind the desk, and I was, well… homeless. Greg and I would always check in with each other, his style was insane and he’d turn up to work wearing the most underground Raf Simmons and Y3 pieces that seemed to be wasted on the other gym rats.
At this point I should probably contextualise the situation so you can better understand… this wasn’t just any gym, it was the gym at Soho House - an exclusive members club in London which I'd somehow blagged a free membership to. I remember thinking how funny it was that I didn’t have a permanent home and yet I could walk into this space. I think G and I saw the same 'code switcher’ behaviour in each other.
Greg and I would always touch base with each other and we became friends. Since then he’s gone on to do mad things and it’s fun seeing how the sparks of his unique style are being appreciated more and more. But this isn’t about Greg’s career pivot. It’s about his love for the painter Mark Rothko and the moment I realised … he gets it.
I’d known Greg for almost a year until I found out he loved Rothko. And by love, I mean, borderline obsessive, fanboy levels. He knows the whole Rothko catalogue and uses Rothko paintings as a way to express how he feels.
I remember seeing Greg post Rothko paintings on his IG stories and thought nothing of it. Until one day he mentioned that sometimes when he shares a Rothko painting on his IG people ask him if he’s ok. As in - if they should be worried, is he depressed? Is this an emo, MySpace-eqsue cry for attention, or was it just innocent appreciation of a painter?
AND THATS WHEN I REALISED…
Greg showing this side of him is courageous because in his circle, people didn’t do that kind of thing.
Once I knew the context and backlash Greg would face for posting a picture of Rothko every week I realised … you just don’t know who will connect with your art and how it will be used as a bridge to self understanding. Now, or in the future.
I take my now, confident love for art for granted and it was only a few years ago that I was shy and ashamed of my a sensitive side.
Standing up for art takes bravery, especially for anyone outside of that bubble; it’s courageous to have an opinion and express it when you know you’re going to be judged.
Eventually Greg’s style and taste became appreciated but he did what he had to do simply because it felt good and right, and he was brave enough to share that side of himself.
Yes for Greg.
And yes for the art lovers living out loud or in secret.
RUN free Gremlin,
Love Karimah
