ARTIST INFORMATION
Jeremy Willet
Born in London, in 1977, Jeremy Willett studied painting for his BA Fine Art (Reading University 2001) before later going on to complete an MA in Sculpture (Royal College of Art, 2006). As a result his practice combines aspects from both of these disciplines. He has exhibited in both the UK and Canada.
Artist Statement
I make small-scale sculptures. These are imitations of sorts; representing existing objects, whilst appropriating unrelated visual styles. The result is a succinct object that combines elements of painting and sculpture.
The starting point for each work is building a representation of an object, constructed from new materials. These objects often hold a connection to landscape: crates, a bundle of sticks or flowers. Throughout the process certain elements are added or omitted, colour is introduced, and what at starts as a simple act of mimicry takes new form and the work begins to slip between figuration and abstraction. A crate sculpture, for example, loses all functionality, only to be fixed with acidic and pastel coloured strips quoting from a plethora of minimal abstract stripe paintings. Imitation here is twofold, pursuing the identities of both the object and the borrowed aesthetic.
My work has a close relationship with painting. The materials are often within a painter’s repertoire: paint, pigment, canvas, cotton rag, wood and plaster (fresco). The painting and sculptural elements are not treated separately. Pigment and paint are included as part of the construction; they are mixed with the material in the process, becoming part of the substance that provides the structural strength. Never is paint considered as an afterthought, a decorative substance that conceals the underneath. I build with colour.
The works evolve as lo –fi renditions of an object glanced in the peripheries. They require a double take to understand their hybrid nature. They are shape shifters; they are Painting – Object – Sculpture simultaneously, existing between the assumed, the abstract and the real.
Education:
MA Sculpture, Royal College of Art, 2004 – 2006
BA (hons) Fine Art, (First Class), Reading University, 1997 – 2001
Exhibitions:
*catalogue
2007
A Lot Ment, in association with Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth Creekside Open X 2 (selected by Emma Biggs and Matthew Collings ) APT, London
2006
The Work of Others, Former Whitechapel Library *
Bloomberg New Contemporaries, Coach Shed, Liverpool / Rochelle School, London*
The Wish List, M + R Gallery, London
Hostel, (curated by Alex Lockett) Keith Talent Gallery, London
2005
Short and Sharp, Royal College of Art, London
Dyscotopiary, Royal College of Art, London
2004
Noir ce Soir, Wag Das, London
2002
As Can Be, Columbia St Studios, Vancouver
House Objective, 536 Gallery, Vancouver
Commissions:
Guardian "MEGA" Media Awards Trophy Design (Finalist) (in collaboration with Glen Tomlin) 2008
Sun Microsystems Solaris 10 ' Ten Around Town' 2005
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