Ant Smith, 50, is a photographer, poet and computer programmer. What a combination! Not only has he been photographing every underground station in London, he’s also been running an anti-penis size anxiety campaign. What a man!
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
Ant Smith
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
50
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Dagenham
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Photographer, poet, computer programmer
TELL US WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE YOUR AGE?
Liberating. The pressures to conform slide away over time so that my non conformity is no longer a struggle
WHAT DO YOU HAVE NOW THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE AT 25?
A really, really good camera
WHAT ABOUT SEX?
I’m rubbish at it but having more fun trying now
AND RELATIONSHIPS?
I’m choosy but accept people have their own ids so I try not to ask more of a person than they can, or they’re prepared to, share.
HOW FREE DO YOU FEEL?
Totally. I do stuff that’s required of me, but I do so because I decide to.
WHAT ARE YOU PROUD OF?
Mostly, of being my father’s son. Specifically re knowing more of London than any Londoner I’ve met, after a 2 year project to photograph every underground station AND of facing my fears and running a 3 year anti-penis size anxiety campaign. And of having a really well adjusted and happy cat called Gritz.
WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED?
My wife, Christine.
WHEN ARE YOU HAPPIEST?
When I see folk enjoy my work.
AND WHERE DOES YOUR CREATIVITY GO?
I don’t understand the question.
WHAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF LIVING?
Life is an unresolvable contradiction of the self versus the herd.
AND DYING?
It’s another country. It is what it is. It has no relation to living.
ARE YOU STILL DREAMING?
No. I’m working too hard to make things happen to spend time in dreams.
Yes. They are the only things I want to make happen.
WHAT WAS A MOST RECENT OUTRAGEOUS ACTION OF YOURS?
They’ve all been outrageous, it just keeps happening to me; help!
