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‘Physical Trauma (Martial
Artworks)’ curated by Comme Ca Art & ‘The
Someone’
@ Debenhams windows, Tib Street Façade, Manchester,
M1
From: 18.05.02 – 08.09.02
As Manchester prepared itself for The Commonwealth Games,
Comme Ca Art and ‘The Someone’ were busy fine-tuning
the next Debenhams windows exhibition.
The idea of a sport related exhibition derived from an earlier
conversation with store manager, Nick Harvey. Having already
hosted some of the most talked about exhibitions in Manchester,
Nick wanted to show Debenhams support of The Commonwealth
Games by introducing artists to Manchester’s public and
visitors whose work reflected a sporting event or exercise.
Comme Ca Art and ‘The Someone’ took the brief and
ran with it, seeking out artists who created their own interpretations
of what constitutes a ‘sporting event’ with some
of the most spectacular, and in some cases amusing, depictions
of a sporting lifestyle.
Let the games commence….
The Line Up:
Megan Bedell, John Parkin, Gary Beswick, Amy Russell, 360
corp., Yuen Fong Ling, Jim Medway, Adele Prince, Oliver East,
Jai Moodie, David Gledhill, Mark Winkley & Robin Nature-Bold
Megan Bedell
1995 - 1998: BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of Northumbria
2000 - 2001: MA Fine Art, University of Northumbria
Megan has recreated a large scale, simplified version of an
old-fashioned children’s puzzle called a Rebus or Pictogram.
By deconstructing words and phases, the pictogram can reveal
possible sub texts, in this case, some motivating factors
behind obsessive exercise, while at the same time encouraging
participation in the game ‘Just for the fun of it’.
John Parkin
1997 - 2000: BA(Hons) Fine Art, University of Northumbria
John likes his paintings to communicate a beauty that feels
so temporary it would crumble if touched. It has become important
to capture moments in time. John’s works are derived
from researching; looking through various film footage and
collecting selected stills. He arrives at a mixture of unconscious
and methodical approaches to his painting processes, wanting
the resulting surface pattern to be so vibrant that it burns
itself onto the viewer’s retina.
The paintings are essentially portraits of extreme concentration,
whatever the actual subject, be it Nam (kill you in a heart
beat) veteran, a World War II aviator, a stunt bike rider
or, as John calls them, ‘One of those gay pilots from
Top Gun’, John believes there is a childish quality to
the pieces, which is becoming increasingly clearer through
the simplicity of less pattern and flattened colours.
The Judo paintings, which hung in Debenhams windows, are very
simple images and look more like drawings, painted with gloss
onto a fake wood surface. Although there is no visual resemblance
to his recent Dare devils series, they are still loosely related.
Both competitors are entangled in a throbbing mass of grappling
and heaving, each one aiming to throw the other onto the mat
in a pinning submission.
‘My images are about the hidden affection behind this
ruff and tumble, the passion between two macho fighters in
intimate positions.’ John Parkin
Gary Beswick
1994 - 1997: BA (Hons) Visual Arts, Leicester University
Comme Ca first came across Gary’s art based photography
at the 2001 Fresh Art Show in London. His striking images
of swimming pools and lush exotic plant life, from warmer
climates, had a definite Californian feel to them through
the vibrancy of Gary’s use of colour and composition.
He admits his inspiration for this series of works, shot in
Bermuda and Spain, comes from the works of artist David Hockney
and painter Richard Diebenkorn and even though you can see
the comparisons, Gary has created his own unique style of
photographic art.
The tranquil quality of the swimming pool photographs glimmer
with colour and light and on first glimpse, the images could
almost be mistaken for paintings.
Amy Russell
1989 - 1992: BA (Hons) Fine Art, Sheffield City Polytechnic
Amy works figuratively within a framework of everyday narratives,
touching on issues of power, powerlessness, masculinity and
femininity, using mark making to convey the tensions in these
relationships.
For the windows, Amy exhibited two recent works, one painting
and one drawing. The painting, ‘Nothing for Second Place’
relates to competitiveness. From world-class athletes to school
sports days, it’s about the bitterness that comes with
not winning – and how long it stays with you.
Amy’s drawing, ‘Fat Boy’ is a tribute to Sunday
League footballers and their beer bellies.... It’s about
testosterone, blind loyalties and camaraderie.
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