“Play is older than culture, for culture, however inadequately defined, always presupposes human society”
(Huizinga, 1938, p1)
Homo Ludens, man as player, as opposite to Homo Sapien (man as thinker) and Homo Faber (man as maker) suggests an evolution of community and aspects in life such as language, law, knowing, philosophy, art and war amongst other things through characteristics of play.
The closest I have come to painting a body of work under a single title, theme or topic has been throughout my Architectural Masters degree which has become a large part of my body of work to date. Some of the themes I explored used as the basis for my thesis project "Park Fiction" feel unfinished. The concept of play as a culture intrigued me. It's this attitude that I feel is quite a strong aspect about my artistic process. Whilst the process should be a challenging and push boundaries, anything you are passionate about should still serve to bring enjoyment and fulfilment.
Some of my past paintings and mini-series of works have been based around places I have visited and explored themes such as abandonment and isolation that is felt as a result of poverty and natural disasters. However, at the point in my life where I am now, I want to explore a different tact to my art work. Rather than explore the negative view of a place, I want my work to focus on the positive. This is not to say everything in the world is rosy and peachy; far from it in fact. But in a world of instant gratification and social media, many opinions (rightly or wrongly) are hidden behind keyboard warriors - here exists such vitriol, there is little debate only who is right and who is wrong (usually whoever shouts the loudest). I feel there is little to add here, or risk of repeating what many others have already said.
Instead, as the name "Urban Playgrounds" suggest, I want to paint from a place that brings some levity and colour to the everyday. I want to find the sense of play and joy in our environments no matter how derelict or prestige. The intention isn't to be naive or frivolous, just purely to take a different view. These paintings will still carry messages on topics I care about. Indeed, play extends beyond spheres of human life. Play is a thing itself, a voluntary experience; a child plays in complete earnest at an instinctual level. For adults, it could be suggested the concept of play is characterised by a nostalgia for the recent past. Ultimately this body of work will focus on the impact of play and nostalgia on our cultural lives, whilst exploring places that are significant to my life
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