I admire Nathan Ford’s urban landscapes, such as Red Man shown above, which provide solace in the corners of a city. Nathan’s work is often detailed, though he aims to capture the feeling of a place rather than a hyper-realistic rendering. He calls them ‘investigations’, and they give a sense that the objects have been…
Author: admin
Notes on the Role of Graffiti
Graffiti is a form of countercultural expression that emerged in the UK in the 1960s. It was largely influenced by the street art of America, particularly of New York City. It was closely associated with gangs, who used it for the purposes of marking territory, memorialising members and displaying acts committed by the gang (though…
Isolation and seclusion as Counterculture
Growing up in a relatively remote community, I’ve been able to observe ways of living that don’t conform to the blueprint set out by modern society. The things that we are told are important such as technology, material wealth and fitting in to social expectations aren’t necessarily what will bring us true fulfillment in our…
Kaye Freeman
I am inspired by Kaye Freeman’s paintings in oil and enamel paint. She layers elements of the urban landscape including the strong architecture of her home city, downtown Los Angeles, with the neon and sky colours reflected on the buildings. The shapes are arranged in a pleasing manner and although their placement feels abstract, they…
Thoughts on Authenticity
During a calm moment this week, I had an interesting chat with Beth about different cultures, and whether someone who is not a part of a culture could be qualified to represent it. We explored a few important points, like the risks of misrepresentation, cultural appropriation, and the challenges of gleaning a full understanding of…
Initial Ideas for Counterculture Project
I have briefly noted my initial ideas above. I will start with these areas since they are the ideas I find most interesting:
Counterculture Project Brief
In this project brief I am tasked with creating work in response to a counterculture. A counterculture is a social movement or group that actively rejects and rebels against societal norms. The group seek to define their own values and propose an alternative to the conventional ways of living. Countercultures often come about as a…
Donald Rodney’s Nottingham Legacy
Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker, currently showing at Nottingham Contemporary is an exhibition comprising the entire surviving artworks of the late Donald Rodney. The work addresses topics of racial identity, prejudice, masculinity, chronic illness and Britain’s colonial past. It also includes sketchbooks, photographs and documents related to the development of his work. Donald Rodney studied at…
Coffee Cam: Experimenting with Pinhole Photography
Many people would be surprised to learn that you can make a camera out of pretty much anything. Artists have made them out of cardboard, clay, wood, even vegetables. I chose this coffee can for its convenient size and shape, and the top opening did not need to be sanded down or prepared as you…
Storytelling in Paula Rego and Grayson Perry at the Lakeside Arts gallery
‘Paula Rego, Visions of English Literature’, an exhibition curated by Hayward Gallery Touring in association with The Estate of Paula Rego is showing in the Lakeside Arts Djanogly Gallery (Nottingham) from the 21st of September 2024 to the 5th of January 2025. The exhibition is coupled with ‘Grayson Perry: Man Hours’ which is located in…