After being inspired by my two young nephews' home-made xmas cards I thought I'd have a go myself.
Keeping it old school, I went for the low-tech approach and made my cards as lino prints.
So here is my contribution to this year's festive spirit. The image is of my my pet dinosaur,T, posing as Rudolf.
Merry Xmas everyone, and here's to a fun and creative 2009.
Merry Xmas Everyone
Tomorrow's Opening Party (Thurs 11th dec.)
Just a quick reminder - tomorrow (if you're reading this after 11th December, then I'm afraid that you've missed it) we are having an opening party for our new Pharos show, 'Chiaroscuro'.
It's at 2A Ada Street, just off Broadway Market, London E8.
It kicks off at 6 pm and runs till 9 pm, although I dare say that we'll be continuing the festivities in the pub nearby - probably The Dove.
If you'd like to find out more about the 2 pieces that I made for the show please click on the image about and that should take you to my flickr account where I've waffled on about them at great (and possibly tedious) length.
Hope to see you there.
Whaleless Article
This is an image of one of my sculptures, 'Poorly Remembered Whale', which recently appeared in an Italian magazine. I'm not actually sure which magazine it is or what the article says, as I don't speak any Italian.
The clipping was forwarded to me by Giovanni Cervi, the curator for the travelling show,'Whaleless', for which the piece was created.
The show started off at the Strychnin Gallery in London, earlier on this year, and will be ending up at Strychnin's Berlin gallery on 27th March 2009.
For more infomation about the show check out 'whaleless.blogspot.com' or 'www.strychnin.com'.
RCA Secret (The Hardcore)
I probably should have posted this message last week but you know how things are – busy, busy, busy. Anyway, I’d like to say a big hello to all the fantastic people that I met at the RCA Secret show a couple of Saturdays ago when the Royal College opened their doors for the sale of the postcards. I’d especially like to say hi to the hardcore few I met who chose to camp out days beforehand (you know who you are - you crazy bastards). And I must say that since being sent a link to a particular blog (rcasecret.blogspot.com), I’ve found myself surprisingly engrossed by everyone’s stories, and by strong community element of those who make what seems to be an annually pilgrimage to the event.
When one of the chaps that I spoke to showed me what cards he had bought, I instantly recognised one of them as being by a friend of mine, Josie McCoy. I had not seen it in the show, but in my defence I must say that I only managed to grab a quick look round beforehand.
Although I regularly contribute postcards to the annual RCA Secret event, this is the first time that I’ve actually turned up as a buyer. And to be honest, I only went this time because my raffle ticket (the first time I’d bought one) won and allowed me to be one of the first 50 in the queue. I must say that being one of the first 50 there was a slight temptation to go for work by the famous artists but that some how felt a bit disrespectful to all those who had braved the cold outside for days on end. Plus I thought it best to go for the ones that I liked. In the end I managed to get 1 of my 2 favourite pieces by an artist whose name I didn’t know at the time, but whose work I recognised (as is often the case, I remember the work but not the name) from a group show in Hoxton Square. It turned out to be by Elinor Evans. My other purchases were a couple of quirky drawings that just made me laugh and a fourth one that will be part of my girlfriend’s Christmas present (Holly, if you’re reading this, don’t you dare check out the RCA site and try to work out which one I got you).
So now I have 5 RCA Secret cards (yes, I know I said that this is the first time I’d bought any cards from the show, but a few years ago I won a Marc Quinn card in a Time Out competition – jammy or what?) in my collection. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve caught the bug and will become a regular in the queue. Only next year will tell.
'Scratch' film set
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I spent most of this weekend on the set of a new film ‘Scratch’. Why, I hear you ask? Well I’ll tell you. On my birthday I met an interesting young film director by the name of Jakob Rorvik. After checking out, and being very impressed with his work (check out his website – www.jakobrorvik.com) I was pleased to receive an email from him asking if I would like to have one of my sculptures, ‘And When I’m a Man’ (the big green model kit piece) feature in his new film, set in the art world of East London. Strangely enough the original location was going to be Candid Arts in Islington, where the piece is currently stored. I thought ‘bonus’ – I won’t have to move it very far. However, the eventual location was to be the Jago Gallery in Redchurch Street, Shoreditch – a gallery where I had previously exhibited. In the end we used four of my sculptures in the shoot – with the other three being ‘Dreams of Being Batman’, ‘Baby Kit’ and ‘Nail Box’. Someone joked that it looked like I was having a solo show.
Here is some info about the film, that I lifted from Jakob’s site -
Lena is a young art student new to London. Calling it her art project, she obsessively follows and takes pictures of an unwitting Sol; a scruffy, charismatic 20 year old, by all appearances homeless, who drifts around in numerous detached relations to people affiliated with the art scene.
