So he pulled the right levers and you did
the asking | Brian Griffiths
9|10|17 - 14|12|17
So he pulled the right levers and you did the asking
Sculptor Brian Griffiths invited a number of friends, family and colleagues (mostly real) to make puppets. Each person asked to make a puppet of themselves – a self portrait, a kind of imposter or impersonator, like all representations.
The puppet in its purest form and motion resembles something of the artifact, tool, machine or musical instrument. They are contradictory things to be looked at and spoken through, that are animated and brought to life via imagination and will.
All the puppets are made by puppet novices, from individuals with radically different making experiences and resources. Purity and traditions may come a cropper and things may just stay dead.
An exhibition as part fantasy, part social experiment, with the theatrical gusto of LET’S-PUT-ON-A-SHOW! Griffiths considers ideas and forms of self-presentation, where intimate content gets swept along with the impossibly dramatic.
A show that hopes for hilarious disappointments, irresistible charm and some visitors.
The puppets and makers:
Issy Brain created by Issy Brain
Philip Evans created by Philip Evans
Luke Gottelier created by Luke Gottelier
Brian Griffiths created by Brian Griffiths
Ron Griffiths created by Brian Griffiths
Sarah Jones created by Sarah Jones
Frank Kent created by Frank Kent
Sally O’Reilly created by Sally O’Reilly
Pim created by Brian Griffiths
Sally Shaw created by Sally Shaw
David Thorpe created by David Thorpe
Francis Upritchard created by Francis Upritchard
About the Artist
Brian Griffiths studied at Goldsmiths College in the late 90’s.
He uses found and made objects to consider our relationships with the material and social world.
Griffiths’ work has been exhibited extensively in the UK and internationally. He has had solo shows at Camden Arts Centre, London; BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead; Tramway, Glasgow; Grimm Gallery, Amsterdam; Arnolfini, Bristol; Vilma Gold, London; Galeria Luisa Strina, São Paulo; Dispari & Dispari Project, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
He has shown work at numerous institutions including The Groninger Museum, Netherlands; Tate Britain, London; The Mattress Factory Museum, Pittsburgh; CAPC Museum, Bordeaux; Mostra D’Arte Contemporanea, Milan; Royal Academy of Arts, London; Belém Museum of Modern Art, Brazil.
Brian Griffiths is presently Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at the Royal Academy Schools, London.
Website: http://www.galerialuisastrina.com.br/en/artists/briangriffiths/
Instagram: @briancyrilgriffiths