The fragility of knowledge
#177: Exploring neighbourhood threats, hidden systems of power and Chet Baker by moonlight.
The Lurker
I covered a balaclava in watered-down acrylic paint and printed it on a sheet of white paper. This print was then inverted and photocopied, reducing it’s size to fit my wood panel.
The flowers were created by also printing a kitchen sponge holder, which I then copied onto green paper.
I painted the wood panel in black and then both these images were pasted onto the panel. Overlaying them on the black background created a composition that suggested a figure hiding in the bushes at night, watching us from afar.
Liminal Graffiti
This piece was created by spray painting through an old net curtain. When I stood back from the paper, the result reminded me of some abstract graffiti.
To compliment this, I took a photo in a dark, empty alleyway. I printed both out and pasted them together to complete the scene.
It’s just over a month until my London solo exhibition ‘Strange Fascinations’ opens Saturday 11th October - Thursday 16th October.
Free entry.
The Crypt Gallery
Euston Road, London
NW1 2BA
Something I’ve been looking into
Taryn Simon (b. 1975, New York) is an American artist whose work combines photography, text, and installation to reveal hidden systems of power and control. Often working through long-term research, Simon has investigated overlooked or obscured subjects such as wrongly convicted prisoners (The Innocents, 2002), restricted sites across the United States (An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, 2007), and the circulation of objects through customs and borders (Contraband, 2010). Her projects typically pair rigorously staged images with precise textual frameworks, creating a tension between visibility and concealment. By exposing what lies beneath official narratives, Simon highlights the fragility of knowledge and the ways in which authority is constructed and maintained.
Pictured above: From An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, art displayed at CIA headquarters. Langley, Virginia.
You should definitely check this out
Swimming by Moonlight - Chet Baker
If you’re a fan of Chet Baker (like me), then you’ll be interested to know that new music is being released which was recorded during the making of the 1988 documentary ‘Let’s Get Lost’ by Bruce Weber.
6 tracks are currently available including Chet’s version of ‘Milestones’ and a haunting live version of ‘Almost Blue’, written by Elvis Costello.
Cheers,
Joe
A selection of prints, T-shirts and other works are available here.