Alex Weir
In at The Deep End
Preview 29th June 7pm
30th - 1st July 11 - 4pm
‘In at the Deep End’ is an exhibition of new works based around swimming and
feeling like you’re out of your depth. Swimming pools may symbolise a place of
happiness and holidays for most people, but not for someone who can’t swim.
I am not a ‘strong swimmer’ (that’s what someone who can’t swim calls it), so
for myself the pool is a place of embarrassment, nervousness and panic.
These insecurities I experience as soon as I catch a whiff of chlorine are not far
removed from how I feel as a young, not-so-emerging artist. At times it has been
tough to find opportunities, funds and just get people in the door of an exhibition.
These are feelings I believe any young artist will experience in their life. So in this
exhibition, swimming is a way of exploring being ‘thrown in the deep end’ of the
art world.
Not everything, however, is as serious as it appears on the surface. The colourful,
playful and humorous nature of the work creates a contrast between content and
presentation. Expect to see some soggy cliches (‘in at the deep end’, ‘out of your
depth’, ‘dive on in’ etc.) and references to everything from David Hockney’s ‘A Bigger
Splash’ and da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ to The Simpsons, Mr Bean and Ray Winstone.
Sponsored by Brooklyn Beer
smexart.com
feeling like you’re out of your depth. Swimming pools may symbolise a place of
happiness and holidays for most people, but not for someone who can’t swim.
I am not a ‘strong swimmer’ (that’s what someone who can’t swim calls it), so
for myself the pool is a place of embarrassment, nervousness and panic.
These insecurities I experience as soon as I catch a whiff of chlorine are not far
removed from how I feel as a young, not-so-emerging artist. At times it has been
tough to find opportunities, funds and just get people in the door of an exhibition.
These are feelings I believe any young artist will experience in their life. So in this
exhibition, swimming is a way of exploring being ‘thrown in the deep end’ of the
art world.
Not everything, however, is as serious as it appears on the surface. The colourful,
playful and humorous nature of the work creates a contrast between content and
presentation. Expect to see some soggy cliches (‘in at the deep end’, ‘out of your
depth’, ‘dive on in’ etc.) and references to everything from David Hockney’s ‘A Bigger
Splash’ and da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ to The Simpsons, Mr Bean and Ray Winstone.
Sponsored by Brooklyn Beer
smexart.com
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