Jarrod Rawlins from Uplands Gallery

Portrait of Jarrod Rawlins, Owner/Director, Uplands Gallery, Melbourne   

Jarrod Rawlins, Owner and Director of Uplands Gallery Melbourne says "I got into the art world because of it's complexities".

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A professional Skateboarder.

What did you become?

An art dealer, writer, critic.

What's your official title?

Art dealer, writer, critic.

What's your background - how did you end up here?

I wish I knew.

How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?

I don't make artwork, but as for my writing I would say it is aggressive and confrontational.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?

Shower

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?

Shower, eat, email, more email, open the mail, write email, lunch, photograph something and email it to someone, research a writing idea, complain about the art world to someone, more email, abuse my computer, walk the dog (sometimes), email, cook, email, read or tv, bed.

Who or what in the arts world most inspires you?

My wife, artists, in that order.

What's the toughest challenge you've dealt with on the job?

Business partners death.

What's the best piece of advice you were ever given for your career?

Nothing of note, I try not to get advice from other people, I feel confident enough to make my own assessments. most advice consists of incredibly bad cliches.

What are the top three skills you need in your particular role?

An ability to spend many hours writing emails. A desire to make as little money as possible. Patience is the most important, the art world requires massive amounts of patience. The impatient will become bitter and disappear.

What's the best thing about your job?

Everything.

And the worst?

Nothing.

If you had to sum your working life in a word or phrase, what would it be?

An excellent adventure.

Tell us something unique about your gallery in 300 words or less.

Everything about our gallery is unique, it would be unfair to try and list them all in 300 words. I suppose for me one of the most unique elements is our desire and focus to engage with intellectual pursuits as equally as any other aspect of making and exhibiting contemporary art. We really value the ability to articulate yourself in a concise and confident way, this only enhances the art. We are not afraid to embrace a complex idea or a convoluted way of explaining something. I got into the art world because of its complexities so to try and remove those complexes and reduce something to mere object production just makes me feel stupid. Perhaps that is unique?