From Finland With Love

Here’s the before and after images from the first piece in a mail art project that I’ve just added my personal touch (the tendrils) to. The project was the idea of the photographer and artist, Adam Monaghan, who is now based in Finland. The basic premise of the project is that Adam sends out sets of four 18 x 18 cm paintings/collages (that he has started) to various artists around the world. These artists then add to the works and post them onto another artist in the group, who does likewise. Once an artist feels the work is complete they return to Adam. Eventually, when all the works have been returned, we’ll have a small show somewhere and exhibit the end results. The artists currently taking part in the project are Tony Deleon in New York, Dale Devereux Barker in Ipswich, Katie Waller in Brighton, Kunigunda Dineikaite in Lithuania, Adam Monaghan in Finland and myself here in London.

My Botanical Ramble

Botanists of The Asphalt from Lukasz Cholewiak on Vimeo.

Apologies in advance for my drunken ramblings ('never drink too much at your own private view' - a rule I always seem to forget) but I've just come across Lukasz Cholewiak's beautifully shot video of last November's Botanists of The Asphalt exhibition. The show was curated by Stephanie Pochet at CAMP in Shoreditch, London and featured work by David Macdiarmid, David London, Ruth Pickard, Aisling Roycroft, Kerim Aytac and myself.

Steam-Powered Fun

For anyone interested in seeing some of the acts, inventions and fantastic costumes from the recent steampunk event that I took part in at London’s Scala club, here is a four minute clip that appeared on the BBC News. My City sculpture even makes a brief appearance but don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.
And to find out more about White Mischief and the whole steampunk phenomenon check out Boing Boing or one of the many other blogs and websites that focus on this idea of a Victorian age where technology was even more advanced than it is today.

My Last RBS Workshop

Here are some photos from last Tuesday’s school workshop at the Royal British Society of Sculptors It was the largest class that I’ve worked with so far at the RBS so we divided the children up into two groups. While one group did sketches of the sculptures (that myself and the other artists are currently exhibiting in the Found show), the rest made small sculptures out of found objects and household materials. Then the two groups swapped over. I also got to give a small talk to the kids about my work. And once again, the children didn't cease to amaze me with the wonderful things they managed to produce in such a short space of time. Well done kids!

Whaleless in Berlin

To give you a little taste of the sort of artwork that will be featuring in the up-coming KETOS 2.1 show at the Civic Aquarium in Milan here is a video clip of an earlier Whaleless show, from when it travelled to Strychnin's Berlin gallery. My sculpture is the wall mounted piece in the glass fronted coffin that appears early on in the video. Although now the number of contributing artist has grown so I imagine that the latest version of the exhibition will be a lot bigger.

Whaleless in Milan

My Poorly Remembered Whale sculpture is continuing on its tour of Europe and will be shown in the upcoming Ketos 2.1 show as the Whaleless exhibition opens at its latest venue, the Civic Aquarium in Milan, Italy. The show opens on the 14th April, the same day as Milan Design Week, and closes on the 16th May. This will be the largest Whaleless show so far, with over 60 contributing artists.

Click here to see the wide range of artwork being shown, and to find links to more work by each of the exhibiting
Whaleless artists.

If your Italian is up to much, you can check out details of the event on the
Milan Civic Aquarium’s website (and maybe you can tell me what it says)

Whaleless Facebook Group

White Mischief - Tonight

I'm so excited about tonight's Great Exhibition event at Scala. The line-up looks amazing and it's just going to be the perfect excuse to get dressed up and have some fun. I'll be exhibiting my City sculpture and four of the carnival/sea side style cut-outs that myself and the photographer, Phil Sofer, previously made for one of the Victoria and Albert Museum's Friday Late Views. I'm also looking forward to finally meeting up with some of the people behind the event. Even though we've only conversed over the phone so far, I can tell that these people so love what they do.

WHITE MISCHIEF “The Great Exhibition” TOUGH LOVE PROUDLY PRESENT
A Birthday Extravaganza Celebrating Three Years of Neo-Victorian Entertaiments
WHITE MISCHIEF: “The Great Exhibition”
Saturday 27th March, Two Thousand and Ten, from 9pm until 4am, Scala, King’s Cross, London.
TICKETS: £25 on the door.

