Below is a short extract from Mark Sheerin’s article, ‘Taking a View on London’s East End Art Scene’, written for Culture 24 – the website dedicated to delivering the latest news, exhibition reviews and listings from museums, galleries, archives and libraries around the UK. In this section of the article you can read the results of the interview that I had with Mark when we recently met at CAMP (City Arts and Music Project), where I’m currently exhibiting work in the ‘Botanists of the Asphalt’ show. To check out the full article, where he also talks to Rachel Mapplebeck of Whitechapel Gallery about the changing face of the East End art scene from the 1980’s to now, go to -
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/art75023 .
(From ‘Taking a View on London’s East End Art Scene’ by Mark Sheerin) -
...Sure enough, at The City Arts and Music Project, artist Wayne Chisnall turns up on his bike. At this bar-cum-gallery near Old Street station, the work now on show is inspired by the urban landscape.
Chisnall talks about his piece, a nightmarish tower made from wood, bone, nails and other found objects. "East London is a rich picking ground for debris," he says. "I think the East End is one of the grubbiest, grimiest parts of London but that's quite a positive thing for me."
It is perhaps also, he agrees, the centre of the art world: "There's so many artists here and everyone's sort of eager to make it and there's a really good energy."
It is hard to disagree, looking around his exciting group show as night falls on City Road and the DJ starts warming up the room. But as the East End gears up for the 2012 Olympics, it is getting harder for artists to find live/work spaces in the area.
Chisnall will have to move studio in January owing to redevelopment, but he remains keen to stay in the East End. It's just as well he is a philosophical sort. "I've always been quite fascinated by that sense that nothing is permanent," he says. "It's all in a state of flux."
To read more articles by Mark, check out his blog at - http://criticismism.wordpress.com/
Photos courtesy of Culture 24
