Legendary icon John Cleese is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He is widely known as a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python and playing the misanthropic hotel owner Basil Fawlty in British comedy Fawlty Towers and starring in classic 80s movie A Fish Called Wanda as well as voicing the character of King Harold in Shrek.
Art can be offensive, and people need to be warned in case they see something that sends them over the edge. So all Art Galleries should have a big sign, saying ‘Danger! Art Inside’
John Cleese aka The Unnamed Artist
Cleese is now taking on a new role as The Untamed Artist exploring his comedy expertise in the realm of digital art. Inspired by artist Beeple’s remarkable auction figures and the current NFT boom.
The Untamed Artist is getting in on the action, examining George C. Parker’s classic con. Cleese is offering an NFT of his illustration of the Brooklyn Bridge sketched on an iPad for $69,346,250.50. Evoking the famous hustle in a digital form stating on Twitter, “Everyone should sell the Brooklyn Bridge at least once.” We managed to catch up with the comedy legend during his auction for the Brooklyn Bridge NFT.
Q: For those who don’t know you, please introduce yourself?
John Cleese : I am the Unnamed Artist, John Cleese. ( Or a collective by the same unname )
Q: Apart from comedy, is this the first piece of Art you created?
John Cleese: The first piece of Art I created was an unmade bed, but it turned out that someone had pinched my idea
Q: What was your motivation for creating an NFT?
John Cleese: To get a laugh
Q: You recently quoted the NFT boom as a completely absurd situation. Can you elaborate on this?
John Cleese: Certainly. I think it is a completely absurd situation, which sensible, right-thinking people should deplore ( Or preferably, riot )
Q: Why did you choose to use George C. Parker classic con as a theme?
John Cleese: Because George Parker’s con was the funniest one. There needs to be a downside to stupidity
Q: What’s your take on Art humour? Should it be funny and risk offending the people or subdued and Politically correct?
John Cleese: Art can be offensive, and people need to be warned in case they see something that sends them over the edge. So all Art Galleries should have a big sign, saying ‘Danger! Art Inside’
Q: What are your thoughts on the current state of the art world?
John Cleese: The current state of the Art World is that dealers say everything is going to go through the roof.
Q: In your opinion, what is the lasting impact of Art?
John Cleese: It makes people kinder to fish
Q: Can we expect more NFT releases from The Unnamed Artist?
John Cleese: I have 396,000,012 Smeggerplonks
Q: Lastly, what does Art mean to you?
John Cleese: I find that good art affects me emotionally, but in ways I don’t need to put into words. I believe that people in galleries, who explain paintings loudly to their friend, should be put to death by a curator
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©2021 John Cleese, The Unnamed Artist
Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.