RBS Workshops

This week I’ve had loads of fun taking part in a couple of the schools workshops that the Royal British Society of Sculptors have been running in conjunction with their Found exhibition, currently showing at their Brompton Road gallery in South Kensington, London. As one of the exhibiting artists I was invited to come along and talk to the kids about my work and help out with the workshops. Although the sessions were each only about an hour long it was incredible what they managed to achieve. I never cease to be amazed by the creativity and sheer weirdness of children’s imaginations.

I got great photos of some of the kids and their amazing creations (which were even more amazing considering the time limits that they had to work under). However, because of the current climate and concerns over images of children appearing on the internet (unless everyone was just in the Witness Protection Program) I unfortunately had to drastically crop or omit some of the best images.

Anyway – this evening, from 6:30 onwards, I (along with two other sculptors, Susan Forsyth and Linda Johns) will be giving short talks about our work at the gallery and everyone is welcome to come along. But don’t worry, each talk will only be 15 minutes long so there will be plenty of time mingle and knock to back a few glasses of wine.

Hairy Wednesday

Fetish, originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

Just a quick reminder that you can get to see my Fetish sculpture (the one made out of human hair) this coming Wednesday at the opening of the Royal British Society of Sculptors’ new exhibition, Found, at their Gallery in South Kensington, London. And on Wednesday the 24th March I’ll be giving a short talk about my work with found materials. To find out the full details click on the e-flier below.

Invite to 'Found' at RBS (no, not the bank)

Here's the details for the upcoming show at the Royal British Society of Sculptors, where I will be exhibiting my Fetish sculpture (the one made out of human hair). The opening night is on Wednesday the 10th March but I will also be giving a talk about my work at 7 pm on Wednesday the 24th March. The opening night and the talks are free to enter so if you are in the area please feel free to come along.

The Royal British Society of Sculptors, 108 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 3RA. +44 (0)20 7373 8615. info@rbs.org.uk

Up To Mischief

I thought that I’d give you an early mention of next month’s White Mischief event that I will be taking part in, as I’m assured that tickets for their parties often sell out early. Basically, I’m exhibiting my ‘City’ sculpture (which seems to be so popular at the moment that it’s been spending more time on show in one place or another than it has in my studio) and the carnival style cut-outs that myself and the photographer, Phil Sofer, made for one of last year’s Friday Late Views at the V&A Museum, London. Below is the info for the event that I lifted from the White Mischief site -

