T O R N
SAMUEL
BASSETT
A N I M A
He Went in His Sleep . mixed media constr uction . 270 x 80 cm (approximate)
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Escape from Hair y Man . mixed media on panel . 122 x 132 cm 2
that’s at great! I like what chance provides us with Anima’ is theinaugural inaugural solo by Samuel ‘Torn‘Torn Anima’ is the soloexhibition exhibition by Samuel Bassett Millennium. when using unmeasured techniques. I aim to find a
Bassett at Millennium.
One realises after being confronted, then coming to terms with this torrent an exhibition thatplacing coherent centre spot, orofrepetitive sound. By we are witnessing a map of an active mind, untangled (perhaps slightly) and placed first around the all my thoughts, collected imager y and conversations One realises after being confronted, then coming to suppor t of the work itself and cumulatively around a space. terms with this torrent of an exhibition that we are
down, it allows me to play much like a girl with her dolls
or a boy with his bucket profound of toy soldiers and Lego. A large number of these images are based on memor y, nothouse of matters of obviously depth witnessing a map of an active mind, untangled (perhaps or weight, day-to-day events, however theya might seem. These a I have saw, nails, brushes, paintpaintings and some are time…” slightly) but and of placed first around the suppor t of insignificant the document or diar y, a confused narratives of daily life and the ar tist’s placement within it. Through work itself and cumulatively around a space. ‘play’ this juxtaposition of collected figures, text and landscapes, thrown together create a new open Bassett uses recorded muffled and sometimes ended dialogue. A large number of these images are based on
misunderstood random conversation as a seed from
“Thememor thought is ofamazing, fast it depth goes”orBassett says, about tr ying keep up.these which his thework wor kis germinates, by tovisualising y, notprocess of matters obviouslyso profound The weight, imagerbut y grows organically as however it is constructed. explains on “I trthe y visualising thought surface of the piece. process, He never sets of day-to-day events, insignificant Bassett dialogues how we talk to ourselves, (easy to see how an imbalance can play havoc with our mind). I make on one painting in isolation, he claims that would “feel they might seem. These paintings are a document or two faced, opinionated turncoat style images displaying personalities (indicated also by using high as though histhings body was ar ter diar y, colours a confusedand narrativez` of daily and the ar tist’s contrast materials). Thelifeelements conflict, I love making fight,running I loveonto one apply asy”. By working overdo many pieces they constantly it. Through ‘play’I this juxtaposition muchplacement as I can within in ways I was told should not do of (education). Things go wrong, but are that’s great! adaptI like what chance provides with when using unmeasured techniques. I aim and to find a coherent centre ing in an organic unmeasured process as fresh collected figures, text andus landscapes, thrown together spot, or repetitive sound. By placing all my thoughts, collected imager y and conversations down, it thoughts, approaches or ideas develop. Processes create a new open ended dialogue. allows me to play much like a girl with her dolls house or a boy with his bucket of toy soldiers and tested on one painting are often applied onto other Lego. I have a saw, nails, brushes, paint and some time…” “The thought process is amazing, so fast it goes”
pieces using all the space available – as the studio
becomes almostconversation one surface. The is visceral Bassett usessays, recorded random as aprocess seed from Bassett his workmuffled is about and tr yingsometimes to keep up. misunderstood The whichimager the y work the surface of cochophony the piece.and Hecontamination never fur ther the grows germinates, organically as by it isvisualising constructed.these Bassettdialoguesandonreflects sets on one painting in isolation, he claims that would “feel as though his body was running on one of our internal and external existence. explains “I tr y visualising thought process, how we talk ar ter y”. By working over many pieces they are constantly adapting in an organic and unmeasured to ourselves, (easy to see how an imbalance can play process as fresh thoughts, approaches or ideas develop. Processes tested on one painting are often tapestr y inspires both one lucid surface. and opaque havoc withother our mind). I make opinionated applied onto pieces usingtwoallfaced, the space available, asThis the rich studio becomes almost The tprocess and contamination of disturbance our internal readings, where comedy and oftenand become u r n c o a t iss t visceral y l e i m a gand e s dreflects i s p l ay i n gfurp ther e r s o nthe a l i t i ecacophony s external existence. bedfellows. This could be viewed as the conscious (indicated also by using high contrast colours and materials). The elements conflict, I love making things
