JAMES UNSWORTH graduated from MA Printmaking at the Royal College of Art in 2006. Before this he studied printmaking in Winchester and had residencies at Cite International des Artes, in Paris and at the Brno Technological University, Czech Republic.In 2005  he was given the   Joseph Webb A.R.E Commemora-tive Fund Award Presented by The Royal Society of Painter Printmakers, Awarded to an Outstanding Etcher Under theAge of 35. James is  Awarded membership to The Royal Society of Painter Printma-kers and he won the Tim Mara Award at the Royal College of Art as well as the Arches John Purcell Paper Award at the RE Student Elections. James' work presents a grotesquely precise and detailed pic-ture of a dark world all of us have visited but are scared to dwell upon let alone talk about, in order to preserve our own sanity. Many of his works are centered around a sexually obsessive honesty which captivates the viewer in its brazen delivery.


EJAMES UNSWORTH
'Entertainment'
Pen and Ink2007/8
770x570mm

 


JAMES UNSWORTH
' Never Say You Cant Survive'
Pen and Ink
210x297mm
2008

 


JAMES UNSWORTH
'Us and Them'
Pen and Ink
210x297mm
2008

 

 


JAMES UNSWORTH
'I Beat You Like I Would Beat an Egg'
Part of the Seven Sins serie
2007 Pen and Ink
297x420mm


JAMES UNSWORTH
'Destruction of the Colossus’
Screenprint
Edition of 5
420x297mm
2007


JAMES UNSWORTH
'Mother Discovered Begging For Pills'
Pen Drawing
297x210mm



JAMES UNSWORTH
‘You Love The Dog More Than Me’
2007
Pen and Ink, 210x297mm










  

James Unsworth
Jonny Briggs
Thursday 22nd February 2007 18.00 - 21.00 (Private View)
23 February - 18 March 2007 12.00 -18.00
Open:Thursday-Sunday
www.vegasgallery.co.uk

 

PRESS RELEASE
Release Date: 2 february 2007

James Unsworth and Jonny Briggs at the Vegas Gallery

James Unsworth graduated from MA Printmaking at the Royal College of Art in 2006. Before this he studied printmaking AT Winchester School Of Art, he has had residencies at Cite International des Artes, in Paris and at the Brno Technological University, Czech Republic. In 2005 he won the Joseph Webb A.R.E Commemorative Fund Award, Awarded to an Outstanding Etcher Under the Age of 35 at The National Print Show. Unsworth was also awarded membership to The Royal Society of Painter Printmakers in this year. In 2006 he won the Tim Mara Award at the Royal College of Art as well as the Arches John Purcell Paper Award at the RE Student Elections.

James' work presents a grotesque and precisely detailed picture of a dark world all of us have visited but are scared to dwell upon let alone talk about, in order to preserve our own sanity. Many of his works are centred on a sexually obsessive honesty that captivates the viewer in its brazen delivery.

Presenting transgessive views to the laymen by using techniques linked to childhood escapism is a
motivation in James’ work. He uses humor as a method of bypassing peoples morals and gaining an instant reaction on the subject presented. His style is encouraged by his intention to reach an audience further than the upper echelon of the art world. The humoristic, narrative Illustrations show a world of deviance, greed and what is perceived as sinful. In this world elderly transsexuals, page three models, faded glamour and popular culture all share the same space.

James combines historical images of folk culture and contemporary references such as the tabloid press and his own experiences. His work is heavily influenced by Hogarth, Gillray, Cruikshank and Comic book artists that he sees as a continuation of the popular print such as Robert Crumb and Charles Burns. James has a great respect for the history of print especially the legacy of accessibility and democracy it gave to images and information. He has been transcribing a series of Hogarth paintings ‘The Election’. These drawings update Hogarth’s social commentary to address current concerns. Within these images James also question current ideas of taste,beauty, attractiveness, highness and lowness. The graphic media used helps convey an instantly received message in a shocking and unadulterated manner.

Vegas gallery is showing Unsworths’ original drawings as well as screenprints on a range of materials that have allusions to historic craft techniques or have an inherent sense of faded glamour.

Jonny Briggs will be showing his photographs at the exhibition. Jonnys' work often circulates themes of the domestic relationship between his parents. Sparked off by negative emotional experience and fuelled by obsession, this work adopts a cathartic role. Jonny is fascinated by standardization, repetition,routine, and his own obsessive behaviour.

For further information and images, please contact: Suzanne Schurgers
Tel: 07726750762 or Email: Hello@vegasgallery.co.uk