Category: Art
There is Nowhere to Hide from the Enemy Within by Tim Phillips: Acrylic, fumed oak, MDF, rosewood, American walnut
The Sumarria Lunn Gallery in Mayfair presents visions of imagined worlds by two very different artists: Tim Phillips and Adam Dix investigate our relationship with communication and power. Both artists create new worlds: Dix builds a time and place where telecommunications are worthy of worship; Phillips turns power inside out by creating icons with no iconography.
Transmit by Adam Dix: Ink and oil on paper
The Advocates by Adam Dix: Ink and oil on canvas
Screen Saviours Part 2 by Adam Dix: Ink and oil on panel
Adam Dix imagines a world where humans are forced to obliterate all forms of technology – only to be reintroduced again. Cult-like behaviours emerge; the masses begin to worship these relics of a bygone era. Building up layers of ink and oil washes in pastel shades, his quiet scenes simultaneously evoke nostalgia while hinting at a possible future. Dix combines spiritual communication – through religious rites, practices and ceremony – with modern communication technology to offer a glimpse of a world where telecommunications hold absolute power.
“My mum was a vision mixer who worked for television companies so I ended up spending most of my school holidays sitting silently in dimly lit control rooms while she flicked through the monitors. It left me with a composite view of real life and visual manipulation.”
Heaven's Gate by Tim Phillips: Boxwood, fumed oak, padouk, rosewood, American walnut, acrylic, brass, Swarovski crystals, MDF
Cynos by Tim Phillips: Acrylic, MDF, padouk, walnut burr, ipe, sycamore burr, brown oak, Image courtesy of the Zabludowicz Collection
Tim Phillips creates large sculptures based on the materials, colours and shapes found in corporate lobbies, religious buildings and cult paraphernalia. By stripping them of unique identifications such as branding and text he demonstrates parallels in the visual language used by corporate and religious authorities. From the precious wood inlays of religious architectural screens to the gleaming polished surfaces of a corporate reception, Phillips is interested in façade: a means of subtly conveying power and authority to ‘the outsider’.
“If those looking to create an aura of reverence manage to package it convincingly, I think anything can evoke power or worship. There seems to be a fine balancing act of theatre and performance that is age old. If I had enough money I could make people believe in almost anything!”
Find out more on the Sumarria Lunn Gallery website.
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11am – 6pm, Saturday: 12 – 5pm