Daniel Lismore’s latest exhibition merges painting and presence

Daniel Lismore is known for breaking boundaries — he’s been named by Vogue as England’s “most eccentric dresser” and he’s given a TED Talk on what it’s like to be a “living sculpture”. His latest exhibition, Mind on the Walls, is no less eccentric. Taking place in London’s Farsight Gallery this week, the show sees the multi-disciplinary artist pivot into painting. It’s an unlikely act of rebellion for the Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken author — a protest against the people who told him to avoid the medium at school. 

There’s no malice in Lismore’s defiance, though. It’s more of a personal emotional journey if anything and – in the context of his exuberant world – a way to calm his own thoughts. “Painting has been a therapeutic journey for me,” he says. “After being told I couldn’t paint for most of my life, I started again during a difficult period, and it’s been transformative. These pieces are not just art — they are imprints of my mind, my emotions and my story.”

These pieces, displayed across two floors of the gallery, can be divided into two categories. The first – inspired by a session with his therapist – comprises three hundred artworks, which Lismore created in an almost absurd timeframe of four days. It’s these that were requested to be seen by none other than Marina Abramović, who, in turn, eased his worries about sharing them.

The second? A body of “thoughtscapes” spanning themes of love, loss, identity and the rest of humanity’s complexities. They essentially offer a window into the artist’s mind. With so many works on show, then, the throughline could be described as displays of emotion embodied in unconventional aesthetics — so unconventional that some of them are actually unfinished. That’s kind of the point, though. Mind on the Walls isn’t about perfection, but being present with yourself. To this end, Lismore simply says: “Ditch doubt and pick up a brush.”

Mind on the Walls is open until 17 December at the Farsight Gallery.