Saturday 27 March: WHITE MISCHIEF “The Great Exhibition” TOUGH LOVE PROUDLY PRESENT
A Birthday Extravaganza Celebrating Three Years of Neo-Victorian Entertaiments
WHITE MISCHIEF: “The Great Exhibition”
Saturday 27th March, Two Thousand and Ten, from 9pm until 4am, Scala, King’s Cross, London—————————————————————-
TICKETS
£20 in advance, £25 on the door subject to availability
https://uk.brownpapertickets.com/event/99305
Or telephone (01224) 443377
We strongly recommend booking in advance as the majority of our full-scale shows sell out some time in advance.
Tickets also available from Scala Box Office King’s Cross, Bordello Great Eastern Street Shoreditch, and TicketWeb.co.uk 0870 0600 100 (24 hrs)——————————————————————————————
EXHIBITS FROM ACROSS THE EMPIRE!
Noted scientist VOLTINI conducting 27,000 VOLTS OF VISIBLE LIGHTNING with his TESLA COIL
MR. BRUCE AIRHEAD climbing inside his SIX FOOT BALLOON
Making Sparks Fly, Miss KEDA BREEZE with her ANGLE GRINDING CONTRAPTION
Steampunk Burlesque from BEAU BURLINGTON and MEG LA MANIA
Art installation from WAYNE CHISNALL
Walkabout from HODMAN AND SALLY, visitors from OBLIVIA
——————————————————————————————
Master of Ceremonies: Pith-Helmeted Colonel and “Cup of Brown Joy” rapper MC ELEMENTAL——————————————————————————————
LIVE MUSICAL ARTISTES IN THE PALACE OF GLASS!
Your hosts, Tribal Pop band TOUGH LOVE
Finest Hornicator Operator, THOMAS TRUAX
With their Steam-Powered Piano, TANKUS THE HENGE
Chap-hop pioneer MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER
——————————————————————————————
SERENADE WITH ANTIQUE BEAT INTO THE SMALL HOURS
Classical, vintage jazz, swing, showtunes, Balkan Beat and more from our team of DJs
——————————————————————————————
PLUS MANY MORE ACTS, MULTIPLE THEMED ROOMS, STEAMPUNK ART AND CRAFTS, OUTDOOR SMOKING PATIO,
——————————————————————————————
Dressing-up is not at all compulsory but certainly encouraged!
Mischief’s preferred rental costumier is PRANGSTA –http://www.Prangsta.co.uk – mention White Mischief for a 20 per cent discount on all costumes
Inspirations: Steampunk, neo-Victorian, top hats, waistcoats, tails, bustles, dresses, hats, brass goggles, explorers, scientists, engineers, remarkable exhibits the Industrial Revolution, Discoveries from The Empire, zoological phenomena, dinosaurs, workers, Prince Albert, HG Wells, Jules Verne, Queen Victoria, businessmen and philanthropists…
——————————————————————————————
THIRD BIRTHDAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION OFFER:
Two nights, two parties!
Friday 26th March: The White Mischief Revue at Proud Cabaret, London EC3
Saturday 27th March: White Mischief THE GREAT EXHIBITION at Scala, King’s Cross
For more information and to buy tickets visit http://www.WhiteMischief.info

Studio Hitch

It would seem that our fledgling art collective has run into something of a hitch with regards to our new studio space in the middle of Shoreditch, London. The person with whom we had been dealing and who had assured us that we could move in this weekend would appear to have been less than well informed himself as to the actual availability of the property. Oh well, such is life.

Interviewed For Culture 24

Below is a short extract from Mark Sheerin’s article, ‘Taking a View on London’s East End Art Scene’, written for Culture 24 – the website dedicated to delivering the latest news, exhibition reviews and listings from museums, galleries, archives and libraries around the UK. In this section of the article you can read the results of the interview that I had with Mark when we recently met at CAMP (City Arts and Music Project), where I’m currently exhibiting work in the ‘Botanists of the Asphalt’ show. To check out the full article, where he also talks to Rachel Mapplebeck of Whitechapel Gallery about the changing face of the East End art scene from the 1980’s to now, go to -
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/art75023 .

(From ‘Taking a View on London’s East End Art Scene’ by Mark Sheerin) -
...Sure enough, at The City Arts and Music Project, artist Wayne Chisnall turns up on his bike. At this bar-cum-gallery near Old Street station, the work now on show is inspired by the urban landscape.
Chisnall talks about his piece, a nightmarish tower made from wood, bone, nails and other found objects. "East London is a rich picking ground for debris," he says. "I think the East End is one of the grubbiest, grimiest parts of London but that's quite a positive thing for me."
It is perhaps also, he agrees, the centre of the art world: "There's so many artists here and everyone's sort of eager to make it and there's a really good energy."
It is hard to disagree, looking around his exciting group show as night falls on City Road and the DJ starts warming up the room. But as the East End gears up for the 2012 Olympics, it is getting harder for artists to find live/work spaces in the area.
Chisnall will have to move studio in January owing to redevelopment, but he remains keen to stay in the East End. It's just as well he is a philosophical sort. "I've always been quite fascinated by that sense that nothing is permanent," he says. "It's all in a state of flux."

To read more articles by Mark, check out his blog at - http://criticismism.wordpress.com/

Photos courtesy of Culture 24

Join the League of Super-duper Artists

OK, it might not be the new hi-tech secret headquarters for a team of crime-fighting super heroes but I am looking for 5 artists to join me in renting a massive live/work space that I’ve found in the heart of Shoreditch, London ('the place to be'). The space is available from the end of this month. It’s the whole of the second floor of an old office block situated halfway between Old Street Tube and Liverpool Street Station – just off Great Eastern Street. The place is massive so there will be loads of space to work and to chill out in. there are already enough rooms off the main open space to use as bed rooms - so we wouldn't have to build our own. Although we should free to make any improvements or alterations that we see fit. There is a good sized kitchen area, a few toilets but only one shower so we’ll either have to make do with that or put another one in ourselves. The rest of the floors are home to a few art collectives and there are roof-top gardens where fruit and veg have previously been grown. I imagine that come Summer, a few barbecues will be taking place up there too.

