The Narrows // Warren Taylor (Interview)

Flinders Lane has always been the central city hub for art galleries and notorious as a home to forward thinking fashion, design and an abundance of artist studios. Tucked away on the second floor near the corner of Exhibition Street is where you’ll find The Narrows, an art space run by Warren Taylor, dedicated mostly to the exhibition of graphic excellence within contemporary culture. words // annie wu

First of all, what was the initial idea behind starting the space?

The idea was to start a commercial gallery space with projects interspersed throughout the program. Personally I am interested in the dialogue between artists and designers in the context of collaboration, promotion and exhibition. The ambiguous title of the gallery gives us the latitude to do this.

From where did the title ‘The Narrows’ originate?

The Narrows is a small suburb attached to the south side of the R.A.A.F Base in Darwin, NT. This is where I grew up. It is also the channel of water between Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City, NY.

When did you move to Melbourne?

In 1998 (via Newcastle, NSW)

What have you done leading up to opening the space?

Studied photocopies on how to construct stud walls.

Ha. What about work / projects etc…?

Work: teaching Visual Communication in the Faculty of Art and Design at Monash for the past nine years, whilst maintaining a freelance illustration and design practice. Projects: Formed an artist’s collective called inmate in 2001 and spent two years on the West Space committee prior to opening The Narrows.

The Narrows is in such a great location, how did you find the space?

We weren’t really looking in the CBD – I stumbled across this building on a real estate website and called the agent. It hadn’t been renovated – we could afford it. Prior to our tenancy, the space was leased by Louisette Creations, a relic from the old rag trade in Flinders Lane, and judging by the 4-5 generations of wallpaper we scraped back during construction, they must have resided here for at least 40 years.

That’s actually really interesting because I own a copy of the “Shmattes” book which came out about 2 years ago all about the Melbourne rag trade and pre and post war fashion stories. And Flinders lane was and still is such a pivotal point for exciting art and craft.

Only now it’s less shmatte and more chic.

I’m interested in how you bring design elements into artistic consideration. What are your thoughts on the artistic merit of graphic design and other design practices?

Any creative pursuit can be honourable. You can exhibit applied art - like graphic design; there just needs to be consideration of the platform on which it is presented. The stretched lettering on the DL invite for an artists show irks me just as much as stencil art on canvas.

The Narrows is currently showcasing a selection of posters by the Dutch design team Experimental Jetset. for more information visit www.thenarrows.org