I have just completed a new oil painting based on the old GEC Factory that was recently demolished in Stafford. This building was part of the landscape for as long as I can remember and it seems strange to now see it gone. The site was large and it took a few weeks to remove the various buildings. I have captured the main part of the factory, partway through demolition and was interested in how various parts of the interior became visible after some of the outer shell was removed. There is something quite sad but also beautiful about the last remaining parts of the structure. It was once a major employer for Stafford but this once busy area has now become very quiet and still.
Escape into Abandonment
There has been a lot of talk amongst the creative community about how people have been spending their time during the pandemic. Some artists have been very productive whilst others have found it difficult to focus on a routine. Understandably people have been affected in different ways, which has impacted on their mood.
I have personally found my art to be a way of escaping from the drama of current events whilst simultaneously looking at themes that are very real and on going.
My work studies impermanence and change. It is all around us but is not often discussed, perhaps because it is a reminder of our own temporary existence. People often resist change and want things to stay the same, which just causes unhappiness. The study of dereliction is one way of looking at this impermanence.
The escapism part comes because although the subject matter references human activity, there are no people present. At the moment social media is full of people expressing anger, frustration and sadness about the pandemic or the injustice of the world, which is completely understandable. However I have found the general negativity, often fuelled by fear, to be overwhelming and have responded by retreating into a much quieter space. I wasn’t denying reality but needed a space to recover and rest.
One of the attractions of abandonment as a subject is that is very quiet and still. It’s a time for reflection or just contemplation of the natural world as it takes over the spaces we once used. No raised voices, no drama… just quietness. I have needed this space over the last few months to cope with what is going on. It has helped keep me balanced so that I can be there for other people when they needed support.
There’s nothing wrong with making art about current affairs and many people do it well but I find dealing with impermanency to be more satisfying and fascinating. Ironically it is a subject that will continue to be relevant to future generations and will never go away!
‘Fragments II’, my current exhibition with Jemma Gunning, explores these themes in more detail. This is an online exhibition and runs until the end of the year. Take a look.
Fragments II Launch
‘Fragments II’, the joint exhibition with Jemma Gunning, starts today. The show features drawings, paintings and printmaking exploring themes of urban decay, industrial decline and abandonment. This is our second collaboration which was originally intended to be held in a gallery but now due to the pandemic is being held online. Tonight we held an online private view via Zoom and talked to participants about our working practice and shared insight into the themes within the work.
New Year, New Art
After a relatively quiet December i will be back to my busy creative life working on a number of different projects. Firstly i have an ongoing sketchbook project sharing drawings and ideas with Jo Walton and Karen Wicks which aims to capture the atmosphere of quiet spaces. This may result in an exhibition or further collaborations.
I also have a number of Open Exhibitions that i intend to enter. I did well last year getting work in the New English Art Club (London), RWA Bristol and the Three Counties show in Stoke-on-Trent.
I am also building up a new collection of work based on abandonment and dereliction which will combine both urban and natural landscapes in different media. I’m currently working a lot in ink which i’m enjoying. This work will result in an exhibition with Jemma Gunning, a Bristol based artist and urban explorer.
I will also be busy with my art classes and workshops, details of which are on this website. Lots to do!
Grounded
I’ve just completed a new painting entitled ‘Grounded’. This is based on a derelict World War 2 airbase in Staffordshire and looks at themes of abandonment and solitude. The painting has a softer and more subtle technique which I think helps to create the right mood - one of stillness, calm and introspection. This is a retreat from the overactive mind and the busy routine of daily life. With this view, everything becomes beautiful, interesting or both.