John Smith The Girl Chewing Gum

Sorry not updated in a while, but i feel after listening to this very inspiration Gentleman i should share: not many artist can inspire with their talk... But John Smith did just that to me at least,

Very inspirational speaker. Full of Passion and humour.

i have dabbled in film in the past as you can tell if you are a regular reader, but i am now converted to the medium. 

Whitworth Gallery

19 February
John Smith
Described by Michael O'Pray in Art Monthly as 'One of the most talented filmmakers of the postwar generation, he [John Smith] has attracted admirers from way beyond the narrow confines of the Avant Garde. His reputation rests on a quite unique sensibility which has successfully married three traits - humour, documentary and formal ingenuity - into an indissoluble whole.' Drawing upon the raw material of everyday life, Smith's meticulously crafted films rework and transform reality, playfully exploring and exposing the language of cinema. John Smith studied film at the Royal College of Art, and since 1972 has made over fifty film, video and installation works that have been shown in cinemas, art galleries and on television around the world.

John Smith was born in Walthamstow, East London in 1952 and studied film at the Royal College of Art. Inspired by conceptual art and the structural materialist ideas that dominated British artists’ filmmaking during his formative years, but also fascinated by the immersive power of narrative and the spoken word, he has developed a body of work which deftly subverts the perceived boundaries between documentary and fiction, representation and abstraction. Drawing upon the raw material of everyday life, Smith's meticulously crafted films rework and transform reality, playfully exploring and exposing the language of cinema.

Since 1972 John Smith has made over fifty film, video and installation works that have been shown in cinemas, art galleries and on television around the world and awarded major prizes at many international film festivals.

 http://www.johnsmithfilms.com/texts/biography.html

The Girl Chewing Gum  
(1976)  12 mins. B/W. Sound. 16mm.
 
"In The Girl Chewing Gum a commanding voice over appears to direct the action in a busy London street.  As the instructions become more absurd and fantasised, we realise that the supposed director (not the shot) is fictional; he only describes - not prescribes - the events that take place before him,

 Watch with an open mind, take in the humour, the beauty and the cleverness 

BBC News - Grayson Perry tapestries gifted to nation

Six tapestries created by artist Grayson Perry have been gifted to the Arts Council Collection and the British Council.

The tapestries, titled The Vanity of Small Differences, were made earlier this year alongside Perry's Channel 4 series, All in the Best Possible Taste.
Inspired by William Hogath's A Rake's Progress, they each measure 2m x 4m.


BBC News - Grayson Perry tapestries gifted to nation

Shit hits the fan

I took an old broken fan and dismantled it, i then sculpted a face using paster and plasticine, and rebuilt the fan with the face...

What is the concept? Well i was thinking about the moments i am on a up, I often feel comfortable telling people about my condition. Then when i am down, i regret it some much, i get paranoid...

Mask Sculptures

A few interested imagines i came across on facebook...

BBC News - The strange art of death

BBC News - The strange art of death

interest article... fitting nicely with my mood. 

rituals and Masks

OK, where am i going and more importantly where have i been...

Currently looking at rituals and Masks 

 Comedy tragedy theatre masks, is often sign as a symbol of bi polar or the theatre


Way  before the birth of Christ the Greeks were immersed in a culture that held the theatre as, not only a form of entertainment, but as an integral part of their religious activities

In the evenings there would be a group of men who would wander the streets, along with a musician.
This group would be called a "comus" and their fun songs a "comoedia". It doesn't take much to see where our word "comedy" derived.
Conversely, the sad songs of satyrs were called "tragoedia" from where of course we get the word tragedy.
Since masks were always a vital part of Greek theatre it was inevitable that masks would have eventually been created to depict the two foundational elements of Greek theatre.
The laughing comedy mask and the weeping tragedy masks were born and have been with us ever since.
As hard as it is to believe that something as simple as these two masks could have endured into the modern age with their original intent still being known and adhered to, that is in fact what has happened with these two masks.
So the next time you have an opportunity to view the comedy tragedy theatre masks do not be so quick to assume you understand them completely.
Remember their ancient roots and take a little time to appreciate their enduring power.

Read more : here 

This follow on from ALL my previous works... looking at mental health and human behaviour

Tuesday whitworth Talks..

Every Tuesday i go and listen to artist talk about their work.. Some are good, some a little difficult to follow, but today i listened to Brian Griffiths Sculpture Born 1968 MA Fine Art, Goldsmith's College, 1996 BA Fine Art, Humberside University, 1992 Represented by Vilma Gold Gallery, London

"I don't understand most art either."

He Was amusing yet insightful.. and his work is Brickolage wayhey.... any seriously if you get a chance look this guy up, his work is amazing