Peter Harris Interview – Higher Powers at the Tabernacle with Lee Scratch Perry

Peter Harris Interview – Higher Powers at the Tabernacle with Lee Scratch Perry

02 September, 2009
by: Tom Jeffreys

Is there anything better than a good old multimedia knees-up? I doubt it. And when that multimedia knees-up is born out of a collaboration between dub producer Adrian Sherwood, contemporary artist Peter Harris and legendary reggae hero Lee 'Scratch' Perry, then it really is something to get excited about.

Taking place on Thursday 10th September at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill, Higher Powers takes as its starting point Harris's film of the same name – a series of interviews with an array of different people, from Uri Geller to Ken Russell, David Icke and Boris Johnson. On the night itself Perry will be performing in response to the film, whilst a VJ creates live visual interpretations of the music. Sherwood gets involved by doing a live mix while Perry and Harris produce a large-scale painting before your very eyes. I caught up with Peter Harris to find out more.

You've collaborated with Lee 'Scratch' Perry before – how did this first come about?
I first met Lee when I interviewed him for a film I made called 'Higher Powers'. I was looking for different people to represent different aspects of what 'Higher Powers' were: i.e. The Venerable Akong Tulku for spiritual higher powers, Uri Geller for paranormal powers etc... and to me, Lee along with Ken Russell represented creative visionary powers.

How did Adrian Sherwood get involved in this project?
I like the work that Adrian has made with Lee, especially the last album, 'The Mighty Upsetter'. He is obviously a great fan of Lee's and wants to do the best by him in terms of respect for his huge legacy. Adrian and Lee have also been doing some dub shows together. I'm a big fan of Lee's dubs and had certain tunes in mind when I was putting together the visuals, so it seemed like the right thing to do to ask Adrian to be involved.
 
How would you describe your own work and how does it link up to what Perry and Sherwood do?
I think the thing I try to bring to art that is maybe similar to what Lee and Adrian do is attitude and a lateral approach to things. I'm sure we could all be more successful if we repeated any winning formulas but for me art isn't about repeating yourself for the sake of the 'art market'. It's about the journey, and Lee and Adrian are always fresh and ready to dive into new things regardless of the financial rewards.
 
Music always seems an important element in your work – why do you think that is?
Music is the thing I love the most. Art is just something that I do in the same way as you eat because you're hungry. Music is a pleasure.
 
How do you rate the music currently coming out of London?
I have no idea, though there is a great band called Arthur Brick gigging occasionally.
 
When did the idea for 'Higher Powers' (the film) first come about?
It started as a different film where I contacted a clairvoyant to get in touch with Picasso, Duchamp, Van Gogh and Bacon to ask them what I should paint. But during filming my sister and father were both diagnosed with terminal cancer so that made me change the topic of what 'Higher Powers' could be.
 
Can you describe a bit about the filming/production process?
It was all completely done with that DIY attitude – what have I got to lose? There was no support or production company or money, but having been a singly uncommercial artist for almost 20 years, that didn't matter one way or another. I just contacted people and asked if I could ask them the same questions about 'Higher Powers'. Pretty much everyone – bar a lot of establishment political figures – agreed to be interviewed. I then made the visual responses as I went along. I used my naivety to open doors.
 
What should visitors to Higher Powers expect?
First of all they should expect a brilliant Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Adrian Sherwood dub set, with some back screen visuals consisting of Llyr Williams' animations of the art work Lee and I made. There's also a Super Ape intro and some dancing poops that have to be seen to be believed! Plus all the drawings and new paintings made with Lee and a screening of the 'Higher Powers' film.

The whole event is a new thing for everyone involved, but it seems to have grown organically. Hopefully we can do it again in the future!

Higher Powers is at The Tabernacle, Thursday 10th September 2009.

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Tom Jeffreys