A new sculpture titled 'huge mass of luminous gas erupted from Mars and sped towards Earth'. Drawn with coloured pencil and acrylic paint, the sculpture offers a combination of patterns which stem from different types of gothic and baroque ostentation, inspired by church interiors, haute couture and the stage designs of British Progressive Rock. The title is taken from the lyrics of a Prog Rock concept album called 'War of the Worlds', based on the H.G. Wells novel.
aspreyjacques presents their second solo show of work by British artist
Graham Little.
Graham Little will show a new sculpture titled ' huge mass of luminous gas
erupted from Mars and sped towards Earth'. Little first started thinking
about this sculpture while in Los Angeles, where he spent a great deal of
time roller-skating around the city. Drawn with coloured pencil and acrylic
paint, the sculpture offers a combination of patterns which stem from
different types of gothic and baroque ostentation, inspired by church
interiors, haute couture and the stage designs of British Progressive Rock.
The title is taken from the lyrics of a Prog Rock concept album called 'War
of the Worlds', based on the H.G. Wells novel.
Also on show will be five new large drawings. While in Los Angeles, Little
found a series of images in Paris Vogue featuring stiletto clad models
precariously balanced on roller-skates and skateboards, sporting designs
ranging from Yves Saint Laurent to Chanel. Posed like medieval church
sculptures with Caravaggesque lighting, the resulting drawings are made with
a combination of pencil, gouache and gesso. The new work has a slightly more
gothic feel compared with the tone of the previous drawings, which were
exhibited in ¼Drawing Now' at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Both the sculpture and the drawings focus on various types of surface
decoration. The meticulously drawn stonework on the sculpture derives from
the pattern on a small sweet wrapper. Other source material includes
semi-precious stones, architectural details, dress fabrics and record
covers. Little has applied the same meticulous attention to surface detail
in the drawings, with painstakingly rendered tweed skirts, satin sandals and
silk blouses. As with the sculpture, there is an increased focus on 3-D
texture in addition to pattern and design.
Graham Little was born in Scotland, 1972 and graduated from Goldsmiths
College in 1996. Since then, he has exhibited internationally including 'New
Contemporaries' (1998); 'Dumbpop', Jerwood Gallery, London (1999); and the
touring British Council show, 'Tailsliding'. In 2001, Graham Little had a
solo show at the Camden Arts Centre and Works on Paper, Los Angeles (2002).
More recently, Graham Little was included in 'Drawing Now' curated by Laura
Hoptman at the MOMA, New York (2002) and 'Images of Society' at the
Kunsthalle Thun, Switzerland (2003).
private view: thursday, 2 october, 6:30 Â 8:30
art fairs: Frieze Art Fair, London, 15 Â 21 October
Artissima, Turin, 5 Â 9 November
Art Basel Miami Beach, Statements: Ian Kiaer, 4 Â 7
December
The Armory Show, New York, 11 Â 15 March
For further information and images please contact Alison Abrams on 0207 287
7675
asprey jacques
4 Clifford Street
London