Joe Tilson's 1966 Interview Sparks Debate on London Art Schools and Painting's Nature

In a February 1966 Arts Review profile, British pop artist Joe Tilson dismissed the existence of a cohesive London art scene, arguing that communication with New York and Europe had become more significant than local community. He critiqued London's art schools, calling St. Martin's Painting School 'zero on anyone's list' while praising its sculpture department and noting the Slade's liveliness due to teachers like Harold Cohen. Tilson revealed that David Hockney was failed in his final written exams at the Royal College of Art, though the principal later passed him, and mentioned Allen Jones's expulsion. He described painting as a private act akin to making love, focused on individual problem-solving rather than direct public communication. Tilson's imagery drew from urban life, including neon signs and mass media, aiming for formal rigor. The interview prompted rebuttals: Frederick Gore, Head of Painting at St. Martin's, defended the school's tolerance and highlighted Tilson's own training there, while Sir Robin Darwin, Principal of the Royal College of Art, disputed Tilson's claims, stating Hockney received a Gold Medal and listing successful alumni like Patrick Caulfield. Tilson later countered Darwin's assertion of their friendship as inaccurate. The exchange underscores debates over art education and London's mid-1960s artistic vitality.