Mike Ballard
A Masters graduate of Central St Martin’s and recently shown at Maddox Arts in London and T&P Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Mike Ballard’s cross-media work draws from art history and pop culture. His first selection for murmurART, of collages on paper and transparencies on light boxes, mixes his artistic influences and antipathies to create shadowy backlit adverts or stained glasses built from contemporary and art historical iconography. Ballard’s experiences with graffiti and hip-hop come out in his work, in illustrative styles and in the collage technique of sampling and post-producing found material. Selected by the University of the Arts for the 2007 FutureMap show, he will return this year to their gallery before its move to Kings Cross.
Chasing the Dragon
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Printmaking
30cm x 40cm
Digital collage print, Mounted and framed
The collage revolves around the figure of a fencer astride a row of trains. Both refer to graffiti traditions: the swordsman recalls Zorro, with his hidden identity, habit of tagging and fencing ethos of respectful competition. The serpentine trains would be painted then chased around the city to be photographed the next day. Above Renaissance angels look down, protecting or judging.
£500
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