Her project takes a wrong turn when Sol discovers her. Fascinated by her odd behaviour, Sol is now the one to follow her.
Against a backdrop of contemporary East-London, Sol and Lena gradually expose each other’s dreams, fears and lies.
The cast includes Viktoria Winge (Reprise), Luke Treadaway (Brothers of the head, War Horse), Patrick Kennedy (Atonement) and Montserrat Lombard (Ashes to Ashes, Vanilla Song).
The film is produced by Tamsin Lyons at the Oscar-Winning production company Breakthru Films and Yngve Sæther at Motlys.
'Chiaroscuro' Exhibition
I know we're not far off the office party season but if you are free on the 11th December you are warmly invited to the opening party for the new show that I will be exhibiting in. For the exhibition I have created two new pieces (one of which can be seen in the flyer above). They are called the 'Pharos Cyclopes' and they look a little like a cross between victorian robots and mobile CCTV cameras. The lights that project from their single eyes is a reference to the ancient light house of Pharos, from which our group takes it's name. In the show, curated by Sophie Wilson, I will be exhibiting alongside 16 other fantastically talented artists - all of which are listed in the details below. So, I hope to see you there.
Pharos Gallery presents 'Chiaroscuro' (currated by Sophie Wilson).
Venue: Ada Street Gallery
2A Ada Street
(off Broadway Market)
Hackney
London E8 4QU
Dates: 12 - 19 December 2008.
The private view will be on 11th December (6-9pm).
Artists: Ania Dabrowska, Andy Wicks, Ryan McClelland, Eva Lis, Lucy May, Ella Thumim, Karl England, Neil Seligmann, Stephen Morallee, David Rusbatch, Ben Yates, Alex Booker, Wayne Chisnall, Lizzie Gosling, Taren MaCallan-Moore, Rita Soromenho and Hannah Dakin.
RCA 'Not So' Secret
It's that time of year again - where the Royal College of Art puts on it's annual 'RCA Secret' show - an exhibition of thousands of postcard sized artworks that are exhibited anonymously and sold to raise money to help support it's students. Last year Paula Rego, Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst were among the artists who made original postcard-sized art for this unique exhibition.
This is one of four postcard pieces that I made for this year's RCA Secret. Yes... I know it's meant to be a secret, but for anyone who's seen this blog or my Spidey Pods prints before, it's not going to be too hard to guess which ones are mine.
The Exhibition opened at the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU on Friday 14th November and runs till Friday 21st November 11-6pm, with a late opening on Thursday 20th November until 8pm. Free admission.
The postcards are available for viewing on their website from Friday 14th November.
The Sale will be on Saturday 22nd November from 8am.
To purchase a piece from the show you must Register in advance of the Sale, which you can do by filling out a Registration Form.
First-Fifty Raffle tickets for a chance to win a place at the front of the Sale queue will be on sale at the Exhibition, until one hour before the close of the exhibition on each open day.
Price per postcard: £40. Postcards will only be available to purchase in person at the Sale. If you would like to make a purchase, it is recommended that you prepare a list of cards in advance, as the exhibition will not be open for viewing on the morning of the Sale.
FEFE Magazine - What You Own Wil Finally Own You
The new issue of FEFE magazine is finally out and it has three pages dedicated to my work. My involvement came about thanks to a chance meeting with the magazine's editor/art director, Luigi Vernieri, at a Black Rat Press street art show in Shrodeitch, East London some months ago. Luigi told me that every issue features the work of 25 invited artists, 1 child and 1 writer, who interpret a line or piece of dialogue from a film. When he told me what this issue's theme was going to be I was excited about how I would respond to it as it was from one of my favourite films, Fight Club, and the phrase was 'What you own will finally own you' - a theme that a lot of my previous work has touched upon.
As you can see from the the work (above) that I produced for FEFE, I chose to create a figure that is composed of and ultimately tied down by consumer goods. The image is shown as a centre spead on pages 68 and 69 of the magazine, and page 98 features more of my work along with a short statement.
FEFE magazine is now available in most branches of Borders book shops in the UK as well as in smaller art and magazine outlets. It is also available throughout America, Asian and Europe. For more details about FEFE and their other projects check out www.fefeproject.com
Farewell Paul Flack
Although I set up this blog to talk about my artwork and artistic endeavours (it’s all me, me, me), I feel that I have to mention another artist, Paul Flack, who’s incredible energy and enthusiasm will be sorely missed by so many.
Unfortunately, Paul died unexpectedly in his sleep, not long after enjoying a night out with friends. Paul was only 47 and his death comes 25 years after that of his father, Dennis, who also died suddenly at home, aged 48. Speaking to the Guardian and referring to Paul’s father, Sylvia Webster (Paul’s godmother) said “Paul had said that when it was his time to go he would like it to be the same”.
