Caravan Fred's Swampy home

"Meet Caravan Fred, settled in his mother’s caravan.  Having left his past behind, he archives people’s stories, quietly…"

I live on the Isle of Sheppey, and my pieces spring from my affection for the local community. My work explores the idea of “Sheppiness” as revealed by the name “Swampy”, which some born-and-bred Islanders use to describe themselves.  For me, this is a double-edged term, derogatory for some, a source of pride for others.  I examine ideas around the insider/outsider paradoxes in this tourism reliant area.

 I am influenced by Jeremy Deller for his funny, surreal celebrations of his project participant’s stories.  I am inspired by the way he puts ordinary people at the centre of his work in works.  For example, in "Folk Archive", (2005)  in which he collected all sorts of drawings, paintings, decorations, political opinions, costumes, for vast range of British pastimes and pursuits, quirks and all.  He asked prisoners, community groups, protesters, pop fans, bored teenagers, and the homeless for contributions, and celebrates them all.  He gives his work away at Art fairs and created "BookWorks" a visual arts publisher "to disseminate visual art practice to as wide and diverse an audience as possible."

From Folk Archive (2004)
Snowdrop the Mechanical Elephant
The Clare Family Egremont

 

I also found ideas from Laure Prouvost's video "Wantee", which tells in her video the story of her imagined grandfather.  The film describes a fictional relationship between Prouvost's grandfather and Karl Switters.  The work is named in reference to the habit of Schwitters' partner of asking guests if they "want tea."  She created an installation populated with objects some of which she created herself with a surreal air to suggest the character, .  As she says, "The power of suggestion and imagination is something I love to play with."  I relate to this strongly.



Still of Teapots from Wantee

Still from video "Wantee" (2013)

In distilling these ideas, I created a fictional character called Caravan Fred, who embodies some of the essence of "Swampiness".  I decided to evoke a caravan as his home, and populate it with objects that conjure him up.

Ideas

 

 

 

Drawing up ideas

   

     

 


Testing out the Space




Bed size tab

 

Testing out the space


Objects to go inside

 

 

Building process

 

   

 

 


 Second Coat

 

 

 

  Detailing of door and chest

 

 

 

 Back of mirror with mirror plates for attaching

 

 

I've spent the last 2 very busy days putting up the installation at Morley Gallery.  I'm very please with results!  I have some preliminary photos, but will be taking some under the proper lighting tonight when it will look at it's best.

 

 

 

 

And.....rest and enjoy!