From Finland With Love

Here’s the before and after images from the first piece in a mail art project that I’ve just added my personal touch (the tendrils) to. The project was the idea of the photographer and artist, Adam Monaghan, who is now based in Finland. The basic premise of the project is that Adam sends out sets of four 18 x 18 cm paintings/collages (that he has started) to various artists around the world. These artists then add to the works and post them onto another artist in the group, who does likewise. Once an artist feels the work is complete they return to Adam. Eventually, when all the works have been returned, we’ll have a small show somewhere and exhibit the end results. The artists currently taking part in the project are Tony Deleon in New York, Dale Devereux Barker in Ipswich, Katie Waller in Brighton, Kunigunda Dineikaite in Lithuania, Adam Monaghan in Finland and myself here in London.

Two Shows Opening Thursday

This evening's been a bit hectic, setting things up for both of tomorrow's opening nights but at least everything now seems to be in place. I've hung the two paintings (see photos) for the Tate The Biscuit show down in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall and I've delivered my City sculpture to The City Arts & Music Project, ready for Botanists of the Asphalt.
It's a shame (or maybe fortunate) that I don't drink vodka as I've just found out that Absolute Vodka are sponsoring the Botanists exhibition.
So if anyone would like to come to either or both events you will be most welcome. However, if you are planning to come to the Botanists of the Asphalt, just remember to RSVP to stephanie@thecamplondon.com first.
Hope to see you there.

Ambassadors @ The Jago

Ambassadors @ The Jago (2), originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

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.

Me at The Battersea Contemporary Art Fair

BCAF_2008 015, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

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.

The Ambassadors (with side view)

The Ambassadors (with side view), originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

'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.

Sun Worshipers 1

Sun Worshipers 1, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

Title: Sun Worshipers 1
Dimensions: 45 x 58 cm
Medium: smooth Hammerite paint & primer
on aluminium
Date: 2004

Spidie Segments

Spidie Segments, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

Title: Spidie Segments
Dimensions: 58.5 x 58.5 x 7 cm
Medium: smooth Hammerite paint on MDF
Date: 2004

Crab Claw 1

Crab Claw 1, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

Title: Crab Claw 1
Dimensions: 30 x 21 x 7.3 cm
Medium: gloss paint (oil) on MDF
Date: 2004

'The Ambassadors', Wayne Chisnall

The Ambassadors, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

'Kitchen Blue', Wayne Chisnall

Kitchen Blue, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

Crab Claw

Crab Claw, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

Skull Flag

Skull Flag, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.