I had only known Paul for a few years but he definitely left an impression. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who knew as many people as he did. This was born out by the fact that at his funeral at Epping Methodist Church on Tuesday the building was too small to accommodate the crowd that gathered to pay their last respects.
Paul seemed to be involved with everything – Stone carving, environmental issues, The Friend’s of Swaines Green, the Cooper Hall Trust, the 491 Community Arts Centre, art projects in the Seychelles and parts of Europe. He even created a garden at the 2007 Chelsea Flower Show. But Paul was not just an amazing networker purely to benefit himself – he genuinely loved people and believed in building communities. It’s a shame there aren’t a few more Paul Flacks about.
ING Bank Artists
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This is Sylvia and Simon, a couple of my students from the sculpture workshop that I was involved in at ING Bank's head office in London Wall. And this is them at their opening show. The show actually took place a couple of weeks ago but I've been quite busy working on a couple of sculptures (they kind of look a little like wooden Victorian cyclops robots, but I'll post some images and info nearer the time) for the new Pharos Gallery show on the 11th December, off Broadway Market, East London - so, as you can probably see, I haven't been keeping my blog that up to date the past few weeks.Everyone on the course did really well and achieved some amazing results in a very short space of time. I think everyone in my group should be proud of the work they produced, especially considering most of them came to course with little or no artistic training.
Naked Zombie
Well, it’s been a fun-packed, roughly art related few days.
Getting Naked.
On Thursday I got to take part in Spencer Tunick’s latest photo shoot on the rooftop bar and pool at the private members club, Shoreditch House, in London. For anyone who doesn’t know, Spencer Tunick is famous for his beautiful photos of hundreds, if not thousands, of naked people standing or lying down in various locations around the world.
The shoot that I stripped off for is part of his new ‘parties series’. It was an amazingly liberating – being naked in a large group of naked strangers. Everyone was totally buzzing from the experience, although I’m sure the free alcohol beforehand helped a little. I would advice anyone to take part in one of his shoots if ever the chance comes up. I’ll see if I can get hold of an image from the night (apparently, everyone who takes part in Tunick’s photo-shoots gets a free print of the event) and post it on my blog at a later date. But in the meantime, why not check out some Tunick’s other photos on www.spencertunick.com – they are incredible.
Being a Zombie
This Sunday was third time lucky for me. I finally got to play a zombie in a zombie film, even if I was the one that got shot through the head whilst sitting on the toilet - there’s no dignity in death.
The first time I was supposed to be a zombie was in Andy Edwards’ first zombie flick, ‘Houseparty of the Dead’ (my acting was particularly bad, which I put down to being a bit drunk, being given the script at the last minute and being a bad actor). However, I ended up playing someone who got attacked and eaten by zombies, which strangely enough is exactly what happened to me when I was supposed to play a zombie in Charley Brooker’s new 6 part zombie drama, ‘Dead Set’, showing on channel 4 this coming October – type casting I tells yee.
Anyway – back to Sunday. I allowed Andy and rest of the Paranoid Android Film crew to use my studio to shoot the zombie nest scene for ‘Houseparty of the Dead III: Things To Do In Camden When You're Dead’ – God, I was cleaning the blood off the walls for days.
Paul Thomson, who I met at the Spencer Tunick thing, kindly turned up with his camera to shoot footage for ‘The Making of House Party of the Dead III’ – which should be interesting. Thanks Paul.
I took lots of photos throughout the day and think I managed to get some interesting ones of the outdoor scenes – although, in retrospect, maybe we shouldn’t have been running round Bethnal Green waving guns, hammers and swords in the air.
As soon as ‘Houseparty of the Dead III’ is edited I’ll put up a link on this blog, but in the meantime, why not check out ‘Houseparty of the Dead II’ on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTgxYpYXnJc
One of the slightly less fun sides of the film shoot was that whilst tidying up afterwards I noticed that some of the RCA Secret postcards that I’d spent all Saturday working on had got covered in fake blood. For those that don’t know, the RCA Secret is an annual show at the Royal College of Art (this year’s is some time in November), where artists make and donate postcard sized artworks which are then exhibited and sold to the public. However, the buyers only find out whose work they have bought once they hand over the cash and check the name on the back.
So, I’ve ordered some more postcards and will redo them soon. Maybe I’ll post one of them on my blog so you can look out it if you go to the show. Or would that be cheating? Either way, if you’ve seen my Spidey Pods print you’ll probably have a good idea which ones are my postcards anyway.
CALL FOR HAIR
OK - this might seem like an odd request but I'm on the lookout for more hair to use in my next sculpture. Hopefully I won't need as much as I used in my last hair piece, Fetish (above).