I'm still waiting for the landlords to get back to me with the actual price but hopefully it will be about £3000 per month (all inclusive) for the whole floor which would work out at £500 per person, per month. I think that they will probably be asking for a month's rent in advance and a months rent as deposit but as I said, I’m still waiting for them to get back to me with the final details.

Obviously I want this to be a positive and creative environment so I’m looking for motivated and productive artists. If you are interested then please get in contact (you can email me at waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk), telling me a bit about yourself and either send me a couple of images of your work or include your website or blog address and a contact number.

Please feel free to pass this message onto anyone that you think might be suitable and interested.

waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk

Art of England (issue 63)

If you can manage to get hold of a recent issue (well, I say ‘recent’ - it probably came out a couple of months ago) of Art of England magazine you might be able to find an article that features one of my paintings, Kitchen blue. The article starts on page 66 of issue 63 (the one with the new Damien Hurst painting, Skull with Astray and Lemon, on the cover) and celebrates 20 years of Candid Arts – the Islington arts centre set up and run by Duncan Barlow, to promote the work of recent art and design graduates. However, Candid Arts is much more than just that. As well as being an artists’ studio complex it has its own gallery spaces (set over 2 floors) a projection room, a courtyard garden and probably the best chill-out café in London.
Anyway – back to me (‘Yay’ I hear you cry). As well as having one of my pieces featured in the article I get a mention as one of Candid’s exhibiting artists, along with a short biog.
And if you can’t find the article it’s still well worth visiting Candid Arts, if not only for its bohemian style café. Here’s the address – Candid Arts, 3 Torrens Street, Islington, London EC1V 1NQ. Tel. +44 (0) 207 8374 237. www.candidarts.com.

Sketchbook Archive # 01

The City/Fetish Mutated

If asked ‘what is the first thing you would try and save in a fire?’ I imagine that most artists would say sketchbooks (OK - if they had kids, they ‘might’ say kids first) – yet when it comes to exhibitions and the art world in general, these vital documents go largely over-looked. I know that not all artists use sketchbooks but to me they are invaluable. Not only do they act as a form of external memory (one of the worst things is to have a great idea for a piece, not make a note of it, then forget what it was) that you can come back to years later and find new inspiration in, but they also allow you to work out your mistakes without having to make them in the physical world.
So, as a tribute to the ‘the sketchbook’ I decided to start a regular (well, I say regular – I imagine that there will be more than one) Sketchbook Archive post on my blog, where I show a few examples of my working-drawings and talk about what was going through my mind at the time (cue the sound of wind and tumbleweed rolling across the prairie).
So, there goes –
The images above are perfect examples of what would happen if I could cross-breed some of my sculptures. Or rather, what the outcome would be if I started mixing some of the materials and techniques from one piece with that of another. These drawings take their inspiration from my earlier sculptures, The City (made mostly of wood and found materials) and Fetish, made from human hair. Ever since I first made Fetish I’ve been both fascinated and repulsed by the use of hair as an artistic medium. I love the look of it as a material but it feels horrible when you have to mix it, by hand, with glue. However, hair is a great thing to draw as it seems to dictate its own flow. But when I start introducing the rigid structure of wooden frames and boxes into the drawing, a kind of equilibrium or harmony comes into play and the two materials start to dictate the overall form the potential sculpture might take.
In a couple of the sketches you can see where I’ve experimented with adding items that I’d previously used in other sculptures – things like tubes, teeth and doll parts. This is one of the great things about sketchbooks – you can be a playful, dark or as silly as you like. And often, some of the best pieces come from what you originally thought of as just a stupid idea or from the crudest thumbnail sketch.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone has had a fantastic festive season and that the New Year brings you all a fresh new start. 2009 was a great year for me, artistically - I exhibited work in more shows than any previous year. So, here's to 2010 and all it has to offer.
I know that I've not posted anything for a few weeks, but what with meeting up with family and friends over Christmas, partying over New Year and still trying to find a new studio to move into (I can't believe how much stuff I've got to pack for the move) - things have been a bit hectic lately. Anyway - once I do find a new location, I'll be raring to go with some new projects.

