Problems in Practice

Abstract

The research paper entitled Problems in Practice examines my development as an artist through education, exhibition in both commercial and institutional contexts and my attempts to marry these worlds. The paper also looks at the hierarchy of the art market and art institutions and how in many cases the artist exists only as a peripheral player in the overall workings of both. These themes are used as an opportunity to ruminate on four key bodies of work produced during the course of this research. Unfortunately I have been unable to secure the return of the body of work “Old Fashioned Business” that is discussed in the paper and was intended for exhibition. In lieu of this I will be presenting a new body of work to accompany this research. The new body of work follows closely from the planned exhibition both conceptually and aesthetically. The installation entitled “Union” extends the painted welded steel of the Old Fashioned Business exhibition, however the “O” motif from this previous body of work is not represented literally in the form of the sculptures, rather the O or void manifests itself as illuminated naked light globes. These globes are variously suspended or upheld by the irregular, bereft welded steel armatures.