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Yellow Tubes

This series of installations evolved from an exhibition at the Create Centre, Bristol in 2016.

 

All the work for this show was made using material found on local streets.

I aimed to create a luxurious, decadent environment which upon closer inspection would reveal itself as being made from items which had been thrown away.

In the centre of the space, I hung a chandelier constructed from a number of yellow foam scaffolding tubes.

After the show came down, I needed to reuse, store or discard the chandelier .

I decided to place it upon the head of William III's statue in Queens sq. Bristol. It remained in position for 6 months.

 Perceiving this as tacit approval I set about giving new hairdos to statues throughout Bristol city centre.

 

This felt subversive and fun. Dethroning authority figures whilst bringing smiles to people's morning commute.

These sculptures I began calling stars. They seemed to gain acceptance and began appearing on lamp posts, statues and trees throughout Bristol.

 

On one occasion I was even stopped by a policeman when adjusting a star which needed repair. He warned me not to mess around with it as the sculpture was meant to be up there!

Since then I've used this unofficial permission to create more complex artworks which test what's possible with the material.

I descided to create a representational series of poplular cultural icons. (The types of images which were being reproduced on tote bags and pencil cases at the time.)

This resulted in a giant Pineapple, Cactus, Unicorn and two Mermaids.

These huge scultptures were made on site in the centre of Bristol. This was an interesting experience as the whole, long, creative process was exposed. Rather than revealing a finished artwork, the public witnessed me wreslting with the form over a series of weeks.

I gained some fantastic interactions through this process and I think passers by grew to understand and appreciate the endevour.

People's reactions began to change from wondering what I was doing to asking what the next sculpture was going to be.

The Police became happy to interact with me and even to pose for photographs. A rediculous situation!

Whilst changing the Pinapple into a Cactus two police officers came over to tell me that they would now have to change their call sign from 'Trouble at the Pineapple' to 'Trouble at the Cactus!'

During lockdown I left a Banana in place to keep spirits high. I then dressed as a star and walked through the city when restrictions were lifted. To me this both represented the virus passing through an urban environment and formed a visual representation of the 2m personal space which was required when in public.

This site (which had now become my unofficial oudoor studio) was in front of the old Norwich Union Bank vault (an additional reson for creating a Pineapple - Symbol of wealth, slavery and marajuana. Three thigs very much associated with Bristol.) Is now schedueled for redevelopement. I have left a final piece in place which takes the form of two clasped hands as a tribute to Ukraine.

STILL

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