I was brought up in a deprived working class environment where no emotions were shown, nothing was shared or revealed and there was little conversation. This has lead to a lasting sense of inertia, a question as to whether things can change, a concern of what might come next – what events could occur. When I’m making work, I think about something hidden and buried. How the known might be understood and the unknown excavated. How with exploration, there’s a hope of inviting the viewer in, starting a conversation, perhaps revealing some meaning together.
My process driven work uses readily available and recycled materials – things of memory, making use of the cast aside. I often use cardboard as a substrate. This allows me to carve into the surface, to add relief layers, and to fold and twist the cardboard into ridge and wave-like shapes. Geomorphology – the changing face of land, rivers and seas – is an important influence on my work. I think about the physical aspects of the earth’s structure being analogous with our mental states – pressure, disruption, fragility, resilience, strength and beauty. All a reflection of a universal experience.
I often draw on psychoanalytic theory to help me think about my work. I’m particularly interested in dreams and memory and how we repeat actions in an attempt to make sense of a particular psychic struggle. Freud’s 1914 paper; Remembering, repeating and working through, remains an important influence on my thinking.
Paul studied Fine Art at the University of Wales and Fine Art and Design at Pratt New York. He received an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies from the Tavistock London and an MA in Fine Art with a PGCE from Kingston University London (2015). He is based in Surrey, UK.
Selected shows and events Entrancement @Electro Studios Hastings UK, 2024 / Jump Shot AOR14 @Brighton Pavilion Sussex UK, 2024 / Rose + Fell @Terrace Gallery London UK, 2024 / It will change @Tolworth Tower space London UK, 2024 / Curve @Manor Wall Studios UK, 2023 / Wild Thought @Lido Margate UK, 2023 / Slide AOR12 @Watts Gallery Compton UK, 2023 / Lucky Devils @Asylum with Ben Brown and Ziad Nagy UK, 2022 / New York International Print Show MGC New York USA, 2022 / This Ends Here @Tolworth Tower Space London UK, 2021 / K.O.P intro with La Petite Mort TACO London UK, 2021 / Hard Rain @SET Dalston London UK (solo), 2019 / A522 Publication London UK, 2019 / Scissor AOR8 @Cass Sculpture Sussex UK, 2019 / Test Strip @Museum of Futures London UK, 2019 / Proof Print @Neo Gallery Manchester UK, 2018 / My Xerox Works @A42D Publication SET Alscot Road London UK, 2018 / Et Tu Brute? Andrew Edlin Gallery New York USA, 2018 / Print City + V&A Mini Print Show London UK, 2018 / LSI Showcase Camden Arts Centre Artists’ Studio London UK, 2017 / Folkestone is an Art School project @Folkestone Triennial UK – with Bob and Roberta Smith, 2017 / Creekside Open APT Gallery London UK – selected by Alison Wilding, 2017 / LSI Residency @Camden Arts Centre + Slade Research Centre London UK, 2017 / Power & Politics @Shape Ecology Pavilion London UK – selected by Yinka Shonibare, 2017 / The Ibero-American Art Award London UK, 2016 / Blind Plural @HYG London UK, 2016 / Signals @11.15 Space with Jeni Johnson, Folkestone UK, 2016 / Show Business @Stanley Picker Gallery London UK – curated by Isobel Harbison, 2015 / BAGT @Artworks Project Space London UK – selected by Jonathan Baldock + Paul Johnson, 2015 / Making an Impression Publication PMC London UK, 2015 / Flat White Wall Machine @XMarks the Bokship + Matt’s Gallery London UK, 2015 / Metamorphosis, Platform Space London UK – curated by Tom Morton, 2015 / Pony Box @Stanley Picker Gallery London UK, 2015.