Thursday 12 July 2012

Letterpress Commissions

I have just finished my first major commission for a letterpress printing job. I can't say what the commission was or who it was for just yet - but i will post photo's soon. It always involves so much more than ink up and print. I like to keep the clients happy and informed - i like them to be part of the design stage as much as possible - showing samples of various options - fonts, papers, inks etc. these days everyone wants debossing,  but the real skill lies in 'kissing'.  Not to mention that the humidity and strange weather we have been experiencing plays havoc with inks.

If you're familiar with my work you will know i use letterpress extensively - but there is a shift in headspace that has to occur when someone else is commissioning you.

Needless to say, a day up in the wilds with the press, and no internet or mobile signal to distract was just the recipe. A dozen or so exquisite prints rolled off the press - once everything was set up. Now that really was a little more complicated than I first though. It definitely required a bit of tangential if not curvey thinking to solve. But I got there in the end. Hurrah.

If you want to commission letterpress then get in touch.

Sunday 29 January 2012

Project Space Leeds

Welcome to the Real World

Back in the heady days at the end of Summer I was part of a 3 group show at PSL. It was an interesting experience for many reasons. It’s always interesting to see how groups come together and wether they have a common motivation or driver. I was shown as part of the Art House , and curated by Victoria Lucas. The other groups were Rogue Studios, Manchester and a group from Goldsmiths, London. I was really pleased with how WTTRW looked and worked.

I wanted to make something site specific. I took into account the canal which PSL fronts onto and the redevelopment of the nearby area. The past glories of the economic engine and the hopes for the future. The aspect of PSL is such that the sun tracks around it through the day. The two glass walls have an angular confluence which i wanted to make use of. The terms Viscious and Virtuous came to mind. The circularity of the economy, where we are now in its cycle. How inhumane and unjust the world can sometimes seem. So I devised the circular words so that they can be read from the outside but the shadows cast on the floor can be read the correct way round from the inside. The tracking of the sun changes the Viscious Circle into a Virtuous Circle.

I had never worked with vinyl before, and as can be seen I have adopted it for my last 3 projects. I really like its crispness and versatility. This is a cmplete departure for me because I would never have classified myself an artist concerned with an exquisite finish, always happy to have the process marks visible in the work if that occurs.








British Institue for Human Rights

In the last few months I have been involved in a project with Arcadea and BIHR on a pilot project trying to encourage people to use the arts to exercise their human rights. As a result of the work undertaken the project had an exhibition at the International Centre for Life. When I was living in Denmark Rosa Luxemburg was very popular amongst the left wing greens – not that I could ever be as eloquent as Rosa so I went for keeping it simple.

When thinking about making these new works I wanted to emphasise that our human rights came about by people challenging the inequalities they witnessed, refusing to accept the status quo they found unacceptable no matter how difficult that was for them personally. I also wanted to aknowledge the personal responsibility we all have to uphold these rights, I was moved by Rosa Luxemburg, who said ‘Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.’ Essentially we need to be pro-active, empowered to maintain and assert these rights








Dundee Contemporary Arts

In the Summer and into Autumn I was up in Dundee doing a residency, Engage Everyone, looking at gallery and museum engagement. This was with particular reference to how people with disabilities engage. I undertook a more psychological exploration of the building and it's various aspects. Here are some of the images I worked up. Initially i thought i would be mainly printing but as i discovered the laser and its potential i spent an awful lot of time on that. However, the work which will be shown in April/May is a mixture of print, laser and interventions.



Salisbury

I made these in response to the exhibition The View From Here at Salisbury Arts Centre. Deliberately Low-Fi. We all wear various hats at various times in our lives - even several on the same day. This was a new way of working for me - coming up with the concept and sending it to be executed in situ.