'the outsider artist'

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is it ironic?

or am i just moronic?

i’m stood at a private view
and i’ve got nothing interesting to say

i’m looking at the words from the essay placed on the floor by the doorway. all i can read is “sand gritted against english mountains of past generations”.

i later gain the courage to converse with the artist. he’s a peer of mine, we went to uni together.

“it's uh..very interesting...” i say as a starting point “the object, in the centre of the room, it reminds me of...the stone henge...i guess, maybe there’s a connection there and Cornwall, i read the essay and it mentions the sea-“

“its not really about a place per say...more of...the imagined ideals of a space”

i’m about to ask him what the actual fuck that means, when an older bloke gentleman with a beret and round glasses approaches him, lightly touching his elbow to indicate his departure. My ex-art school peer turns his back towards my face, and begins engaging in a goodbye catchup with the older gentleman.

i sip my wine and search for comfort in someone familiar.

i leave without saying goodbye. as i walk out the gallery entrance, pushing past the smokers, i overhear ex-art student peer discussing a philosophical text, stating that was his “true inspiration”

“Ah...yes very interesting stuff” says the other, 6’1 oily brown haired, young man with him, another fellow ex-art student peer of mine

“I’m glad you understand that” he takes a pull from his cigarette “i was debating including that in the essay, but it’s really difficult to read. i just knew most people wouldn’t... understand it...”