Nigel Sense: I Work With Tools

Name and Role: Nigel Sense – Artist.

Plug your show? It's my first solo exhibition in Sydney after moving back here from Sri Lanka and exhibiting in both previous Colombo Art Biennale's. Everyone should come along and help it to be a success so I can finally quit my day job.

Where did the idea for your show come from? I am predominately a stencil artist from a fine arts background, although should not be classified as a graffiti artist. This makes my work unique and different and sets it apart from other stencil artist showing in Sydney. The use of white space in my work is a strong feature and a trademark I like to use. The body of work produced for this exhibition is pop/neo-pop influenced and uses satirical humour to break the ice.

What have the past few months or so been like in the lead-up to Fringe? I have been working on this show for over six months now. The painting is the easy part, its all the other marketing and organizational shit that drives me crazy.

Artistically what inspires you? Just the day-to-day things we all experience and encounter. I often sit on the train to work and just look at the people and places around me.

What the most cringe-worthy thing you've seen in a gallery? I made the mistake of going to the bathroom at MONA in Hobart. You know the one cubical that has a series of mirrors that enable you to watch yourself take a crap. It's quite a small reflection but don't worry – they provide you with binoculars to get a nice close up view. That and it always makes me cringe when I see shit art that is mass-produced from a furniture store and is sold at the same price as work from an emerging artist.

What other shows are you looking forward to at this year's Fringe? The Great Unknown 2012 – A curated exhibition of un(der)-represented Sydney Artists and the Google show at Seymore centre (gotta plug that one 'cause I'm in it).

What excites you about being involved in the Sydney Fringe 2012? Just celebrating what's so good about Sydney's Inner West.

WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday 12 to 22 September, Sheffer Gallery. Opening drinks, Friday 14, 6pm