Art
has left the Building
Re:Call
Interview
1) When
were you at Bournville School of Art?
Sept' 2006
- June 2010
2) What
course did you study here?
BA (Hons)
Visual Arts by Negotiated Study.
3) Who were
your tutors?
Sean
O'Keeffe, Steve Bulcock, Stuart Whipps.
4) What
area did you specialize in?
Fine Art.
5) What
memories do you have of your first day at Bournville School of Art?
Too long
ago to remember precisely but certainly nervous.
6) What
memories do you have of your final show at Bournville School of Art?
Relief.
7) What
piece did you do for your final show at Bournville and could you describe it?
Installation:
Preliminary Studies for the Science of Miracles - Analogue Television Set,
Black card - 24 x 24 photographic print - Sculptural object.
8) Could
you give just five words to describe your experience at Bournville School of
Art?
Pretty much
what I expected.
9) Could
you indicate what creative activity you have done since your time at Bournville?
A number of
small exhibitions:
Nov 2012: Proposal 2 - Works Gallery - Birmingham
May 2012: Allotment - MAC - Birmingham
Aug 2011: Kingsfest - Kingstanding - Birmingham
Jan 2011: If we could get back all the things we have lost, would we still want them?
Vinyl - Birmingham - Solo show
May 2012: Allotment - MAC - Birmingham
Aug 2011: Kingsfest - Kingstanding - Birmingham
Jan 2011: If we could get back all the things we have lost, would we still want them?
Vinyl - Birmingham - Solo show
10) Could
you describe your current creative practice/ideas/work?
Continuing
to explore open and closed contexts (belief systems, play, self expression,
masculinity) within societal practices notably within science and technology,
lifestyle and media.
11) Could
you say a little about the work you have chosen to include in the Re:Call
exhibition?
Simon
Hope
Do
Bears Shoot in the Woods?
2012
Framed
C type print, Colouring book, Ceramic mugs, Felt tip pens.
In
1898 American forces invaded the island of Cuba with Theodore Roosevelt's Rough
Riders in the vanguard. A painting by American historical war artist Mort
Kunstler (the original of which hangs in the Pentagon) captures a moment from
their raid on Spanish troops at Las Guasimas.
My
bears are seen just prior to this event, advancing towards enemy positions up
what came to be known as Kettle Hill (due to the later finding of a huge iron
cauldron used in the processing of sugar). Company flags flutter in the breeze
as Theodore leads his troops towards danger and, on the surface, all seems to
be calm but the bears know what lies ahead and steel themselves for the coming
battle.
12) What
are you working on at the moment?
Re-creating
an installation piece which was shown at Kingsfest in August 2011 for the
purposes of making a photograph to be printed and framed.
13) What
are your creative plans for the future?
I intend to
continue making work and exhibiting as often as possible. Also to develop a
series of works for sale via online shop.
14) Is
there anything else you would like to add?