If you haven't had chance to yet, get down to Free Range this week to see what's happening. Joe Waller, a Camberwell graphic design student is one of the artists you can see exhibiting there.
Tell us more about you and your artwork.
I grew up in the West End of London so my environment has always stimulated my work. Much of my current artistic inspiration comes from my past writing graffiti and walking the streets. My field is Graphic Design and I think that Graphic Design can learn from Graffiti and vice versa. This is something I want to add to and further. The London Transport poster is part of a project called Irritation. My aim with this project is to realise ‘irritation‘ aesthetically and conceptually in terms of contemporary social, political and cultural contexts. The work is a document of my responses (and those of others) to the world around me. I see my work as a contribution to the current critical debate about the place of politics in Graphic Design. Some of my work from this project can be accessed online at my website.
What do you think about the art scene in London at the moment?
Art that stimulates me in London is actually few and far between. Its not that there aren't any exciting artists or designers, but that the wrong people seem to be in the spotlight and the scene doesn't seem to be as vibrant as the Spanish, French or other European countries. There is no sense of equality in the scene and young artists seem to be being taken for granted and given no real opportunities. When they are, it's usually under corporate restraint. Art has turned into a business rather than being a culturally stimulating area. Every year sees more designers graduate than there were artists in the whole of the Renaissance period. Perhaps we need to convert the Tate into a hive for young artists to curate their own shows and hold events? It's not all bad though; here are some places I strongly recommend visiting: 6 Haunch of Venison Yard off Brook Street, 1 - 3 - 5 Flitcroft Street near Centre Point and the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park, these are the constantly running well balanced three galleries which are always worth a look.
Joe's work is part of the Camberwell graphics 07 exhibition,Click here to find out who else is exhibiting.
Free Range is at the Old Truman Brewery from May 31st until 23rd July. Opening Nights: Thursdays 6pm-10pm & Show Days: Fridays to Mondays 10am-7pm. Nearest tube: Aldgate East / Liverpool Street.