So, if there's anyone out there who's recently had a hair cut or is thinking of having quite a bit chopped off (the longer the hair, the better), and who wouldn't mind donating it to my little project, I'd much appreciate it.
If so, you can contact me at waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk or send the hair to me at - Collections Services, V&A Museum, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL.
Cheers
Fast Track: The ING Sculpture School
I’m currently teaching on an ‘Introduction to Sculpture’ workshop at ING Bank’s main London office at 60 London Wall. This is part of ING’s Formula 1 arts programme, Fresh Eyes (www.ingfresheyes.com).
The programme involves five sculptors (all members of the Royal British Society of Sculptors) teaching sculpting, mould-making, carving and assemblage to five teams of five ING employees, one day a week, over eight weeks.
This photo shows my team getting to grips with assemblage, the final stage of the introduction phase of the course. Next week they select their chosen field of sculpture and make a start on their final piece which will be exhibited in an exhibition at the London Wall offices later in the year.
It’s been fun working with the team and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing what they finally produce.
Spidey at Victoria & Albert Museum
One of my Spidey Pods prints is currently on show in London at ‘Vamalgam 3’, The Victoria and Albert Museum’s third almost-annual staff show.
Editions are also on sale throughout London at ‘Beyond The Valley’ (off Carnaby Street), ‘The Jago’ (Shoreditch) and ‘F-art’ (off Brick Lane).
However, to buy a print direct from me at the commission-free price of £100 (almost half the gallery price), send me an email at waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk or w.chisnall@vam.ac.uk and I’ll get back to you. If you want I’ll even throw in a few stickers for free.
Each of the ‘Spidey Pods’ silk-screen prints is hand printed on acid-free, high-grade archival paper. All of them are signed and numbered. They are from an edition of 300 and there are a few low numbers left as I have not been selling them in chronological order. However, for some reason I do get more requests for the prints with low edition numbers so they tend to go faster.
The dimensions of each print are roughly 58 x 53 cm.
All prints are rolled in acid-free tissue paper and posted in sturdy cardboard postal tubes with sealed plastic stoppers. Postage and packaging is free to UK customers (with a small charge for customers outside the UK - sorry).
'Whaleless' - Strychnin Gallery (opening night - Friday, 11th July, 7pm)
This is my contribution to the Strychnin Gallery's 'Whaleless' Exhibition (details below). The piece is called 'Poorly Remembered Whale' - the idea being that once the creatures have become extinct and our memories of them as real, living animals fade, they almost become things of myth and legend. And our only physical record of them are as old bones in museums.
For the majority of this piece's construction I chose to use stuff that I had collected whilst mudlarking along the Thames at low tide. As well as the aquatic connection, this material provided a link to the story of the unfortunate whale that recently perished in the Thames. Sadly, that incident was probably the closest that many of us Londoners will ever come to seeing a whale.
WHALELESS, an international group show dedicated to the whales, will be on display at the Strychnin Gallery London – from July 11 to August 10, 2008.
Curated by Giovanni Cervi and Res Pira, Whaleless will feature work by Catalina Estrada, Stuart Semple, Gemma Compton, Wayne Chisnall, Luke Insect, Pure Evil, Lee Baker, Dan Hillier, Arianna Carossa, Squp, Chris Bonobo, Ryan Obermeyer, Zaelia Bishop, Aurelien Police, Nicoz Balboa, Guiliano Sale, Silvia Argiolas, Kokomoo, Tamara Ferioli, Myron Campbell and Marie Luise Emmermann.
Whaleless is an art project dedicated to those artists wishing to express their indignation, rage, shame, disbelief or concern about the slow disappearance of the fascinating giant marine mammals. Pollution, whaling and unacceptable fishing practices are only some of the causes that seriously endanger their survival.
It seems that whales are slowly but inevitably growing extinct, while the consequences of their gradual disappearance are impossible to predict. And yet we can be certain that the world’s ecosystem – not just the oceans’ but that of our entire planet – will be affected by this change.
Whaleless was born three years ago on the pages of the Italian PIG magazine and on the Whaleless website. As a result, over 200 pieces of art work – from the USA to Hong Kong, from Russia to Venezuela – were submitted to the project and some of these will be on show in the London exhibition.
Over the next few years, the exhibition will visit other major European cities in an attempt to raise awareness for this global environmental problem.
The world would not be the same without whales, which is why action needs to be taken immediately. Therefore, a percentage of sales from this exhibition will be donated to Greenpeace to support them in their actions to save the whales.
Times: Friday to Sunday – 12 noon to 6pm. Open for Time Out‘s First Thursdays on August 7 (5pm to 9pm).
Strychnin Gallery, 65 Hanbury Street, London, E1.
A Gothic Story art exhibition
The opening night of the 'A Gothic Story' exhibition went really well. Lots of people turned up and every one seemed to enjoy the suitable eerie atmosphere of the venue, down in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall, London. I'm sure the free drink also helped things along.
