I began reading Peter’s writing when I was 15 and bombarded my baffled psychology teachers with his controversial theories. To which I received confused reports mainly along the lines of ‘this isn’t art theory, this is psychology’, I’m sure he received quite similar reports during his time at Cambridge. But it’s a little more than that, his writings cover not only the complexities of truly brilliant artworks but what is commonly known as the human condition. From early man to man’s early stages in the cradle.
What his writings remind us, is that universal theory that only the greatest writers are able to articulate. Through art we may see ourselves and our world or as Shakespeare put it
‘Holding the mirror up to nature’

But many people know Peter much better than I do, personally and professionally. So I will speak to you now on the Peter Fuller that I have come to know through out my life. The memory of Peter Fuller is strong in the minds of many, nostalgic memories of mischievous times are often recited to me, such as clambering drunkenly up a boarding house wall, in fancy dress, after a typical Cambridge student night out. Something that is perhaps not in the books. But Peter was not at Cambridge just to play, he had much bigger things in mind. During these years Peter wrote:
“More and more, I become conscious of an ultimate destiny. I think I have a role to play in influencing the minds of men. I must be given time to work things out-but soon the time for thinking will be over and I will have to take action”. From his days as a promising student, reading with particular interest the works of Ruskin (hence my middle name) his writings are now read with particular interest by future leaders of the art world some here today and all across the globe. I welcome contact from eager students several times a week enquiring about particular essays or quotes that seem to stick unwavering in their minds, but sometimes I just want to say ‘do you realise how much this man wrote? Give me some time damn you’

But what is most impacting for me is the amount of people affected by his death. I am not just speaking about those present here today, the students, the friends and family but people from all walks of life from all over the world. Lian Duan from china recently contacted me, and he wrote:
“Speaking of Peter Fuller’s influence beyond the western world, I hope to refer to the Preface to the Second Edition of his Art and Psychoanalysis. At the end of the Preface Peter said he was happy to learn that his writings played some part in the radical rethinking of Marxist aesthetics in China. I believe that Peter would have been much more happier if he had learned the fact that even in today, 18 years after the publication of the Chinese translation of his Art and Psychoanalysis, universities and art institutions in China still put this book on the required reading list for graduate students major in critical theory and art history.”-Lian Duan

Along with such prestigious books as Art and psychoanalysis Peter started one of the most important magazines on art that is still strong today. He stood stubbornly in his convictions as always and to much controversy called the journal Modern Painters after the series of books published by Ruskin (although it is currently considering a change of name) *cough*. On June the 2nd 1990 Modern Painters published Modern Painters- tributes to Peter Fuller. Thirty odd responses were published by people involved in the art world all commenting on how Peter had touched their lives, I would like to read one of them now.
“Peter you were very, very special. You stand like a monument over all those charlatans, has beens, never-to-bes, half-baked critics or bored critics. I’ll always love you, in spite and because of all the trouble you got me into” -Bernard Jacobson
Just imagine how much trouble he would cause today.

From these responses I do not think it too ambitious of me to put on a play about his life a few years from now when I am at the right age to play him and can at least comprehend to some degree where he was coming from. I hope to then develop this into an independent film and coincide it with a release of his biography. There is still much to be done.

Peter Fuller passed away on the 28th of April 1990 on the M4 motorway in Berkshire, but his words and his spirit will not die.
Thankyou

This first of a series of five annual Peter Fuller Lectures marks a return to Tate Britain where the first five were given – beginning in 1991. The first five were followed by four at the Slade School and then five at Tate Modern. On behalf of the Trustees of the Memorial Foundation I want to say how grateful we are to the Tate directors for making this possible and special thanks are due to Tate curators Andrew Brighton our first host at Tate Modern, then Dominic Wilsdon and now this year to Victoria Walsh.

I personally would like to thank all the trustees in particular Roy Oxlade whose dedication to Peter’s life after his death is something very special, thank you.

And now I would like to introduce you to an artist whose work is exhibited through-out the globe and has been an inspiration for many people for many years. We are truly delighted he has accepted this invitation, he scarcely needs an introduction as I’m sure we are all familiar with his life and work and many of us have seen his recent exhibition at the TATE modern. Please welcome Mr. Luc Tuymans.

by Laurence Fuller

www.laurencefuller.com

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