Thursday 5 May 2011

Ikon Gallery This Week

As I was passing the Ikon Gallery on my walk home this week I decided to take a sneaky peek at the exhibition of Japanese film maker Tadasu Takamine work 'To far to see'.


When we went in we were warned that the videos contained strong sexual content...


''Takamine’s work Inertia (1998) involves the uneasy combination of a young woman and a bullet train. She is shown close-up and feet first on top of a carriage while the rest of the world flashes past. A powerful electric hum dramatises her fruitless attempts to push her dress down over her legs against the force of the wind; the situation is intensely sexual, unstoppable and exhilarating, clearly drawn from classic fetishism and nightmare scenarios.''


Apparently...


The most disturbing video was the last, although I understood the meaning behind it... was a little shocking...


''Kimura-san (1998), a controversial video piece featuring footage of the artist providing sexual relief for a disabled friend. Kimura-san highlights the sexual needs of people with disabilities, a subject which is often unacknowledged or ignored by wider society. The subject of the film, Kimura-san (Mr Kimura), is confned to a wheelchair, barely able to control his limbs having suffered poisoning as a baby through contaminated infant milk formula. Unable to talk, feed himself or perform any toilet activity without help, he can think clearly and is able to make noises with his mouth. The artist cared for Kimura-san during the 1990s, developing effective communication through gestures, which resulted in Takamine’s sudden realisation of Kimura-san’s sexual desire, and the fact that it could only be fulflled with the help of others.''


So yeah if you fancy it, it's at the Ikon until 17th July.


Saturday 9 April 2011

Mention on We Are Birmingham...


I was pretty pleased to find this little write up about my work in the We Are Birmingham Shop :D


http://wearebham.com/news/

I WON THE LLOYD'S TSB ART OF NURTURE COMPETITION!


http://www.artofnurture.co.uk/latest-news/artists-triumph-in-art-of-nurture-national-final/

This is the link to the Art of Nurture site where you can read the full write up if you want, theres a pretty hideous photo accompanying it which is worth a peek too.

Thursday 31 March 2011

My Printed Artist Book ' Chair Museum'










This is my hand printed artist book which will be for sale at Bristol Artist Book Event (BABE) at the end of April! Literally just finished folding them and I'm pretty pleased. They are made from one sheet of A4 paper, front page, 6 inner pages, back page, and if you unfold the book there is a poster on the inside. Quote from my grandma from when we were young... 'Park it here' translated to 'sit down'. :D

Pick Me Up London Somerset House

A bit late but I thought I'd write a bit about the Pick Me Up exhibition I went to see at Somerset House on the 21st. It was one of the best exhibitions I have seen in a while, the images were great and quite varied in styles. A lot of printmaking which was pretty exciting for me!

Took a a few pics while I was there...








Friday 25 March 2011

National Final at the V&A!!

Very excited to be a national finalist in the Lloyd's TSB Art of Nurture Competition

6th April at the V&A!!

:D

Friday 25 February 2011

Selling My Work

'We Are Birmingham' are going to be selling my prints from the beginning of March :D