I had a fantastic response to my five sculptures displayed in the main entrance hall and the eight smaller pieces that comprised my shelf installation in the pipe room. 'Sleeping Beauty Box' (just about viewable in the above photo) proved to be a favourite with many people. This was great as it was the first time that I exhibited this piece. To view more images from the show simply click on the 'recent flickr images' slide show at the top left-hand corner of this page.
On Thursday 3rd July at 7pm there will be a talk and torch lit tour through the show. Everyone is welcome to attend.
'A Gothic Story' (opening night Wed 25th June)
This is the flier for the new show in which I will be exhibiting some of my sculptures. Among the work that I will be showing will be The City, Fetish, Nail Box, Sleeping Beauty Box, Spider Box and a small installation comprised of various works in progress and component pieces.
As you can see, the exhibition is called A Gothic Story. The show is taking place in the suitably eerie surroundings of the Shoreditch Town Hall basement, in East London.
On Wednesday 25th June (6-8:30 pm) we will be having an opening night ahead of the official opening. So if anyone out there would care to join us for a free drink and a early view of the artwork, please feel free to come along.
Here are the details -
Address: Shoreditch Town Hall (basement), 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
Opening Night: Wednesday 25th June (6:00 - 8:30 pm)
Exhibition Open: Thursday 26th June until Sunday 6th July, 1:00 - 6:00 pm daily
Nearest Tube: Old Street, Buses 243,55,505
Ambassadors @ The Jago
This is an interior shot of The Jago, the new gallery/bar located half way down Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, London.
At the moment I am showing three of my paintings here, The Ambassadors (as seen at the far end of the bar), Kitchen Blue and Spidey Segments. A few of my signed and editioned Spidey Pods prints (taken from my Spidey Segments painting) are also available from The Jago.
On a slightly different note - the Strychnin Gallery show which featured two of my sculptures, The City and Pelvis, has just come down. However, Pelvis can still be viewed throughout the new exhibition, downstairs in the gallery's permenant collection. The new show is called 'Ugly American' and I'm looking forward to meeting the artist, Chet Zar, at tomorrow's opening (Friday, 13th June, 7pm). If anyone else fancies checking out what looks like being an amazing show then the address for Strychnin is 65 Hanbury Street, off Brick Lane, London E1 5JP.
See ya there.
John Malkovich & Me ;o)
I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Sony the other day, telling me that they had commissioned an animation from the script writing competition that I had entered and won. And here it is, 'Snow Angel'.
If you scroll down to the 'Interesting Sites and Blogs' section on the left of the screen and click on 'John Malkovich On-Line Script Project' you can view the original script for the animation. John Malkovich's piece is scene 1 and mine is scene 2.
Me at The Battersea Contemporary Art Fair
This is me and my stand at the 2008 Battersea Contemporary Art Fair. The fair took place at the Battersea Arts Centre from the 16th-18th May.
It was pretty tiring doing the stand but I met some fantastic people and there was a lot of interest in my work. The three most popular pieces that I exhibitied were the sculpture, Nail Box, and the two paintings Kitchen Blue (seen here in the photo) and The Ambassadors. I had to keep on my toes for the entire time I was there because Nail Box was sitting on top of a tall thin plinth and people kept catching their clothes and bags on it as they leaned in for a closer look. More than once I had to make a lunge to catch it as it tried to leave with a visitor.
Most people think that the figure in the painting, Kitchen Blue, is a bloke but it's actually a girl called Joolz. She just had very short hair at the time.
Battersea Contemporary Art Fair (16-18 May)
Yes - I know I've used this image in my blog before but as I've been using it in all my press releases to advertise my stand at this week's Battersea Contemporary Art Fair I thought I could get away with using it again.
I do have a very limited supply of two for the price of one tickets to the fair so if anyone out there would like me to post them one just email me your address and I'll pop one in the post to you. But be quick - you know what the postal service is like. Here's my email address - w.chisnall@vam.ac.uk
The Battersea Contemporary Art Fair, which takes place Friday 16th - Sunday 18th May 2008, is one of the largest and most popular independent art exhibitions in the UK. Now in its sixteenth year, the fair will once again take place at the Battersea Art Centre, showcasing around 150 artists.
I will be at stand L28 and will mostly be showing 2D work including Spidie Pods and The Ambassadors. Some of my smaller sculptural pieces will also be on display.
My popular Spidie Pods print (see image above) will also be available for sale at a special Fair price of £100. This limited edition, hand-printed, silk-screen print is on acid-free, archival high grade paper. Each print is signed and numbered (edition of 300). Dimensions: 58 x 53 cm.
