Deepest Sympathy
Date: 30 October - 16 November 2012
Private View: Thursday 1 November, 17.00-19.00
Included a talk by David Theobald about his work, on Thursday 1 November 13.00-14.00.
Ruskin Gallery was pleased to present this new exhibition by the British artist David Theobald.
Deepest Sympathy presented a series of computer animations created by the artist over the last five years which considered various aspects of contemporary living. Through these 'emulations', artist David Theobald explored some of the complex connections that constitute modern society where increasing complexity often seems to be presented as an illusion of progress.
Deepest Sympathy presented a series of computer animations created by the artist over the last five years which considered various aspects of contemporary living. Through these 'emulations', artist David Theobald explored some of the complex connections that constitute modern society where increasing complexity often seems to be presented as an illusion of progress.
Choosing to eschew the more conventional applications of digital animation to gaming, advertising and CGI effects for movies, Theobald instead uses these tools to create a series of vignettes that dwell on the familiar and unspectacular. Rather than holding the spectator in thrall of the screen, Theobald's use of a restricted viewpoint, repetition and mundane subject matter seems more likely to have the opposite effect, generating feelings of futility, frustration and perhaps humour. Such an effect is compounded by his use of the seamless loop, taking advantage of the nature of digital animation to structure works have no apparent beginning or end.
Showing the works together for the first time offered the opportunity to observe a number of common themes that run across Theobald's work. The looping structure of his work and repetitive subject matter appears to mirror the nature of the underlying computer technology used in its creation and the repetitive processes that seem central to the infrastructure of contemporary society. Many of the works reflected upon Theobald's prior career working in the finance industry, simulating the daily commute and the office workplace. Some, such as Greensleeves (2007), The Winnersh Triangle (2008) or Lobby (2007) utilised a fixed, unflinching viewpoint to represent a cold 'machanic vision' of the urban landscape. Others, such as Trill (2011), Buzz (2008) or New Atlantis (2008), invited the viewer to adopt an 'animal's eye' perspective through the use of point of view composition and immersive animation.
Showing the works together for the first time offered the opportunity to observe a number of common themes that run across Theobald's work. The looping structure of his work and repetitive subject matter appears to mirror the nature of the underlying computer technology used in its creation and the repetitive processes that seem central to the infrastructure of contemporary society. Many of the works reflected upon Theobald's prior career working in the finance industry, simulating the daily commute and the office workplace. Some, such as Greensleeves (2007), The Winnersh Triangle (2008) or Lobby (2007) utilised a fixed, unflinching viewpoint to represent a cold 'machanic vision' of the urban landscape. Others, such as Trill (2011), Buzz (2008) or New Atlantis (2008), invited the viewer to adopt an 'animal's eye' perspective through the use of point of view composition and immersive animation.
David Theobald was born in Worthing in 1965 and lives and works in London. Theobald received a BA in Fine Art from Wimbledon College of Art and completed an MFA in Art Practice at Goldsmiths in 2008.
Other presentations of Theobald's work include a show at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Animate Project's' Digitalis, screenings at the 2011 Raindance and Tenderflix Film Festivals, Re:Animate at the Oriel Davies Gallery, Wales, the 2010 Cube Open in Manchester and the 2010 ev+a in Limerick,Ireland. His work was featured in Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2008 and will be included in their forthcoming DVD compilation looking at the history of film and video. David's work was also included in Figuring Landscapes, a touring exhibition of film and video that showed at major art venues throughout the UK and Australia. David curated the exhibition Modern Times at the Vegas Gallery, London, and was also winner of the 2009 Creekside Open selected by Mark Wallinger and the Open West 2011.
Please click images to enlarge.
Other presentations of Theobald's work include a show at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Animate Project's' Digitalis, screenings at the 2011 Raindance and Tenderflix Film Festivals, Re:Animate at the Oriel Davies Gallery, Wales, the 2010 Cube Open in Manchester and the 2010 ev+a in Limerick,Ireland. His work was featured in Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2008 and will be included in their forthcoming DVD compilation looking at the history of film and video. David's work was also included in Figuring Landscapes, a touring exhibition of film and video that showed at major art venues throughout the UK and Australia. David curated the exhibition Modern Times at the Vegas Gallery, London, and was also winner of the 2009 Creekside Open selected by Mark Wallinger and the Open West 2011.
Please click images to enlarge.
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