November 2008 - February 2009

 

  

 

 

The Maude McCann Galley is pleased to introduce new work by James Green. Green uses John Merrick, more commonly know as the 'Elephant man' as a rather unusual point of departure for his work. Made from layers of card, Green creates a notion of the subject's head, adorning his pieces with an array of patterns and kaleidoscope of colors. Green's work is at times grotesque, bordering on the abject however is also strangely alluring and even beautiful.  His use of basic materials is refreshing and gives the work a sense of gravity. Whilst also, allowing the viewer to place the work within the myriad of Green's popular and not so popular cultural references.


It is these references and influences that in a sense give us a key to understanding Green's world;

"… MF Doom, Sponge Bob Square-Pants, Charles Dickens, Sushi, Gwen Stefani, Nintendo DS, Philip Guston, Will Self, Cassette Playa, Jeremy Vine, Big Trouble in Little China, The Metallion Stallion, Big Brother, Castor Fonzworth, The Rhondda, Edgar Allen Poe, Liquorice Allsorts, Lilly Allen, Climbing Trees, John Merrick, The Metro, GhostFace Killa, Terry Walton, The Pyramids, Audrey Hepburn, Kung-Fu, The Beatles, Mountains, Cello-tape, Ren and Stimpy, Pic 'N' Mix, Ken Kesey, Colourful Trainers… These are a few of my favorite things."