Maria Newton, director of BCAF, comments: "The Battersea Contemporary Art Fair is tried and tested triumph for both artists and buyers. By cutting out the industry 'middlemen', the public enjoy keen prices and personal interaction with the artists, and our competitive stand costs ensure that the fair is on the map for fresh talent and established exhibitors alike."
Wayne Chisnall comments: "I love the buzz and the informal nature of art fairs. Being able to meet the person who has bought your work and find out what it means to them is amazing. Art fairs are also great opportunities for the public to chat to artists and find out what the artwork is really about."
When: May 16-18 May 2008 Where: Battersea Art Centre Lavender Hill London SW11 Time: Fri - 6-9pm (with drinks and live jazz music) Sat - 11-5pm Sun - 11-5pm Tickets: £7 (concessions £4)
www.bcaf.info
Exhibition @ Strychnin Gallery London
I've just been invited by the lovely people at Strychnin Gallery to be a guest artist at the new show in their London Gallery. The pieces that I will be exhibiting are 'The City' (see image above) and 'Pelvis'.
Here are the exhibition details -
'In The Absence Of Colour' (a black and white group show)
Opening Night - Friday 9th May, 7pm
Duration of show - 9th May - 9th June
Strychnin Gallery
65 Hanbury Street (off Brick Lane)
London E1 5JP
www.strychnin.com
Opening times - Friday through Sunday (12 noon until 6 pm)
What You Own Will Finally Own You (work in progress)
After meeting Luigi Vernieri, Editor and Art Director of FEFE magazine, at an exhibition of work by street artists in Shoreditch, I was invited to be one of the 25 artists to feature in and create a new piece for the next issue of the magazine.
This pencil drawing is the initial stage of the painting that I’m now working on.
The brief for each artist is to realize the theme of the magazine by interpreting a line of dialogue, selected from a movie. The phrase for this coming issue is ‘ WHAT YOU OWN WILL FINALLY OWN YOU’, which is a line that succinctly sums up one of the main issues that I try to deal with in much of my sculptural work.
Oddly enough, I noticed this same line crop up in the book, ‘Bonfire Of The Brands’, written by a friend, Neil Boorman. Because a lot of my work centres on the premise that one of the main things in life that tie us down is our addiction to things (that we are possessed by our possessions) I told him about my interest in the phrase and asked him where it came from. I shouldn’t really have had to ask as it comes from ‘Fight Club’, one of my favourite films.
“FEFE is an experimental Italian project, projected towards innovation and the search for new ideas in the world of communication and visual arts.The magazine is distributed in Europe, Asia, America and Australia.The acronym FEFE (Free Entry Free Exit) represents a group of individuals who have created an international magazine with the objective to reunite creators of visual arts invited to participate in its initiative.In each issue we invite 25 artists, a child and a writer.”
Pelvis Maquette (detail 1)
I made this piece as a maquette for a large scale outdoor sculpture. As the title suggests, it is based upon the pelvis, although as you can see from the legs and spinal column, it has been stylised some what and the form reduced.
To see a full length view and more detailed images of this piece you can check out the Painting and Sculpture gallery on my flickr account. Clicking on the image above will take you to that account.
A Big Thank You To Nico & Co
I'd like to say a big thank you to Nico and the rest of the team at Club VAIO, not only for intergrating my blog into their site but also for coming to my rescue with a new VAIO laptop just as my poor old Mac (which had been a bit senile of late) finally kicked the bucket.
Cheers guys
Cheers guys
Rickety Lens Structure Sketch
This is one of many working drawings that relate to the tower sculpture that I am currently working on (see work in progress photo below). I find these working drawings very useful. Some times the sketches and the finished sculpture bear a close resemblance. At other times they don’t. This is usually because either, in working the idea out on paper, I see the flaws in a particular idea or because a certain material that I decide to use might suggest another line of enquiry.
There seem to be two separate ways that I work as a sculptor. One where I have a set idea for a piece and where I set about making it so that it matches that original vision and another where I have a very loose idea for a sculpture and I simply let the materials and the chosen mode of construction dictate the end result. Although, it’s often a mixture of the two.
Untitled Tower (work in progress 2)
This is the corner section of a new tower sculpture that I'm working on. It has a couple of magnified lenses in the upper section which will eventually act as windows into a framed viewing platform. Apart from working on a few of the smaller details and framework, I'll probably put this section aside for a while and start work on some of the other sections. Then see how I can join them together. This is a slightly different way of working for me so it's proving to be quite a slow but interesting process. The only problem (and bonus) with working like this is that the process generates so many ideas for new sculptures. Sculptures that I'd love to start making but will probably never have the time to finish.
'Spidie Pods' Print
Just a quick reminder that I still have copies of this print for sale. Also, I have found a company, 'Eden Image', who can make up really great lookin white box frames that go perfectly with the print.
