The process of making sculpture for this project has inspired another parallel body of work in 2d in my studio in Ireland. I have made a series of paintings on the white boards from the dismantled shelving units of the disused pharmacy where I did a residency in Sligo last year. They are quite crude and look like they have had a tough life. They also have a vaguely comedic feel to them - like the sculptures. I am interested in the way that people might at first laugh, and then be prompted to ask why they are laughing....

Simon Raines has been working hard on creating the moulds and has updated me with a load of pictures of work in progress. Here's how he described the work to date .... there has been a bit of prep work that needs doing to the figures. The figures have dried out a bit in the office, so a few cracks and rips have appeared. I've filled these and then primed  them in an attempt to seal the clay material, this took a few days, but seems to have worked. Both figures have big rods  stuck up their bums, and have taken on a rather odd character at the moment. I have built one casting flask so far for one the figures, and that figure went under rubber today, this will be left overnight to set, and all being well, will be cut out tomorrow, I will then have an good idea if we can cast that figure and start on the 2nd....

Check out the pictures in the new folder...