Images from The Grand Plasto-Baader-Books

To see and read about some of the work from KALEID Edition's The Grand Plasto-Baader-Books exhibition check out Katie Dominy's article in Art Threads (my work gets a mention at the bottom - YAY!) at - http://blog.artsthread.com/?p=1598
The show, at 23-25 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London, runs until 24th December so there are still a few days left to check it out before it closes.
http://blog.artsthread.com/?p=1598

RCA Secret Postcard Prize

I've already said congratulations to Cade Newman who correctly guessed which were my postcard entries in this year's RCA Secret Show (ahead of the sale opening) but I'd forgotten to mention what his prise was. So here it is, Doll Torso, from my series of small Doll Parts paintings. Maybe I'll do another competition for next year's show.

Review of 'Botanists of the Asphalt' by Julia Kollewe

The City Arts & Music Project makes its debut on the London art scene | Julia Kollewe

Last Night's Opening Shows

Here are a couple of photos from both of last night's private views ('Botanists of the Asphalt' and 'Tate the Biscuit')- taken by the extraordinary Yoshizen with one of his Heath Robinson-style cameras. To see more of Yoshizen's photos and words of wisdom check out his blog - yoshizen.wordpress.com.

Both shows seemed to go very well and the turn out was fantastic. It was great to see so many familiar faces again. Because I was nipping between the two exhibitions I didn't manage to properly see all the work on show at the Tate the Biscuit exhibition (and there is a lot of it - one of my favourites has to be the print of Big Foot, carrying two Tesco shopping bags) down in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall so I'll be popping along again on Saturday morning. It's a great show, in an amazingly atmospheric venue, with loads of fantastic (and reasonably priced) art - so I'd strongly advise going along before it closes on Sunday.

Two Shows Opening Thursday

This evening's been a bit hectic, setting things up for both of tomorrow's opening nights but at least everything now seems to be in place. I've hung the two paintings (see photos) for the Tate The Biscuit show down in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall and I've delivered my City sculpture to The City Arts & Music Project, ready for Botanists of the Asphalt.
It's a shame (or maybe fortunate) that I don't drink vodka as I've just found out that Absolute Vodka are sponsoring the Botanists exhibition.
So if anyone would like to come to either or both events you will be most welcome. However, if you are planning to come to the Botanists of the Asphalt, just remember to RSVP to stephanie@thecamplondon.com first.
Hope to see you there.

Botanists of the Asphalt - This Thursday

Here are a few detail shots of my sculpture, The City, that I will be showing in this Thursday's 'Botanists of the Asphalt' show. If you would like to come to the show please RSVP to the curator, Stephanie Pochet, at stephanie@thecamplondon.com or by ringing 07966 244138.

Botanists of the Asphalt (Part 1)

Private View - Thursday 3rd December (6.30 – 9.30pm)

Exhibition Runs - 4th December to 5th January

The City Arts & Music Project, 70-74 City Road, London EC1Y 2BJ - 0207 253 2443

info@thecamplondon.com

Book Art Show This Tuesday

Book Tower II (Nostalgia For a Childhood That Wasn't Mine), originally uploaded by Wayne Chisnall.

It was a close call but I've just managed finish my latest sculpture, Book Tower II (Nostalgia For a Childhood That Wasn't Mine), and deliver it to KALEID Editions gallery before the hand-in deadline expired. Although there are some similarities to my original Book Tower sculpture, this one has a more open structure and I decided to make the top section entirely out of interlocking books. None of them are glued together. As with a lot of my work, this one relates to my interest in nostalgia. Only this time it is a constructed or fake nostalgia - a nostalgia for a childhood that wasn't mine. The books that I chose to use mostly originate from the 50's or 60's and suggest a comfortable middle-class (and naively racist, judging from the Gollywog book) white family life - with titles like Enid Blyton's Famous Five Have a Smashing Time Doing Whatever They Do (or something like that) and some dusty old text books.

