In David Blandy’s latest film a pair of figures walk and converse through a series of animated landscapes. The 16-bit representations are of Blandy and his father, John, discussing their respective art practises, wandering past snow covered temples, rainforest and ruined cities, images at once recognisable as the virtual territory of David’s practise.
Blandy’s on going examination of his cultural and personal influences manifests here as an interaction with John Blandy, to co-author a series of works. John Blandy is a landscape artist, and a graduate of St Martins School of Art and the Royal College of Art, with a commitment to drawing from life. This has led to projects such as ‘Following a Lime Tree’, which involved depicting a single Lime tree over 2000 times, documenting its daily development.
For this exhibition David has commissioned his father to produce a series of pastel landscapes, based on appropriated images. This employment of virtual scenes produced by a third, un-credited maker, is distinctly at odds with John’s practice and ethos, however John Blandy has approached this source material meticulously, adapting his normal working methods to produce a series of densely worked images.
The corresponding film emerges from this proposition, and frames their respective critical positions, as they discuss particular working methods, their differing attitudes towards collaboration and appropriation and especially the impact that art production has had on their relationship.
Still from David Blandy, Background, 2013
Single channel video
9m 04
Still from David Blandy, Background, 2013
Single channel video
9m 04
David Blandy, Installation View, 2013
David Blandy, Bamboo Glade (Samurai Showdown IV), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Misty Wood (Last Blade), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, African Plain (SF3 Elena Stage), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Ruined Temple (Samurai Showdown IV), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Sakura Village (SF3NG Ryu stage), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Snow Wood (Last Blade/Yuki stage), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Ruined Town (Vampire Saviour), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Thai temple (Adon Satge SFZ2), 2012
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Dark Forest (SF3 AKuma Stage), 2013
Pastel drawing on paper
39.5 x 50 cm
David Blandy, Installation View, 2013
David Blandy, Background, 2013
Single channel video
9m 04