Double Act
An Exhibition at Project Ability Galleries 1 & 2
1st February – 28th March 2008
Zeynap Arman
Kate Burton
Angeline ferguson
Sandi Kiehlmann
Tommy Mason
Cameron Morgan
Janie Nicoll
Steven Reilly
Gary Turner
Project Ability
18 Albion Street
Glasgow
G1 1LH
www.project-ability.co.uk
Scottish Charity No:SC005226
Catalogue Essay
Double Act an artistic collaboration between Janie Nicoll and Tommy Mason.
50,000,000 ELVIS FANS CAN’T BE WRONG
My collaboration with Tommy has been a gradual process, evolving slowly through regular weekly sessions, every Wednesday, over a number of months. Early on I was told that you could set your watch to Tommy’s various activities, and indeed lunchtime has always been 12 noon and time up has been at 3pm. I too have been guilty of turning up late for almost every session, in my own way, regular as clockwork, but in a different way from Tommy. I think we have both enjoyed this one to one time, an oasis of calm tranquil creativity in the middle of otherwise hectic weeks.
Tommy is extremely prolific with an unselfconscious approach to his work, which resonates with a steadfast creativity. He uses the figure and other imagery in a similar way to Jean Debuffet, Paul Klee and other “naïve” artists, creating narratives with an ease many artists would be envious of. During our collaboration there has been a gentle push and pull of imagery and ideas… trying out materials that we might not normally use - collage, ceramics, making use of sketchbooks. There is something very primordial about a sketchbook, going back to basics, recording things that you can see around you, little things, spontaneous things, writing down things you might not normally record…and there is the luxury of it being quite personal, not really to be looked at….
We found a shared interest in music and twentieth century icons such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, images which shared a common ground in the work of Andy Warhol, who like Elvis, became a main feature. Warhol’s use of repetition, of imagery and technique, and his use of icons and everyday imagery seemed to relate strongly to the work we both make.
Initially we went to St Mungo’s Museum, to draw the exhibits, and to Kelvingrove, where we sketched Kylie’s costumes, large stuffed animals and looked at drawings by Quentin Blake. I heard about Tommy’s huge record collection and in his long-term interest in Elvis… I had encouraged him to take photos of things from his flat and these photos showed walls covered in Elvis posters. A trip out to Tommy’s home seemed like a logical progression….
Tommy lives in a flat in a High Rise block situated out on the very outskirts of the city, with views out to the Campsie Hills. The day we went there was a beautiful autumn day, with bright blues skies and plenty of sunshine. We took the bus and travelled from the city centre, through Possil and Springburn, out to Milton, at the end of the bus route. It took a while, but it was a relief to leave the mayhem and the hussle and bussle of the city centre behind. Some might find this location too far out, too isolating, but it suits Tommy just fine. In a way it almost seems like a metaphor for Tommy himself, on his outlook on life, confident in his routine and his surroundings, quietly making the best of things. He enjoys the tranquillity of his own space when he has it, in contrast with the rest of his week, which is filled with a busy social and working schedule.
Our collaboration has been a chance to explore and rethink motivations and methods, different approaches to making art. It has been a chance to try things out and take risks in a quiet way, with the final exhibition a chance to continue this on a larger scale and in the public realm.
Janie Nicoll, January 2008.
18 Albion Street
Glasgow
G1 1LH
www.project-ability.co.uk
Scottish Charity No:SC005226
Catalogue Essay
Double Act an artistic collaboration between Janie Nicoll and Tommy Mason.
50,000,000 ELVIS FANS CAN’T BE WRONG
My collaboration with Tommy has been a gradual process, evolving slowly through regular weekly sessions, every Wednesday, over a number of months. Early on I was told that you could set your watch to Tommy’s various activities, and indeed lunchtime has always been 12 noon and time up has been at 3pm. I too have been guilty of turning up late for almost every session, in my own way, regular as clockwork, but in a different way from Tommy. I think we have both enjoyed this one to one time, an oasis of calm tranquil creativity in the middle of otherwise hectic weeks.
Tommy is extremely prolific with an unselfconscious approach to his work, which resonates with a steadfast creativity. He uses the figure and other imagery in a similar way to Jean Debuffet, Paul Klee and other “naïve” artists, creating narratives with an ease many artists would be envious of. During our collaboration there has been a gentle push and pull of imagery and ideas… trying out materials that we might not normally use - collage, ceramics, making use of sketchbooks. There is something very primordial about a sketchbook, going back to basics, recording things that you can see around you, little things, spontaneous things, writing down things you might not normally record…and there is the luxury of it being quite personal, not really to be looked at….
We found a shared interest in music and twentieth century icons such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, images which shared a common ground in the work of Andy Warhol, who like Elvis, became a main feature. Warhol’s use of repetition, of imagery and technique, and his use of icons and everyday imagery seemed to relate strongly to the work we both make.
Initially we went to St Mungo’s Museum, to draw the exhibits, and to Kelvingrove, where we sketched Kylie’s costumes, large stuffed animals and looked at drawings by Quentin Blake. I heard about Tommy’s huge record collection and in his long-term interest in Elvis… I had encouraged him to take photos of things from his flat and these photos showed walls covered in Elvis posters. A trip out to Tommy’s home seemed like a logical progression….
Tommy lives in a flat in a High Rise block situated out on the very outskirts of the city, with views out to the Campsie Hills. The day we went there was a beautiful autumn day, with bright blues skies and plenty of sunshine. We took the bus and travelled from the city centre, through Possil and Springburn, out to Milton, at the end of the bus route. It took a while, but it was a relief to leave the mayhem and the hussle and bussle of the city centre behind. Some might find this location too far out, too isolating, but it suits Tommy just fine. In a way it almost seems like a metaphor for Tommy himself, on his outlook on life, confident in his routine and his surroundings, quietly making the best of things. He enjoys the tranquillity of his own space when he has it, in contrast with the rest of his week, which is filled with a busy social and working schedule.
Our collaboration has been a chance to explore and rethink motivations and methods, different approaches to making art. It has been a chance to try things out and take risks in a quiet way, with the final exhibition a chance to continue this on a larger scale and in the public realm.
Janie Nicoll, January 2008.
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