The Connor Brothers | Artist Interview | Hang-Ten

Hang-Up Gallery Our first memory of you two, was when news broke out that The Connor Brothers weren’t two American brothers who had escaped from a religious cult but were in fact you two (Mike Snelle and James Golding). What's your first memory of Hang-Up?

The Connor Brothers Carla.

Mike, Carla and Ian, our security, at David de la Mano's private view 'Adrfit' - Photo by Chuck Noble

HU Can you remember the first piece of artwork you made that solidified your path as an artist? What was it?

TCB It was in school reading Much Ado About Nothing and writing on the cover a contemporary version of the title - A Load Of Fuss About Fuck All. Twenty years later it became our first painting.

'A Load of Fuss About Fuck All' by the brilliant @connorbrothersofficial 👌🏼 Come down and see us this Sunday! We are open 12-6... #hangupgallery #hanguppictures #gallery #galleryvisit #gallerylife #gallerytrip #weekendplans #weekendvisit #weekendvibes #sunday #sundayfunday #art #wantit #need #ownit #london #dalston #stokenewington #hackney #theconnorbrothers #aloadoffussaboutfuckall

A post shared by Hang-Up Gallery (@hangupgallery) on Oct 15, 2017 at 4:34am PDT

HU You'll be creating some new and unseen works for Hang-Ten to which we're very excited about. Can you give us a sneaky insight into what you're working on for the show?

TCB The Connor Brothers started on James kitchen table almost 6 years ago when we made collages to try and make each other laugh. It was just the two of us and a pair of scissors and some glue. Since then the studio has grown steadily and there’s now ten of us. Recently we’ve gotten all nostalgic. For this show we’ve decided to go back to just the two of us the kitchen table. We’re making mini paintings and adding tiny stories to them which we’ve written ourselves.

HU Your artworks are not only beautiful but they seem to act as an aphorism to whoever adds them to their collection. You are also hilarious partners in crime who are fond of telling a story or two, which are the best things about working with you. What’s the best thing about working with Hang-Up?

TCB The family vibes.

Above: Gallery director Ben Cotton and The Connor Brothers James Golding with friends at So It Goes. (left to right)

thanks @maddoxgallery and @professorgreen for collaborating with us at the opening of our show last week and helping us raise 60k for CALM @calmzone

A post shared by The Connor Brothers (@connorbrothersofficial) on May 21, 2018 at 3:42am PDT

Raising money and awareness with Professor Green for CALM charity.

Above: James and his wife Alejandra at The Connor Brother's 'So It Goes' solo exhibition | 2016

HU There are ten artists displaying in Hang-Ten - all very different in techniques and concepts. If you could collaborate with one artist in the show, who would it be and why?

TCB James Turrell. His Work is mind bogglingly brilliant. And Oddly Head.

Above: Sneak peak from The Connor Brothers studio

HU The last ten years of Hang-Up have been filled with plenty of peaks (and a few troughs that we can now laugh at...!) What's the last ten years been like for The Connor Brothers? Can you name a few key moments?

TCB Getting into a fist-fight in Alabama with some Trump voting rednecks over whether the earth is flat or not. That was a weird one. And that odd Abramovic inspired spoken word performance piece James did at the Istanbul art fair. The audience were so unforgiving.

Above: Large scale canvases ahead of a show earlier this year

HU Can you describe a specific work, series, exhibition and/or collaboration you have been most proud of?

TCB I guess working in The Jungle refugee camp felt pretty meaningful, as did the 'Refuchic billboard campaign' we did afterwards. Also the fictional museum we made in 2014. It took a year to make and four years to pay off the debt but it was definitely worth it.

Above: The Connor Brothers hit Sydney with their controversial #Refuchic campaign. Read about it HERE.

HU Helping us launch our brand new space in Dalston with your sell out show 'So It Goes' along with a speech by the notorious Nadia from Pussy Riot will go down in history as a favourite Hang-Up moment. Can you name your favourite Hang-Up moment?

TCB The time Carla wrote an email to Ben calling us ‘a pair of annoying fucktards’ and accidentally cc’d us....

Above: The Connor Brothers with Nadya from Pussy Riot at Exhibition So It Goes...

HU We know this question can sometimes be a cringe for artists, but we're putting together a Hang-Ten playlist and would like your input. What three songs would you like to add?

TCB Cream, Sunshine of Your Love

Mos Def, True Magic

That one we wrote for Pussy Riot that Rhymed and Rolling Stone referred to as ‘A poetic, timely triumph.’

{module_webapps id="15645" filter="item" itemId="4469435"}

HU We certainly have a few goals for the next few years - one includes world domination. What's the goal for the next 10 years?

TCB I really want a woolly mammoth skeleton. So badly.

Above: Wondrous Obsessions private view, May 2016

Hang-Ten Exhibition

Introducing Hang-Ten! 💥💥💥A festival of art and entertainment: 10 years, 10 artists, 10 weeks, 1 HUGE party 🎉 🥂✌🏼 To celebrate our tenth anniversary, this summer, we will be launching Hang-Ten; a ten week festival of art and entertainment. This includes a multimedia group exhibition, exclusive limited releases, a packed events calendar of talks and workshops, and of course, one huge party with free giveaways, music, food and drinks. Check it out from the link in our bio... it’s going to be MEGA! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 @banksy #harlandmiller @connorbrothersofficial @peterblakeartist @kennardphillipps @oddlyhead @laurenbakerart @joewebbart @johnathanreiner @mark_powell_art

A post shared by Hang-Up Gallery (@hangupgallery) on Apr 24, 2018 at 9:14am PDT