‘A hand-cut line cannot be created by a mouse’– Five Minutes With DR.ME

Greg Thorpe

DR.ME is the collaborative design practice of Ryan Doyle (DR) and Mark Edwards (ME), with clients including Tate Modern, Levi’s and Sony Records. Here they speak to Greg Thorpe about their interest in collage, the realness of paper, and the almost religious experience of listening to Charlie Bones on NTS every morning.

1.) What artist has most influenced your practice and why?

Mark: Bridget Riley. Although she’s certainly not a collage artist, the patterns and dizzying shapes and forms that she creates within her work have always been something that has fascinated me. I remember seeing a show of hers at the Abbott Hall Gallery in Kendal when I was a kid and just sitting there for ages staring at it. Being able to create something that could inspire this kind of wonder is certainly a goal.

Ryan: John Baldessari. I have so much love for the ideas that drive all of his works. If anyone needs an introduction to his art, there is an incredible short film on him that is narrated by Tom Waits.

2.) What is your relationship to paper as a creative material? What draws you to it?

It feels (and looks) real. This may sound odd but when creating collage, the difference between a collage using printed paper or found imagery from a book and a digital collage are huge. A hand-cut line cannot be created by a mouse.

3.) Have you been making any art during Lockdown? If so, can you tell us a bit about what you're working on?

Our creative practice DR.ME has been a studio for 10 years this year and before lockdown we had begun putting together a book, so a lot of time has been spent on finding work from years ago, speaking with and interviewing collaborators from over the years and designing the book itself. Along with this we’ve done a few projects that are actually related to the current situation, like a record cover for a compilation called ‘Pen Pals’ where musicians collaborate digitally for a label called Ransome Note. 

4.) What are you reading/watching/listening to atm?

I just read Akala’s book Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire (2019) which was amazing. Like a lot of people, I’ve definitely completed all streaming services but the things that stand out were The Last Dance, Bait, Boom for Real, Parasite and as much Anthony Bordain: Parts Unknown as I could watch! Music-wise, Charlie Bones Do You radio show on NTS has been a constant saviour throughout the lockdown. Having that every morning has been like a religious experience.

 5.) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

 Japan.

 DR.ME is Ryan Doyle (DR) and Mark Edwards (ME). They are based at The Engine House at Islington Mill, Salford where they specialise in art direction, image making, graphic design, workshops, video and teaching. Their distinctive collage work has been shown internationally, published in collections, graced record sleeves, posters and flyers, and been commissioned commercially and by campaigning non-profits. Read more and follow them here www.dr-me.com and here @drme_studio. Thanks to Mark Edwards for this interview.