…to everyone who made Now What 2012 possible. To our tutors, Andy Haslam, Roderik Mills and Rose Gridneff, for all your hammering/drilling/hosting/general helping and support. To the staff at Netil House for putting up with us. To Matt Dreyer, man of the match, and those of you who threw yourselves into organising the show. To Morag Myerscough, Evelin Kasikov, Valerio Di Lucente, Hugo Timm, Cat Rossi and Noel Douglas for participating so fantastically in the talks on Saturday. To the Brighton Lemon Bus company. To everyone who spread the word, who showed up, who supported us, drained our sponsors’ drink at the Private View, featured our work, got involved in the talks, etc., we hope you enjoyed it! And most of all thank-you to YOU LOT, GRADUATES OF UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION 2012. LOOK WHAT WE DID! :D
Mihai sees himself as part of a new generation of DIY enthusiasts empowered by new technologies and access to education and tools. To him, everything has always seemed possible: down with labels and practice restrictions! He says, “Who says I can’t be an illustrator film maker animator musician photographer motion graphics artist or anything else that I need or want to be?”
Mihai explains MAWDOT: “More than 6 years ago, this type of thinking made me choose a pseudonym, a contradiction which suggests my work is done by a collective rather than one person. It is how Many Artists Who Do One Thing was born. Since then I’ve worked for a variety of clients, spanning every area of visual communication I could imagine and, recently, the sphere of sounds too.”
“I was there, you know” - Short film exploring the human condition through a series of fragmented moments from a young woman’s life.
“Eye Octane Animated Ident” - Video ident for startup company Eye Octane, an “extreme sport video production and marketing company” based in Brighton.
“Tru Thoughts T-Shirts” - Limited Edition Tshirt illustrations commissioned by legendary UK music label Tru Thoughts.
“Riva Chair MK 3” - One of a photo series done for independent furniture maker Patrick Collingwood.
“Youth Advocacy Project” - One of a series of illustrations commissioned by the Brighton & Hove Council
Matthew Dreyer, what would we have done without him? We definitely would not have such a well put-together exhibition if he hadn’t thrown himself so whole-heartedly into organising pretty much everything. He’s going to tell me off for writing this but I don’t care. If you want something done, he’s your man. Here’s some of his work…
‘Nature’
A majority of Matt’s work revolves around digital processes; but everything he does stems from the physical world. He also thinks the idea of frames is interesting, especially when considering moving image work. We’re so used to seeing a narrative in a linear format in a single frame, scene by scene. In the following video, ‘If morality is broke, we can fix it’, he tried to show how there is an opportunity to explore narrative when moving image is structured in a non linear format, treating each scene as a frame on his virtual wall.
‘Research and Development’
Although they are something that remains on Matt’s bookshelf, for his last year of university work he produced three Research & Development publications. He says he realises the work he’s produced this year could be seen as quite introverted, but the publications aim to give the projects more context than just final pieces. They managed to make their way onto Matt’s exhibition shelf at Now What.
Matt exhibited “some things that move” at Now What, and also pointed out that if you had a keen eye you might have seen Jessica Alba. Did you?
If you are based a little further away from the Hackney area get yourself to one of the places the bus will be stopping for a lift to the private view! There will be drinks and music on the bus.
Faux puts her practice into such beautiful words that I’m going to let her tell you what she does…
“I am an artist who works mainly with animation, film and web based art.”
‘Showreel’
‘Neo-Paganism’
“I enjoy seeking a pretty in the ugly, and creating landscapes of make believe. My work is often tongue-in-cheek, with a vague narrative in which the viewer can distinguish, but usually comments on an observation of the everyday.
With a fascination for the hyperreal, teleshopping, retro futurism, virtual reality, cheap luxury, and poundshop bling, I am eager to enter the realm of visual communication with a precession of weird and wonderful work.”
To dig a bit deeper into Faux’s world click here. (This website is definitely worth a look!)
Sarah’s work takes two directions, one driven by aesthetic and the tactile nature of objects, under the name Sarah Julia Clark, and the other, STUDIO HER, where the pornification of mainstream media is the driving force for her work.
At Now What Sarah will exhibit a body of work focused on modern female pop stars and the pornification of mainstream media. In her eyes some is not suitable for children, but then again it’s often at their eye level on the news stands anyway.
‘Idols’ Sneaky peek of some screen prints Sarah will be displaying at Now What.
‘All That I Am’ A short film looking at the parallels between the life of a prostitute and a bride, examining the symbolism behind the marriage ceremony and where female power lies amongst traditional ritual.
‘Barbie/ Porn’ (speaks for itself!)
‘Ladies First’ Explores the ideas of gentlemanly behaviours and the ridiculous gender etiquette which people still play up to even today.
Now What? Sarah says, “Amongst lots of screen printing, my research has begun for a feature length film about pornography and a few subversive surprises along the way. Hopefully working on a creative project with Nicki Minaj too, when she eventually replies to my e-mail.”
Isn’t she great? Visit Sarah’s website and STUDIO HER, and then come and see some more female-empowering work at Now What. Not long to wait!
Hannah struggles to call herself a graphic designer; she approaches her discipline with a fluid open approach. She enjoys making things, takes great pleasure in detail and describes herself as a wizard with a scalpel.
The paper sculpture below responds to Sir Frederick Treves quote (The Elephant Man and other Reminiscences Star Publications 1923) “They were of the commonest and most familiar kind. But they were evidently regarded by him as rare and precious specimens.”
Hannah doesn’t give much away about her work in the show, but says that her pieces are unified by intricate detail.
Now what? Hannah says, “Who knows? I’ll probably keep making things, and see what happens…”
In the meantime, come and see her beautiful work in TWO DAYS TIME!
Tom is interested in everyday life and the problems that come with it. Stemming from an interest in American suburbia, he recently explored the underlying discontent that exists there. Anxiety, depression and mid-life crisis can often be the result of the banality of suburban life, something Tom has portrayed in various paintings that loosely relate to the short stories of John Cheever and Raymond Carver. Featuring characters who seem to be on the edge, Tom describes them as ‘troubled, humorous and perhaps slightly sinister’. Tom is currently working on new paintings that explore similar themes, but without a human presence.
Visit tom’s website to see more, and come to Now What to meet the strikingly handsome devil in the flesh.
