Humphrey Ocean: On Road Signs, Old Masters and Paying Attention

This episode is taken from the DKUK archive and was originally recorded in January 2024 during Humphrey Ocean’s exhibition at the salon.I first met Humphrey in 2009. The exhibition that followed was many years in the making, so it feels quietly right that this conversation is finally being shared more widely.Humphrey Ocean is a British artist whose practice is rooted in drawing and painting. Over the years he has worked with figures such as Paul McCartney and Ian Dury, yet he remains deeply thoughtful, observant and refreshingly down to earth. In this conversation, recorded while I cut his hair, we talk about attention, slowness, survival, portraiture and the strange beauty of the everyday.At one point Humphrey says that motorway signs can be beautiful, and that sunsets do not necessarily need painting. It’s a line that reframes how we look at the world around us. Later, he reflects on the idea that the old masters are “two hours long”, speaking about the time we give to looking, and why some works endure because people return to them again and again.The DKUK podcast has been running since 2014 alongside the mirrorless hair salon of the same name in Peckham, London. At DKUK, clients look at art instead of themselves while they have their hair cut. The podcast follows the same principle. It is recorded during real haircuts, allowing conversation to unfold at a natural pace. It is less an interview and more time spent in a room with someone.Each episode is recorded using binaural microphones, capturing the subtle sounds of scissors, water and movement in the space. The result has a gentle ASMR quality and is best enjoyed with headphones.DKUK exists at the intersection of hair, art and conversation. The salon removes mirrors to create a calmer experience, and the podcast reflects that same atmosphere. Episodes explore creativity, identity, work, money, attention and what it means to make something in the world.This is an archival episode, presented as it was recorded. Settle in, take your time, and enjoy the conversation.