A Final word on Affluenza as it draws to a close

One of the artists involved, Phil Illingworth, has written a great review of the show (HERE) and mentions my work!

Chosen for the Selector's Choice Exhibition

My work has been chosen to be included in the Selectors Choice Exhibition that will accompany the Artist Open Houses during the Brighton Festival and Brighton Festival Fringe. I will also be exhibition with with a group of artists at the Claremont Hotel.

It all kicks off from the 23rd of March when the Selectors Choice Exhibition will have it's private view.

For more about what's going on during the Festival and Fringe pick up a copy of the Fringe Brochure or visit www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk

Affluenza Press

The Affluenza exhibition has been selected as critics choice on the TimeOut London website it's also #1 on the most viewed list on the site.

It's also been featured in Design Week

Affluenza Exhibition review by Phil Illingworth

Affluenza Exhibition

Sun, 22/03/2009 - 19:20 — Phil Illingworth

The Affluenza Exhibition is a multi-disciplinary visual arts exhibition, supported by series of talks and events taking place in Clerkenwell, London from the 19th – 28th March 2009.

The Term affluenza refers to ‘the disease of affluence’ as detailed in Oliver James’ book on the subject. He describes it as a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more. By placing a high value on money, possessions, physical and social appearances, and fame, we fail to distinguish between what we need and what we want.

The project set out to inspire debate and awareness about the impact of consumer values on society, and a series of talks and events running concurrently with the exhibition suggests some constructive alternatives for the future.

The work on display was selected by a high profile art industry panel, comprising Jonathan Barnbrook of Barnbrook Design, Silvia Sgualdini from the Lisson Gallery, Michael Czerwinski of the Design Museum, and Project Manager Hege Saebjornsen. Over 30 international artists are represented.

The exhibition is set out in 10,000+ square feet in the basement of an imposing building in Clerkenwell. This labyrinthine Victorian industrial space seems apposite as a time-marker in the development of consumerism.

The selected artists demonstrate a variety of approaches to the issue, and there are some powerful, provocative messages. Alexandra Valy's 'You only have to believe' doubles as a monument to pointless spending and a trophy of a longed-for end to waste.'Circumrotation' by Chong Boon Pok is plain terrifying in its implications for everyone who is relentlessly on the mill. I had already recently come across Liv Pennington's work. In her 'The Standard Package Part II: Partial Recall' she sent photographs of herself as a toddler out to a number of online retouchers, with the brief "please do a pageant makeover". This eloquent group, for me, speaks volumes. Robin Clare's delicate paintings show defunct, dead appliances, once important parts of family life. These redundant items now populate the streets with new lives as vagrants, 'faces' turned to the wall, as though ashamed of their uselessness or trying to escape inevitable destruction. Oh, you'll see my work too.

The event has clearly struck a chord - Critic's Choice in Time Out and the most clicked event on their website for example. The exhibition runs until 28 March, and look out for the talks and events on the Affluenza website.

http://www.theaffluenzaexhibition.org

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(original article from http://www.artselector.com/review/affluenza-exhibition)

Affluenza

The Affluenza show opened last night and was an amazing success. It's been brilliantly curated and the old meat packing factory is a wonderful background to all the great art. I had a chance to take some photos of my work with my mobile so please forgive the blurry images.

The show continues until next week Saturday at 18:00 hrs

I'll be invigilating on Wednesday 25th from 1 to 6 so pop along and say hi. I'll also be sticking around to check out the Neil Boorman Talk on Debranding Your Life at 6:30pm

Affluenza - 19th to 28th March 2009

My next exhibition is titled Affluenza, a group show in an amazing old meat packing factory in Clerkenwell, London. The exhibition explores issues surrounding mental health and consumerism in our culture.

I'll be showing a number of works from my Found Series

Private View 19th March 2009
Show runs til 28th March 2009

Address: 187-211 St. John St Clerkenwell, London, EC1