Hello...

Hello there.
I always wanted my first entry into this blog to be positive. It is so easy to complain and point out all that is wrong, and no doubt down the track I am sure I will. However I wanted to start off half glass full, so I have to admit it has taken longer than I had hoped.

However yesterday I had the good fortune to attend a talk by a young artist (I use the term young because he is a few years older than me, and hence that keeps me young). 

The artist who dabbles in a range of mediums but best known for his drawings was a pleasant surprise. Through my work, I have had the opportunity to meet and hear people in the arts field. Ocassionaly they can be pretentious and have a rather inflated sense of ego and self importance.
This gentleman was quietly spoken, self deprecating, funny, humble and almost embarrassed by the success of his work. His work has a great sense of humour and irony about it and he was thoroughly entertaining. He was completely self aware and honest about his work. He didn't use art wank speak, he confessed his work is not necessarily deep and full of meaning, but it certainly didn't mean that he was shallow. He is clearly a man who thinks about many things, everyday things, curious, questioning and observant. I must say I like his work more having listened to him. It makes more sense. It can be dark but mostly it's funny. I was standing outside the gallery space where something like 500 of his posters are displayed, and people of all ages were laughing. Of course it really isn't for everyone, I suspect the serious and those who enjoy a more classical view of art may wonder what it's all about. I think it's great' not of all of it. Not fond of his sculpture work but I'm sure he's okay with that. The funny part is that i actually bought a card  about 5 years ago with a photograph he took of his public art called, Filofax. A discarded diary with a note written on it in white out asking it not be returned to its owner. I loved the card and actually bought it to keep and frame, this week I discovered it was the same man that was exhibiting nearby. How funny when life throws up such coincidences.
So go check out the work of David Shrigley, his drawings, video clips and even books along with everything else just may make you smile. Until next time.