Accepted to exhibit work in Vantage Art Prize 2013!

"REFRAIN", as shown below in a previous post has been accepted in to the Vantage Art Prize 2013! This is a prize local to Leeds and the surrounding area and will be a showcase of exciting, contemporary art from Yorkshire based artists. Please come along!

Where: Ellington House, Leeds Valley Park

When:  21st February 2013

             7pm until late

For help with how to get there click on the link below:

http://www.vantageartprize.com/#!access/ce7r

REFRAIN

                                                        REFRAIN

                                                        Concrete, music stand

                                                        87cm x 35cm x 35cm

                                         (Close up of concrete cast)

Optional info:

The word “REFRAIN” has two very different definitions:

Within the jargon of music it is the term used for the chorus, a repeated phrase of sound caused by the gathering of most, if not all of the sounds involved.

Outside of music, the term is a negative direction, where in contrast to the nature of coming together (in music), it is in fact pushing people away.

This contradiction forms the basis of the piece, which is mimicked in the materials used. The concrete deadens any potential for sound that is felt in the presence of a music stand.

Our relationship as viewer to the sound and the idea of sound becomes highlighted, quite literally as I mean to have a spotlight shining down on the sculpture for exhibition purposes. This would simultaneously create the illusion of performance and highlight the text on the concrete, creating a tension for the viewer. If displayed I'll take some more photos of it in this idea of installation.

Relocation relocation relocation

I'm now based up in Leeds! Very happy to see that Leeds Art Gallery has a Haroon Mirza piece!! Finally with the time, space and money to do it I'm working on a concrete sculpture - will post photos of the designs on here ASAP.

Tate Pre-Raphaelites exhib - yes!

Totally at the opposite end of the spectrum from what I spend my time doing in my practice, but this is an incredibly inspiring show. These are the guys who were sick of the mechanical aesthetic that had appeared from the boom in inventions in the 18th century that I've been talking about, instead wanting to bring back beauty and romanticism in art. I'm sure they'd hate me if I was around in those times, BUT they remain outsiders of the then conventional current art practice, fighting against something, which i'm always a fan of in art. It might be a bit soppy, but you can't deny the skill in picking up the real emotions of people.

"The Huguenot, on St Bartholomew's Day refusing to shield himself from danger by wearing the Roman Catholic badge" (1851-1852)
John Everett Millais
Oil on canvas
92.7 x 62.2cm


Go and see this whilst you can, it's on until Jan 13th at the Tate Britain - go go!

Open Studios tomorrow!!

Habanera

"Habanera" from the opera "Carmen"
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Conductor: Antonio Pappano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w9yJdkeryI

Screenshot from "Carmen", an archetypal verismo opera - the kind of music that sprung from the realist movement that originated in the 19th century - THE century for big inventions so naturally i'm a big fan.

Realism denotes a movement that focused on the realities of everyday life where artists took inspiration from their surroundings, granted, largely to do with society, but the concept as a whole is something I'd like to make a link with in my approach to the everyday object/roles we give to objects. Getting to the crux of the everyday, and showing it for what it is and what it can be.

So a somewhat unorthodox opera is on it's way...think iron...

15 Minutes of Infamy

15 Minutes of Infamy

Bin, bells, linen thread, wood

36cm x 50cm x 84cm

Our perceptions and associations of objects are very hard to change - to my mind, a bin will always be largely a visual object - but for the short time where this piece is considered, its audible capabilities are highlighted. This is however inevitably to be short lived, as the next bin I see, I know I will be seeing it once again as having a chiefly visual existence. How open are we really to all of our senses working in harmony? And so the 15 minutes of infamy are over.