After Vietnam

Wow, what an amazing experience! Giving away the tiles proved to be very wonderful experience, I did tend to move away from the idea of just giving them to people who had nothing, as the project was about 'Art for Everyone' and so I gave them to people I met who just seemed lovely and deserved of a tile. I was so happy I had something to give, that I had made, in return for the generousity and warmth of some such wonderful people. So some went to shopkeepers, hoteliers and travellers etc. as well as the people from the street. I had thought about documenting the giving out of the tiles, photographically or in the form of a diary. But the giving of the tiles was the Art and I did not want the document to become the Art. I could share stories of emotional experiences with street children and fellow humans, but again that would then become the Art. Some people seem to think Art has to be documented for it to be Art, but how ridiculous. I knew what I was doing was Art and so enjoyed the idea of the dissapearance of the end product. The Project was essentially about the role of the artist getting in to peoples lives and houses and delivering them a message of humanity. Please share your comments below. x

Ready for off!

Off to Vietnam tommorow, will keep you updated!

47 Little Clay Tiles

I'm off to Vietnam for 2 weeks. It started out how I was thinking how to get my Art into a country across the world but the more I've thought about it the more beautiful I think it is, and the harder I've worked on it. I do think Art is one of the most beautiful gift I can give as an artist. I appreciate that the people are poor, why should Art only be enjoyed by people who aren't poor? I want to give them a possession that they can keep, everyone deserves possessions, they re quite lovely little objects with beautiful words on them. Ok there is a picture of my ugly mug on it, but it's a happy little face. I want to give them a little hope. All art is pretentious and self righteous because you have to be to believe you have something important to say. And I believe Love, friendship, comedy and happiness are the most important things in the world, and so many people forget that. I hope you can understand, it's really not all about making myself feel good about myself it's about sharing something universally beautiful. Please comment I would really appreciate som feedback as I have had quite a few mixed responses to the project. Thanks x

Acid Baby

A painting of myself as a baby being covered in concentrated Sulphuric acid, see how it turns out in the morning!

From Pete

Currently, garden birds are setting out territory aggressively. They will attack anything that looks like a competitor- the Merc wingmirror got attacked & crapped upon in a big way yesterday! Attach one of your paintings beside/next to a mirror, or put a mirror in a panel inside your painting and hang it out in a garden near a bird table- watch it attacked & crapped on!

From Jenny

Here is your painting at 13.59 on Sunday - not yet drowned!

My Project

Just to explain what the project is about. My project is about the journey of life and fate, The paintings are of myself at different stages of my life, from child to old man. Just like how we put ourselves into the world and into different situations we are unsure of how we will end up and what will happen to us. Also I see painting as an incidental process, you never really know what is going to happen when you go in to the studio. The painting and the marks you create are evidence of that time you spent in the studio, it tells the story of what happened. I want to extend the process of creating a painting and hope that my paintings will bare the physical evidence of their lives. Anyway please leave any comments and e-mail me any photos at bertie@rock.com so I can put them up on the site. This project has many metaphors associated, and depending on the good will of others is one of them. Also if you can think of any other exciting processes I can inflict on my paintings please let me know. Many Thanks and best wishes.

Drowning!

Today I decided to see how the tide would affect my paintings. Watch me drown. Please send any photos anyone took to bertie@rock.com so I can put them up, I would be so happy as my camera was rubbish plus its just great to see people getting involved! Thanks people, love you all

I may get hit by a bus in a minute!

1. Paint a painting of yourself in 20 years time
2. Leave it in the middle of the road during rush hour

3. Explain what it has to do with Art

Technical issues

Hey People sorry having technical issues at the moment, please e-mail any images or comments you have to bertie@rock.com and I will upload them for you. Many thanks I cannot tell you how much I would appreciate your images.