I’ve moved!
NEW STUDIO
Earlier last month I finally finished moving out of my old studio in Leegate Shopping centre, which doubled as the Museum of Neoliberalism, and into my new studio in the middle of a roundabout in Sydenham. I’ve been at Leegate for nine years, and as you can see from the photos here, I accumulated a fair amount of shite in that time.
The move took four non-stop, gruelling weeks, and a massive thanks to the folk who donated their time and sweat to helping me move, I thank you from the bottom of my unbroken back.
Thanks also to my Leegate neighbour, @maxwelljakeanderson who took these photos as part of a record of the last Leegate tenants.
This place was my first art studio, before this I was working out of my bedroom and the kitchen table. I was only able to afford the (relatively cheap) rent at Leegate because of the prints and postcards and t-shirts I sold at Banksy’s Dismaland in 2015 as part of my Pocket Money Loans installation. When I moved in I didn’t know what to do with that much space, I didn’t know how to organise it, I also didn’t know I had ADHD.
So as much as it’s a shame to leave I’m also quite glad at the opportunity to reset and plan a working space, in tune with how my brain actually works, from the ground up.
For the last few weeks I’ve been in the process of setting my studio back up in Sydenham, and orders are being shipped again. It’s a mess here but I’m slowly getting things into a workable order.
I was sad to leave Leegate, I’ve become friends with many people I met there, from my neighbours to regular visitors. And many locals have said so many nice things about the museum and what if meant to the community. I couldn’t be happier with what myself and (museum co-curator) Gavin Grindon were able to build in that space, but we’ve always seen this as a prototype for a larger museum, and next year we’ll start the process of trying to establish that museum somewhere new.
Thanks to everyone who ever visited, supported or spread the word about the museum. We will be back!
Above: old studio / Below: new studio
(all the mess hidden behind that door)
I will definitely have some new work to show you next month, and not just photos of my studio!
BARCLAYS DIVESTS FROM ELBIT SYSTEMS
Massive congrats to Palestine Action for forcing Barclays to divest from Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest arms company, and to all the activists who’ve been holding Barclays to account over their support for the Israeli arms industry.
Here’s a poster I made about Barclays during their sponsorship of Wimbledon earlier this year, as part of a Brandalism subvertising campaign which took over 300 billboards and tube ad spaces with anti-Barclays posters by several different artists.
The Elbit news is a massive win and it shows, yet again, that direct action works, but Barclays still invests in and provides financing to several UK and US companies that continue to arm and enable the Israeli genocide across Palestine.
In the few years they’ve been active, Palestine Action have already closed down two UK Elbit weapons factories and pressured companies that enable Elbit to operate to stop working with them. They’re an incredibly inspiring movement and I’d like to extend my thanks and solidarity to all the actionists who have put their bodies on the line to make these victories possible.
Direct action gets the goods! 🔻
SHOPPING
In lieu of having any new work to show you this month I will throw in a plug for my shop, which is stocked full of awful objects. My shop and my Patreon is literally how I’m able to pay my rent, keep the lights on, and the (Hell Bus) wheels spinning. So massive thanks if you’re able to support me in any way. Here’s the link!
PATREON
Thanks to everyone who has backed my work on Patreon so far, it’s been a massive help over the last few months.
If you’re able to support my work via Patreon I’ll send you a copy of this zine documenting all the work I made last year. This is the only way you can get a copy, it’s not for sale anywhere else.
I’ll be making a new zine for 2024 too.
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