Ged Quinn

The entrance alone to Wilkinson Gallery leads you to believe you're in for a visual sensory paradise and the present exhibit doesn't let you down. In the vast raw gallery Ged Quinn's rich paintings of iconic landscapes from past century's and more contemporary references to popular culture and scenes of destruction, marry together well. In his paintings (some 6' x 9') the head on collision of lush pastures and political leaders is met with an unbelievable attention to detail in reference and depiction. These painting have been painstakingly constructed, layering beauty with death in both past and present and the result is no less than perfect execution. Ged Quinn's paintings really need to be seen first hand to truly appreciate his skill, intellect and humor and the message they hold about our present course. Showing until 6th January 2008.

Rubbish Presents

On A Personal Note

As a child I experienced Remembrance Day as the day everything stood still for 2 minutes. There was a ceremony with the queen and we watched it on TV before we ate our Sunday dinner. I valued and respected the day for what it signified, but felt no real connection. That all changed 5 years ago when my father died of cancer. He had served in the R.A.P.C. and had been posted all over the world and our family with him. He served in the Falklands during the crisis, which he never spoke of, despite our badgering. I was in America the year after his passing, which was when his cross was placed at Westminster Abbey. My family had attended the ceremony and I longed to be there with them. Every time I would visit England over the next 5 years I would visit my father's grave and knew what to expect from the experience. This morning as I made my journey across the city to Westminster, I began to feel nauseous. As the garden of the Abbey came into view the sea of crosses was overwhelming. I thought I was going to throw up. Scanning the chart and then trying to decipher the map, tears were already overflowing from within. All these people were gone, no longer able to share in the moment, only in memory. I made my way to the R.A.P.C. section and there at the front was a small cross with my father's name. Without a thought for my surroundings my heart was pierced and the pain came flooding from my eyes. I cried without fear and my tears blurred my vision, yet I never lost sight of his name. After a minute I calmed myself, wiping away salty water and relaxing my breath, I knelt down in place. I sat for a moment and heard the tears of another. Standing up I walked around the grounds reading names and stopping when the number of crosses was too great to give room. I came for my father, stayed for others I would never meet and left feeling a part of something bigger.

Be Remarkable

It's hard to write an introduction to a video, when it's from the most innovative thinkers around. All I will say is remember to click the icon in the lower right hand corner to view in full screen mode.

Whale Tails & Muffin tops

Like any major city and tourist attraction, London has it's fair share of photographers. From the school group at the museum to the agency photographer waiting for the models hair to set, they are everywhere. Street photography is benefiting from a boom in recent years and advances in technology point to it not fading any time soon. 2 street photographers I have recently discovered that deserve mentioning are both based in this fair city and have very distinctive styles from each other.

Nick Turpin's mind is racing as he releases the shutter, you can see it in every shot...what does this mean?..what am I trying to project about myself?..how can I blend in? He is looking for answers in the unsaid actions and appearances of strangers. His images where he is more concealed as a photographer are strong and have more success in this quest. Where as the images in which he uses a light to "interogate" the subject, although beautifully captured, miss the target and instead of honesty and truth we receive show off posers. This image taken at Oxford Circus is perfect, hitting the bulls eye in more ways than one.
Nick Turpin

Matt Stuart's style is very different, but equally entertaining and alluring. Here we don't care about the hidden message, instead the photographer's eye is finely tuned to the quirky images we obliviously construct with our surroundings. Patience and the ability to read the potential of an environment are rewarded with images of hilarity in cosmic symmetry. Slick and bright...a marketing genius should be so lucky.
Matt Stuart