If you are anxiously waiting for the release of  Michael Gracey’s oddball musical biopic of British pop star Robbie Williams “Better Man” (told from the perspective of a CGI monkey that stands as an avatar for the troubled singer) then you can still get a fix now of Mr Williams by making  tracks to Barcelona.  Its no surprise to his die-hard fans that this multi-talented ex Take That band member is also quite the accomplished artist, and the Moca Museum is showing his second solo show ‘CONFESSIONS OF A CROWDED MIND.

Its actually part two of a series of artworks by Williams about mental health.  Flowing freely from a crowded mind, his latest works aim to inspire viewers to collectively embrace every part of themselves. When the Show frst opened back in June Williams said “Opening my first ever solo art exhibition at Moco Museum Amsterdam was a pure joy. I’m so grateful for the response it received and feel humbled that my art has connected in some way with people from all over the world. I’m inspired to do more so I’m thrilled to unveil this new collection of my art at Moco Museum Barcelona, where I trust it will encourage people to accept themselves and express their truth.”

The serious aspect of why Williams created this particular body of work is that he has always been upfront and honest that he has  battled mental illness, obesity, self-esteem issues, alcoholism, and substance abuse throughout his life. He has discussed how his friend Elton John booked him into a clinic to cope with his drug use that emerged from the depression he was experiencing while still in Take That.  He related how he felt the pressures in his professional and private life, and this stormy journey pushed him in and out of rehab. During his last stint in rehab in the 90s, the artist began a self-reflective journey – embracing the light and the dark – to transform inner demons into self-loving angels. Now, after years of creating art daily, Williams draws, paints and opens his visual diary that documents his mental health journey through creative expression. Using humour and an honest vulnerability, he  gives artistic form to the humanistic truths that can touch us, make us laugh and spark pride within ourselves.

Ever since Williams first appeared in our radar back in 1990 when he was the leader singer and most charismatic member of  Take That. It was however no real shock when at the peak of their success he upped and left and went solo and never looked back (for few years anyway).   His discography includes seven UK No. 1 singles, and all but one of his 14 studio albums have reached No. 1 in the UK. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the UK, with two of them in the top 60, and he gained a Guinness World Record in 2006 for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his Close Encounters Tour.  Plus he has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times,

He is a consummate actor and a big flirt too determined to make everyone fall in love with him, and at one time when he released an album entitled Swings Both Ways, there were a more than a few gay man who believed he was talking directly to them.  The fact he adopted the persona of a tough rough street kid made him seem even more attractive to both sexes. However in an interview with the Daily Star, he stated: “I love musical theatre and a lot of the other things that are often associated with gays. I am 49% homosexual and sometimes as far as 50%. However, that would imply that I enjoy having a particular sort of fun, which I don’t.”