Project Space & Art Gallery |Spring-Summer 2016

AETHER SHRUGGED

Saturday 22 April until Friday 27 May 2016

In this work, Francis Olvez-Wilshaw reworks logos and symbols of major international banks through the distinctive architectural style of art deco. The forms are put together to form a series of totems, referencing how totems have been used by civilisations throughout history to denote their existence, power and secrecy.

The backdrops are inspired by an ‘artist’s impression’ of a view from a yet-to-be-built large block of luxury apartments overlooking the City of London. In the source image (displayed on the boardings around the building site), the sunset-coloured clouds are pierced by the iconic towers of the City’s skyline. Francis Olvez-Wilshaw unpicks this example of imagined corporate-approved ‘high’ fantasy imagery by removing the skyscrapers and replacing them with his own totems.

The title of the piece is derived from the novel 'Atlas Shrugged' by the philosopher Ayn Rand.

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Francis Olvez-Wilshaw primarily makes free-standing abstract sculptures which are then arranged in a variety of different positions with large prints, patterns, kinetic elements, music – often altering the floors and walls to reference commercial spaces.

"I see working as a sculptor and installation artist as a ‘dress up/costume’ box. It allows me to wear/use different languages, materials and ‘skins’."

Francis Olvez-Wilshaw's work involves the examination of the interior architecture of contemporary spaces – from high-end boutiques to corporate lobbies. He observes models that project power, success and desire. Yet the overall effect of his installations is to render the model empty and vacuous.

Exhibiting artist

FRANCIS OLVEZ-WILSHAW

 

After graduating with a BA Sculpture from Camberwell College of Art in 2013, he had his first solo show, If you want me to stay, at The Green Man Gallery in Buxton, Derbyshire. He was then awarded an art residency at The Florence Trust in London. This Summer he will be artist in residence

at the Silainiai Project in Kaunas, Lithuania, and in the Autumn he will be starting on the MA Sculpture programme at the RCA.

Francis Olvez-Wilshaw lives and works in London.

See more of his work here:

www.francisolvez-wilshaw.co.uk

 

Images of the exhibition coming soon.

See them on our Facebook page here.

Image above: previous work by Francis Olvez-Wilshaw