Artist Statement:
As a visual communicator, my practice is based upon the use of language as a powerful gendered (and political) tool. There are three clear stages to my creative practice:
- Poetry
- Photography
- Wall-mounted text
The poetry I write and the photographs I take serve to document highly energised, sexually charged social situations in which my peers and I participate. The wall-mounted text is the end result, currently, a personal focus of specific situations. Therefore, my practice follows a process. It is this process which I am extremely interested in developing.
I explore the relationship between language and gender through my creative practice and will continue looking at historic and contemporary poetry. By the term ‘language’ I include paralanguage, kinesics and proxemics. The processes and thought paths artists and writers follow relates to the continuing meticulous process I enter into thorough my practice.
Lens based media is attractive because of its ability to spontaneously capture communication and instantly document a conversation. It is the process of the artist shaping a dialogue before the piece is executed that is of particular interest.
I am continuing to develop crossword like structures, seen to be evolving in ‘I HID UNAIDED’. The potential here are for pieces to encompass floor, wall and ceiling reflecting language’s ability to engulf every aspect of our life. Practically, I am developing this concept through word/sentence structure, colour, size and medium. Here, I will explore materials that offer sleek and unobtrusive finishes.
I will continue to discuss ideas of power and communication. The concept of both power and communication being exerted through gender raises questions such as “is masculinity’s depleting power due to a new language born from changing perspectives surrounding gender?” Also, “can gendered language be advantageous to all?” and “what socio-cultural rules are created by such gendered language?”
Andrew Markham
Bretton Hall – Leeds University : BA (Hons) Fine Art – Sculpture
For sales, commissions and to send comments to the artist.
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