meeting the subconscious, or the primal shaking hands
This rich tapestr y inspires both lucid and opaque readings, where comedy and disturbance often swappingthe punches) with our more modern perhaps fight, bedfellows. I love to applyThis as much as Ibe canviewed in ways as I was become could thetold conscious(ormeeting subconscious, or the primal genteel side. genteel side. shaking hands our more modern perhaps I should not(or do swapping (education).punches) Things do with go wrong, but
Joseph Clarke . 2012. 3
Night Fishing Gwidden . mixed media on panel . 45 x 45 cm 4
Man Dreaming of Pregnancy . mixed media on panel . 48 x 48 cm 5
Dir ty Smiler . mixed media on panel . 62 x 43 cm 6
Loyal Dave . mixed media on panel . 62 x 43 cm 7
Boy in Dress Melted . mixed media on panel . 25 x 25 cm 8
By Far John . mixed media on panel . 26 x 25 cm
Three in a Dress . mixed media on panel . 22 x 23 cm
Was Sick on His Chest . mixed media on panel . 25 x 25 cm 9
Riding Dads Head to School with Pez . mixed media on panel . 122 x 122 cm
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Eaten in Bed . mixed media on panel . 122 x 122 cm
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Leth Construction . mixed media construction . 50 x 50 cm 14
Busy Little Milkmen . mixed media construction . 38 x 48 cm 15
There’s a Pug on my Shoulder . mixed media . 32 x 46 cm 16
Jesus Had Tits . mixed media on board . 34 x 23 cm
Toby Transexual Goat & Flowers . mixed media on board . 34 x 23 cm 17
LIFE Publication . mixed media two faced construction . 72 x 40 cm 18
Together . mixed media on two faced construction . 54 x 29 cm 19
She’s Looking at Porn . mixed media on panel . 22 x 23 cm 20
He Ate my Head . mixed media on panel . 25 x 25 cm
Together in You . mixed media on panel . 25 x 25 cm
Lets Talk Who’s Died . mixed media on panel . 27 x 27 cm 21
My Favourites . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm Dirty Feet . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm 22
I Like . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm Food From Tescos . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm
Finished Her . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm On Your Breath . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm
Farty . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm Are We Ill . watercolour on paper . 30 x 21 cm 23
She Bit I Peed . mixed media on panel . 48 x 49 cm 24
Man on Plate in Throat . mixed media on panel . 45 x 45 cm 25
All I Want... . mixed media on panel . 103 x 104 cm 26
Bliss is Here . mixed media construction . 154 x 20 cm 27
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1 . Father in my Belly . mixed media on card . 20 x 18 cm 2 . With You . mixed media on card . 19 x 14 cm 3 . Three Were Sick . mixed media on card . 19 x 14 cm 4 . Spoon Face . mixed media on board . 32 x 24 cm 5 . Little Voices . mixed media on card . 14 x 10 cm 6 . Signal Strong . mixed media on card . 16 x 14 cm 19
7 . Carbis Bay . mixed media on card . 14 x 15 cm 8 . Lady Friend . mixed media on photograph . 11 x 18 cm 9 . Low Priest . mixed media on card . 15 x 14 cm 10 . Fish Wife Fish Man . mixed media on card . 14 x 28 cm 11 . Drink from You . mixed media on card . 18 x 14 cm 12 . Fear Gods . mixed media on card . 20 x 20 cm 13 . Blog . mixed media on board . 23 x 15 cm 14 . Dead . mixed media on board . 23 x 15 cm 15 . Torn . mixed media on board . 23 x 15 cm 16 . In Vest . mixed media on card . 20 x 28 cm 17 . Hangover . mixed media on card . 19 x 22 cm 18 . Sex with You . mixed media on card . 15 x 14 cm 20
19 . Fallen . mixed media on card . 21 x 19 cm 20 . Void . mixed media construction . 24 x 14 cm
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Pregnant with Tom . mixed media on panel . 96 x 65 cm 30
Lost in Bed and Smoke Ring . mixed media on panel . 97 x 80 cm 31
Holding up the Idiot . mixed media on panel . 42 x 32 cm McDonalds ere No . mixed media construction . 136 x 12 x 12 cm 32
“Thank you to my wife, family, friends and galler y for helping and suppor ting me to constr uct this wor k!�
Samuel Bassett, 2012.
All works 2011 - 2012
Published by Millennium to coincide with the exhibition ‘Torn Anima’ by Samuel Bassett All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers Publication produced by Impact Printing Services (www.impactprintingservices.co.uk) Interview Film by Alban Roinard and Joseph Clarke ISBN 978-1-905772-51-3
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