#BRICK @
THE BARBICAN
Andrea Tyrimos – Barbican Brick Painting
Over 6 days I have created two of
my BRICK paintings in-situ at the iconic Barbican centre! Here’s a little
visual diary and blog on BRICK and my experience painting at the Barbican…
About BRICK: I created a painting a few years ago, whilst studying at St Martins,
where I explored the theme of ‘play’, my purpose being to produce a 'hidden'
painting. I camouflaged the painting into the surroundings of the wall it was
hung, which gave the piece an element of interactivity, as many viewers
struggled to find the piece, and as a result went on a 'hunt' for it. The piece
was also concerned with the notion of 'trompe l'oeil', and the hidden beauty
that can be found in the unexpected.
Although excited by this concept, it was put on the back
burner while I progressed in my art degree and continued to explore other
subject matter. But it always remained in the back of my mind as something to
re-visit and possibly expand.
Unfortunately there was a fire earlier this year in
my studio, (note to self and others – remove all refective items/mirrors from
windows!) and I was left without a suitable space to paint. Rather than feel
sorry for myself I saw this as one of life’s opportunities and decided that
this was the ideal time to begin the BRICK project!
So I’ll be using the concept behind
the initial painting to expand it into an entire project; where I’ll take to
the streets (and eclectic venues) of London in order to create a series of
‘hidden’ paintings. The project will marry street art and fine art in a new
way, and combine playful and interactive qualities which are not normally
associated with ‘paintings’.
Painting
in situ at the Barbican
I was thrilled when the opportunity arose to debut my Brick
project in the beautiful setting of the Barbican conservatory, to paint amongst
such stunning surroundings has been an experience to say the least.
It was very easy to forget I was just a stone’s throw away
from the hustle and bustle of Brick Lane, and often felt as though I had been
transported to a tropical oasis. When bored with my ipod tunes (which is in
desperate need of an update) I could simply listen to the sweet song of the
finches who were my temporary neighbours, my brief lunch breaks were spent
amongst tropical foliage, face tilted towards the glass ceiling in hope for a
springtime glow. And I was pleasantly surprised on a couple of occassions when
Nick and Maria (from the Nickthat.com team) came to visit, my favourite sweet
n’ salty popcorn in hand, to help me get through the day - along with my giant
thermos of tea of course (no matter how high the temperature rose in the
‘greenhouse-like’ space it was never too hot for tea!).
Where possible I like for there to be cheeky additions to
each piece, to inject a fun, unexpected, and signature neon element. So for
those who may simply pass the paintings by without a second glance, the neon
finch or the tropical flower bursting through the grout in the brickwork may
tickle their curiousity.
I wanted to highlight the contrast between the space and
it’s exotic inhabitants – tropical palm trees and flowers of paradise lie
among Brutalist architectural lines, and my ‘Barbican Birdie’ and neon flower
reflect this.
I loved…: seeing the quizzical looks on people’s faces who
were travelling along the curious maze-like corridors above and around me,
being referred to as the ‘Barbican artist in residence’, and for the gardener
to admit that in all the time he had worked there, he’d never quite noticed the
vast array of colours that live within each brick.
Event: The ‘Barbican Brick’ painting will be auctioned this
Saturday 18th May 2013, at the Barbican Centre for Nickthat.com’s
official launch event #Food4Good. I will be finishing the painting live and all
proceeds will go to Fairtrade Foundation. Please come along for a day of art,
live music, good food and charity! RSVP here!
www.nickthat.com
A huge thank you to Nick, whose passion inspires those
around him (it has definitely inspired me!) and whose hard work will make a
difference…
I hope to see you there!
To keep up to date with where I’ll be painting #BRICK next
please follow @AndreaTyrimos or www.andreatyrimos.com