Here's the print's details -
Limited edition, hand-printed, silk-screen prints on acid-free, archival high grade paper. Signed and numbered. Edition of 300.
Title: ‘Spidie Pods’.
Dimensions: 58 x 53 cm.
Price: 100 pounds
To buy a print contact me at w.chisnall@vam.ac.uk
Alternatively you can buy this print from:
Beyond The Valley, 2 Newburgh St. London, W1F 7RD (020 7437 7338)
F-art, Cheshire St. off Brick Lane, East London (020 77295411)
Skeletal Components Sketch
This was just a quick sketch that I did. I was playing with the idea making some peculiar skeletal figures from bits of wire, string, old bones, broken tools and whatever else I could find lying around. For some strange reason my scanner and computer (which appears to be going a bit senile) seem to have taken a dislike to this sketch. Neither of them would recognise it and it took weeks before I finaly managed to get it scanned.
Crutch & Tumour Box Sketch
When I first had the idea for my 'Crutch & Tumour Box' sculpture I didn't have my sketch book to hand so I quickly scribbled down this thumb-nail sketch (afraid that I would have otherwise forgetten the idea) on a piece of scrap paper and taped it into my sketch book at a later date. Even though this is little more a scribbly little doodle I get quite precious about my drawings and sketch books. I suppose they are the hard copy manifestations of my creative thoughts.
After nearly loosing half of my sketch books to a recent flood in my studio I really should take better care of them. Time to invest in some water-proof containers, 'me thinks'.
Magnet
I know this is a bit short notice but if anyone is planning to go along to the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park this weekend please pop along and have a look at this piece that I have showing at the Stark Gallery stand (K8). Alternatively you can view it the following week at the Stark Gallery on 386 Lee High Road, Lee Green, London SE12 8RW.
I would have mentioned me showing my work at the fair earlier but this was a bit of a last minute thing that only came about through last night's private view.
Title: Magnet
Dimensions: 112 x 46 x 46 cm
Materials: plastic toys, wood and casters
Suck Pod Sketch
This drawing came about after joking about what might happen if genetic engineering and the sex toy industry ever got together.
'& When I'm a Man (I'll Think As a Man)', Wayne Chisnall
I've posted an image of this piece because this year is the tenth anniversary of the year that I properly became a sculptor and this sculpture was the starting point. Although, technically speaking I started making the molds for it in the latter part of 1997.
A couple of years after I first exhibitied this piece I started getting emails and phone calls from friends asking if I was exhibiting it in different galleries all over the place. It turned out that a few other artists had made similar sculptures after I had made mine. I suppose there was a bit of a zeitgeist thing going on. I'd be interested to know if anyone had made something similar before 1998.
Ironically, 'And When I'm A Man' is probably the largest sculpture that I have made to date. Most of my current sculptural work tends to be made up of small detailed components that grow outwards or upwards.
As well as being made from 12 separate body casts of myself (a self portrait, I suppose) 'And When I'm A Man' is based on the type of model kit that I used to buy as a child. When creating the piece I was interested in childhood perceptions of adulthood and the role that toys played in this, as I noticed that many figurative toys were that of adult characters.
Date: 1998
Dimensions: 230 x 170 x 18 cm
Materials: fibreglass, resin & plastic.
Sleeping Beauty Box (interior)
This is an interior shot of my 'Sleeping Beauty Box'.
In making this box sculpture my intention was to create a piece that from the outside appeared quite dull and ordinary. Yet, when you peered through its window you could imagine that you were looking at a scene from a fairy tale or a dream. This piece was also heavily influenced by the work of animators such as the Brothers Quay and Jan Svankmajer. I have always been facinated with animation and I sometimes think that many of my sculptures, especially the box and tower ones, resemble parts of animated film sets. I like to think of this interior shot as a still from a film that doesn't exist.
Entrail Plasma Box Sketch
I seem to have an obsession with wheeled boxes that trail entrails behind them. I think it might be something to with the conflict between man-made geometric forms and the biomorphic aspect of the natural world. Or maybe it’s something to do with the body being seen as this pristine box that tries to deny the existence of its viscous, smelly and often rebellious insides. There’s probably something deeply Freudian going on.
Anyway - this is the most recent drawing and it’s for an idea that I had that requires the use of a plasma cutter and a welder. Unfortunately I don’t yet have a plasma cutter so this particular project has been put on the back burner.
The Ambassadors (with side view)
'The Ambassadors' takes its figurative element from a photograph that appeared in many of the British tabloids some years ago. It shows a fight between some English and Turkish 'football fans'.
This photo shows the side view of the painting where you can see how the lines sheer off over the edge. The white line of the drawing is actually the primed surface showing through, so when you actually view the piece in the flesh, so to speak, your eye fluctuates slightly between the painted surface and the line drawing below. This can give the impression that the line of the drawing vibrates slightly.
