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Man made

I exhibited twelve paintings for this solo show. ‘Man made’ focused on harnessing monochrome and pattern to visually communicate a familiar sensation or situation. Scale was also an important aspect of this work in terms of emphasizing of each painting’s presence and autonomy (the works ranged from approximately 2 x 2.5 m to 50 x 60 cm). Working in monochrome enabled me to challenge colour and image relationships. Pattern was introduced in some works in order to explore ideas concerning ‘machine-made’ and ‘hand-made’ marks, as well as make evident the thinking-response involved in the painting process (the ‘hand-made’ mark responding to a ‘machine-made’ patterned background). The subject matter was inspired by either memory or creating a physical / material equivalent to communicate the idea of a subject. Subjects pictured in this exhibition included keys, a machine, a brick wall, a birthday, fluorescent colour and a mirror. Here I aimed to emphasize those qualities I see as special to the medium of painting: the physical manifestation of individual thought and experience, as well as display some of the infinite possibilities paint colour offers in terms of the communication and construction of new images.

In April 2011, I gave a lecture at Kingston University, focusing on these paintings. ‘Man made’ contributed to my inclusion in the publications: ‘Vitamin P2: New Perspectives in Painting’, Phaidon, London 2011, and ‘Sanctuary: Britain’s Artists and Their Studios’, Transglobe publishing and Thames and Hudson, London, in March 2012. ‘Man made’ was reviewed by Anthony Byrt in the April edition Artforum International and I was Artist of the Week, Guardian Online (12.1.11), article by Skye Sherwin. ‘Man made’ attracted 4429 visitors (information from Wilkinson).

Two paintings from this exhibition went on to be exhibited as part of the British Art Show 7: ‘Self-Consciousness’ and ‘Beginning to End’.