Anyway, below is the info that I lifted from the press release. Hopefully I'll catch up with a few familiar faces at the opening this Tuesday.

Unique Artists' Books
2-24 December 2009
Private View: Tuesday 1st December, 6-9pm

KALEID is proud to announce an exhibition first: a group show dedicated to unique artists’ books.
The exhibition will bring to life ‘the aftermath of an accident between a trolley car and a newspaper kiosk', recalling Maud Lavin’s description of Johannes Baader’s original exhibition Das Grosse Plasto-Dio-Dada-Drama. Drawing inspiration from Baader’s original architectural feat, fifty pieces have been selected for their originality and conceptual response to the traditional book form.

KALEID curator Deeqa Ismail challenges the viewer to consider not what a book is but what a book can be. Reaching out to an international network of artists, exhibition highlights include:

Samantha Huang’s deformation of the found book is a rejection of the literal reading. Neglected by past owners, the book is conscientiously destroyed in order to disseminate its physical potential back into the public domain. Liz Jackson’s minimalist interventions draw attention to the physicality of the paper. Her demarcation of the edges transforms the book into a sculptural form, opening it to new ways of reading whilst hiding the true content of its pages. Finlay Taylor’s buried, decomposed and subsequently exhumed books that are transformed into unique pieces by worms and mollusks whose digestive journey offers a personal account of subterranean history. With his Dictionary Story, Sam Winston seeks to transcend the visual limit of language. His wild transformation of words into abstract form creates a style that pushes the boundaries of typography and the letterpress. Pete Williams’ 12ft Tower, made from rescued scrap wood and woodcuts, has been assembled in defiance of the material’s destruction. The installation as a focal point in the gallery, offers its ledges, nooks and crannies for the imminent arrival of fifty unique books.

For more information and images contact Deeqa Ismail at the gallery: deeqa(at)kaleideditions.com - KALEID editions (artists who do books). Unit 2, 23-25 Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ. 07852134825

3 Shows in 3 Days

Next week looks like being a bit of a busy week for me as I have three shows opening in three days. And I’ve just realised that two of them open on the same night. So it looks like I’m going to be running between two different openings on Thursday the 3rd December. One is ‘Tate the Biscuit’ in Shoreditch Town Hall basement and the other is ‘Botanists of The Asphalt, Part 1’ at The City Arts and Music Project, just off Old Street tube station. Luckily they are both within a 5 minute walk of each other. Actually, all three shows are within a few minutes walk of each other and in East London’s art Mecca that is Shoreditch.
The first private view which opens at Kaleid Editions on Redchurch Street (near Brick Lane) starts at 6pm on Tuesday 1st December. For this show I will be exhibiting a small tower sculpture made out of old books and mounted on wheels (I know - a bit of a motif of mine). I’ve not yet completed the piece so I don’t currently have a photo of it but I will post one just before I deliver it to the gallery on Saturday.
Details for all three shows can be found to the left of your screen, under ‘Upcoming Shows’. So, if you would like to come along please do. The only one that you need to RSVP to is ‘Botanists of the Asphalt’ which you can do at Stephanie@thecamplondon.com or by contacting Stephanie Pochet on 07966244138.

RCA Secet Postcards Revealed

Congratulations to Cade Newman who correctly guessed which were my three postcards in this year’s RCA Secret show. A prize (probably a drawing or a small painting) will be winging its way to you shortly. The exhibition numbers were 821, 1007 and 1713.

Although, I would have awarded an extra special prize to anyone who had got number 1700 (bottom left) which was entered under my alias - Chig.

I’ve already had some fantastic feed back from people that I met in the crowd at the RCA Secret and who I gave free prints to (see my earlier post ‘Free Art’). One person was pleased to receive a print, especially since one of my postcards (which she managed to buy) was first on her list. And considering the quality of the art on show this year, I’m very flattered that one of my pieces was on anyone first choice list.
.