Hairy Tower Sketch
This sketch is of a sculpture that I've been planning for some time now. Its for a piece that would be a hybrid between my 'Fetish Tower' piece, which is made of human hair, and my sculpture, 'The City', which is predominently made of wood. It will be interesting to see how much the end result looks like this initial sketch.
'Spidie Pods' Print
Limited edition, hand-printed, silk-screen prints on acid-free Somerset paper. Signed and numbered. Edition of 300.
Title: ‘Spidie Pods’.
Dimensions: 58.3 x 53.9 cm.
Price: 100 pounds.
Artist: Wayne Chisnall.
To buy a print contact me at w.chisnall@vam.ac.uk
Alternatively you can buy this print from:
Beyond The Valley, 2 Newburgh St. London, W1F 7RD (020 7437 7338)
F-art, Cheshire St. off Brick Lane, East London (020 77295411)
Batman Skull Sketch
This is for an idea I have for taking some human skulls and altering them so that they appear to have morphed with aspects of certain super heroes. I think that this should be quite a fun project but I’m not too sure how original it is.
'Crutch & Tumour Box', Wayne Chisnall
With ‘Crutch & Tumour Box’ I was trying to apply organic principles to something that is obviously man-made and rectilinear.
Taking the construct of the box as a starting point, this piece pursues the biological anomaly of the cancerous cell as a mode of enquiry.
Whilst mimicking the out of control mechanism of the malfunctioning and self-replicating cancerous cell, the piece hopefully manages to convey a biomorphic presence.
Teetering like a top-heavy fraction, ‘Crutch & Tumour Box’s’ comical appearance is further heightened by the necessitation of its crutch section - a support that is deliberately undermined by the application of a wheel.
John Malkovich - On-Line Script Project
Ok – this isn’t, strictly speaking, artwork but I thought I’d include it in my blog anyway. One, because there was a certain amount of creativity involved and two, because I thought that it was fun.
Basically, I entered an on-line script writing competition run by Sony. In the competition entrants got to submit a 500 word section of script that had to follow on from a piece written by John Malkovich. Then it would get whittled down to five scripts, John would choose the winner and then the process would start over again.
Anyway – John chose my script, ‘Doppelganger’, as the winner of the first round and this is what he said about it:
“ … I’m going to go with the “Doppelganger” script. It’s clever, inventive, and somehow both surprising and inevitable. Very neatly done all in all.”
John Malkovich
Jan 4th, 2008
'Nail Box', Wayne Chisnall
‘Nail Box’ is a sculpture greatly indebted to and influenced by the minkisi artefacts of central Africa. Many of these ritualistic objects are carved wooden totems that have had nails and other metal items hammered into them. However, where as the minkisi derive their power from their contents, with ‘Nail Box’ I was trying to create something that’s presence was derived from its adornment of carefully selected nails and rusty metal. By bringing together so many items that had interacted with the elements and their specific environments I hoped to create a piece that would generate a cumulative resonance.
As is the case with many of my sculpture, the found materials used in this pieces’ construction were selected for their ‘resonance’ and collected over several years.
Whilst most of the metal items used in this piece were found in London, anywhere from the streets of Hackney to the inside of the Dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, much of it was collected from the my travels around Britain and abroad, including Europe, Mexico, Cambodia, Thailand, Tunisia and India.
Considering the obsessive nature behind the way I collect and hoard the materials that I use in my work (you should see my studio – it is full of boxes of rubbish (a.k.a. treasure) – I fear that I am a lost cause), I see these sculptures as totems or magnifications of the ritualistic side of everyday life. Physical embodiments of the personal belief systems we all create around us.
Junk Metal Nest Sketch
I was surprised how coherently this sketch turned out. Originally I just set out to scribble down a rough idea for a spherical nest-like sculpture that I planned to weld together from bits of scrap metal.
Usually when I only have a vague idea for a piece, and no actual materials in front of me to draw from, the working drawing can initially look quite vague or messy (as I sketch out a rough image and then redraw over it – working it out as I go). Yet this one came out quite tight and finished, almost as if I was doing a drawing of a finished piece
Untitled Sculptural Component (Crabhead Doll)
This piece should eventually form part of a larger sculptural work. It's one a many small 'works in progress' that I just lump under the heading of Sculptural Components. With them I'm trying to force myself to work in a different way. Instead of starting with a fixed idea of how the sculpture should look and then trying to physically realise that idea (which is my normal way of working), I'm trying to work in a more organic way, without a rigidly fixed idea of the end result. Hopefully the components themselves will start to dictate the structures necessary for their interaction. I'm also interested in creating new works that can be disassembled and re-assembled in a variety of different ways.
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