PART 1
2000 A.D. – 21st CENTURY
Continuing with the brief overview and summary, on the journey through the world of the Visual Arts.
I am sending out a big Thank You! To all the readers, who have requested an insight about my activities and practice in the arts. From the beginning to the present moment, what I have written with you in mind, is far from autobiographical. It offered an opportunity for the first time, to reflect on the distant past. I realised, what a hectic and busy life, I have lived.
From a viewpoint centred in creativity, culture, and experiential living. I hope the readers will receive pleasant reading, and discover useful interest. If nothing else, my wish is that the images, will become Sweet Eye Candy.
Korean Art Show – Brick Lane, Whitechapel, London.
To begin, in no special order, I would like to thank my childhood friend, Dennis Morris, in Hackney, London. For his introducing me to Leica Cameras, our regular reasoning sessions about photographic images, and their use. It was all about Visual Communication.
One love, to Jumbo at Virgin Records. Thanks also to Mr. Richard Branson, signing my first freelance cheque, with his own hands. Also replacing it, after it was stolen. Virgin Airlines opened the doors to new worlds. I spread my wings and flew around the world, and much more. “Don’t forget your toothbrush.” In my little Red collectable bag, as a token of excellent customer services.
Thanks to Sir Nicolas Serota, for recognising art in my photographs. You were the director of Whitechapel Art Gallery. I sold my first works there, as a professional in the mid 1970s. Thanks also to Jenni Lomax – Art in Education.
Thanks to Terence Pepper, at the National Portrait Gallery, Photography Department, London. You desperately wanted to purchase much more, but was limited by the budget. You were a kindred spirit, in the Art & Craft of the traditional photographic medium.
Thanks to the 2 professors at City University, Art Policy & Administration faculty, Barbican, London. They both guided through the rigours of Academia. In the high towers, they rarely get the chance to see the cultures happening on the streets. Including those bubbling up – from the underground.
Limited space will not allow me to mention so many more people who assisted me in progress within the world of the arts. May the legacies of all the people mentioned above, continue for evermore.
New Beginnings
The work of the artist is never over, it is continuous. It involves the search to improve methods, means, medium, and the language of creativity to express thoughts, and new ideas. Finding ways to showcase unique original authentic visions.
The life I was living from the beginning of the new century, forced me to reassess what was my practice. I struggled with the given title ‘multi-discipline artist – painting, printing and photography.’ I was no longer working in that manner.
Creative activities are not only about objects, subjects, or products. Neither is it simply a means of validating intellectualisation, in the name of Fine Arts. In the new times, I consider myself to be more of a Cultural Industry Professional.
As an example of the new way in which I work. The project titled ‘Lens & Light, became a summary or transient statement. about the old transforming into the new. It was a way to honour the pioneers, who discovered and advanced the method of extracting visual images from light.
I wanted to make an extraordinary statement about the transition of traditional photography , from the wet darkroom of chemicals, and celluloid films. To a Lightroom of computers and digital technology.
Including in my creative practice, is the original quest of assisting viewers, art audiences, and the general public, to see important things that are generally overlooked, in new and inspiring ways as an experience. All creative people are unique individuals, and not a type.
The images in this blog are from a variety of projects completed in the past. I work not from a motif, or signature style. Currently, I am working with the medium of lens media. As things evolve, so will the medium of choice, to fit and realise the ideas and concepts.