Opening of Which Way North at the Great North Museum: Hancock

Thursday night was the VIP preview of the exhibition 'Which Way North' at the Great North Museum: Hancock. 

I felt rather out of place, but ever so honoured to have been commissioned to make a work for such an important museum and for it to be amongst such an amazing selection of objects and artworks by artists such as Ryan Gander, Andy Lomas and Barbara Hepworth.

After all, how often is my work going to be sandwiched between Helen Sharman’s Zvezda Sokol space suit and Damien Hirst's shark (Heaven)!

https://getnorth2018.com/events/to-the-moon-and-back/

Magnificent Obsessions on Front Row

I have a fascination with, and am attracted to collections. The psychology of collecting interests me, as well as the method of displays.

Damien Hirst, Birds display

 Danh Vo I M U U R 2, 2013 (detail)

The new exhibition, Magnificent Obsessions at the Barbican in London is featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme, Front Row. The exhibition focuses on the artist as collector. Many post-war and contemporary artists are represented, including the possessions of Howard Hodgkin, Edmund de Waal, Damien Hirst and Peter Blake. The show's curator Lydia Yee gives John Wilson a personal tour.

Edmund de Waal from the collection of a private man, 2011

Sol LeWitt, Autobiography, 1980

Featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme, Front Row, 11th February http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b051s2m1

Verity is given a makeover!

Following my recent blog posts about the intervention in Glasgow Green, my friend Gary sent me a link to another public intervention, this time in North Devon.

"The controversial 60 ft bronze sculpture, Verity by Damien Hirst has stood at the harbour mouth of Ilfracombe in North Devon, England since 2012. But unusually, at dawn this April Fools Day 1 April 2014, she was revealed to be sporting a giant pair of striped legwarmers.

The knitted garments mysteriously appeared overnight and although rumours abound amongst locals as to who is responsible, no one has yet owned up to the prank. Some believe Hirst himself to be behind it, while others think that the mariners aboard a warship that was docked nearby at the time must be involved. The woollen garments remained in place for 24 hours, being removed by the harbour master the next day, but the council and locals alike took the event in good humour and shops in the town reported that business had picked up.

Tonia Sears, owner of The Periwinkle knitting shop and cafe which opened in Ilfracombe November 2013 denies any affiliation, but comments that she finds it ‘brilliant that people are exploring artwork with yarn and the community are getting involved’. Her venue hosts craft workshops and clubs and she has been spreading the yarn art knowledge, recently teaching 45 members of the ‘Combe Crumpets’ (Ilfracombe’s Womens Institute group), the art of Tunisian Crochet.


The covert yarnbombing craze continues to spread, with comical positivity in its wake."



http://cover-magazine.com/news/verity-yarnbombed-on-april-fools-day/