'Artefacts' Exhibition opens 10th September

I'll have some new paintings in this group exhibition at James Freeman Gallery

354 Upper St, Islington, London, England N1 0PD:

Opening Thursday 10th September 18.30 - 20.30

Neon Knights installation pictures

Some images of my recent show Neon Knights with painter Jamie Taylor at Bond House Projects, London.

'Untitled (Prisms)' applique fabric banner on table, dimensions variable 2014/15

'Kultural' Applique fabric, screenprint, acrylic paint and studs on denim, 200 x 130 cms, 2014

Detail of 'Kultural'

'Motorskills' applique fabric, bleach and Motorhead patches on denim and stretcher bars, 190 x 100 cms, 2014/15

'Kulturgeist' custom embroidered patches and acrylic paint on fabric, denim jacket, dimensions variable, 2014

'X Marks the Spot' applique fabric, screenprint, acrylic paint, marker, oil paint, emulsion on dust sheet with books, 180 x 100 cms, 2014/15

Detail of 'X Marks the Spot'

All images copyright Tom Helyar-Cardwell / Jon Cardwell 2015

Kulturgeist

Some images of the first stages of construction of my battle jacket. The patches are all custom designed and woven. Some feature images based on some of my previous artworks, and others are new designs. 

Through the process of making my own battle jacket I am re-connecting in a new way with physical materials and realising the importance of this to me as an artist. In a sense this involves working backwards from the painting – taking the object out of the painting by actually making it.

By removing (through actually making) the object, perhaps this releases the painting process from the function of description and allows it to do other things (e.g. symbolise more directly, communicate through materials and construction, play with abstract form etc.)….

Faith Once More

 Some installation photos from my current exhibition Faith Once More at the Herbert Read Gallery in Canterbury. The show runs until 1st March and features interventions from James Hopkins and UCA students.

Amsterdam Insignia

Memento Mori above an arch in Amsterdam City Centre

Arms of the City

Stern Carving from the C17th English Warship Royal Charles captured by the Dutch at Chatham

Devotional painting from the Rijksmuseum

Upcoming Exhibition

Decorated Armour

Most of these images are of Italianate parade armour from the Wallace Collection. The penultimate image is from a poster advertising the area round Hastings - I assume the picture is of a piece of public sculpture - it seems to feature a decorated metal tunic with images of the area etc.
The last image is from the Museum of African Art in Washington DC - it's a soldier's tunic from the Boer War which the soldier decorated themselves with scenes (presumably from observation).

I've been collecting these in preparation for some new armour paintings.