Approved: 16.08.2006

Matthew Cort

Artist

Approved: 16.08.2006

My use of media and techniques is determined by the idea I am exploring at a given time, although the apparently divergent outcomes of this practice generally have the same starting-point: the appropriation of pre-existing artefacts and their re-presentation with some aspect altered significantly through operations such as: recombination; recontextualisation; casting; systematic modification of proportions etc.

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Merchandise

     

    Artist Statement

    My use of media and techniques is determined by the idea I am exploring at a given time, although the apparently divergent outcomes of this practice generally have the same starting-point: the appropriation of pre-existing artefacts and their re-presentation with some aspect altered significantly through operations such as: recombination; recontextualisation; casting; systematic modification of proportions etc.

    I am interested in the ways that such 'carnivalesque' gestures complicate meaning through generating works functioning as multiple propositions, and subvert or generate humour from otherwise sober objects and images. Examples of this include: Car, Height 1:1 (2008) - an object as sculpture/car/biomorph/'customisation' of a car stylist's design; Parapet (1998) - an assemblage of found and fabricated objects that work simultaneously as sculpture/row of sandcastles/extension of 'readymade' building (Screen on the Green Cinema, London); imaginary pages from a book of birds (2008 to date) - watercolour/digital images presented as 'objective' wildlife illustrations that are actually parodies/montages of found images/fantasy bird images.

    Through being translated into new artworks, the original artefacts (cars, buildings, instructive illustrations etc.) are liberated from their original functions, gaining new meanings along with reminders of their old ones, thus for example: on being compressed horizontally by a factor of 16, car wheels become 'legs', but still retain their details in compressed form. To varying degrees my use of pre-existing artefacts celebrates the inherent multiplicity of all artworks' authorship. In this, my influences include: industrial design, popular culture, architecture, the historical and neo avant-gardes.

    CV & Education

    BIOGRAPHY

    Born in London, 1958
    Lives and works in London


    Education
    2007-10: Extra-Mural Diploma in History of Art & Architecture with Distinction, Birkbeck, University of London
    2003-07: Extra-Mural Diploma in Philosophy with Distinction, Birkbeck, University of London
    1997-98: MA Fine Art, Goldsmiths, University of London
    1978-81: BA Graphic Design, 1st Class Honours, St. Martin's School of Art
    1976-78: Art Foundation, Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education

    Selected Group Exhibitions
    2023: ‘Habitats & Heritage Secret Art Sale’, London
    2022: ‘Art on a Postcard’, London
    2015-23: ‘Oli Bennett Secret Cards’, Westminster School, London
    2018: 'Insider Perspective', Tate Exchange, Tate Liverpool (collaboration with prisoners of HMP Wormwood Scrubs)
    2008-18: ‘RCA Secret’, Gulbenkian Gallery/ Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art, London  
    2013: ‘Age UK Barnet Secret Postcard Show’, London
    2013: ‘ArtWest Open Studios’, ArtWest Studios, London
    2011-12: ‘Forgotten Spaces’, Somerset House, London
    2009: ‘Exemplar’, Hortensia Gallery, Kensington & Chelsea College, London
    2005: ‘Marked Men’, HMP Ley Hill, Gloucester
    2004: ‘Tattoo Banner Project’, HMP Wormwood Scrubs, London
    2004: ‘Surfaces’, Business Design Centre, London
    2002: ‘Riverrun', Star & Garter House, London
    2001: 'Telling Tales', Islington Museum Gallery
    2000: 'Artville', Candid Arts Gallery, London
    2000: 'Globularisation', Star & Garter House, London
    1999: 'Rooms For All!', Jersey Galleries, Osterley Park House, London
    1999: ‘Chainstore', Trinity Buoy Wharf, London
    1998: 'Flashpoint', Globe Gallery, North Shields
    1997: ‘The King Onion' (collaboration with prisoners of HMP Wormwood Scrubs), Hayward Gallery Pavilion, London
    1997: ‘Sugar Rush', The Tannery, London
    1994: ‘The Pink Hotel’, Queen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, London (video collaboration with inmates of HMP Wormwood Scrubs / London Sinfonietta)
    1990: 'Just In Time' (collaboration with prisoners of HMP Wormwood Scrubs), Centre 181 Gallery, London
    1987: ‘Christmas Art Draw’, Diorama Gallery, London
    1987: 'The Hidden Truth' (with prisoners of HMP Wormwood Scrubs), St. James's Church Gallery, Piccadilly, London
    1986: Untitled show, Lamont Gallery, London
    1983: 'Neon Twilight', Galleria Neon, Bologna, Italy

    Prizes, Awards & Open Submissions
    2022: Summer Exhibition 2022, Royal Academy of Arts, London
    2018: 166th Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
    2010: Finalist, ‘Art of Giving’, Saatchi Gallery, London
    2002: ‘Cowparade London 2002 Gala Auction’, Sotheby's Olympia, London
    1998-99: ‘Smalls: an Exhibition of Very Small Artworks', Upstairs at the Clerk's House, London
    1996: 228th Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London
    1996: Shortlisted for 1st Prize, 'Art and Architects', Society of Architect-Artists 32nd Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute of British Architects, London    

    Commissions
    2015: Birds No. 4, watercolour (private)
    2013: Birds No. 5, pen and watercolour (private)
    2005: Installation of video works from Küba by Kutlug Ataman in HM Prisons Wormwood Scrubs and Pentonville (Tom Dingle / Artangel)
    2003: Limited edition of scale porcelain replicas of ‘Tattooed Cow’ (CowParade)
    2002: Tattooed Cow, paintings on readymade sculpture (Cowparade London 2002 / Childline)
    1998: Creation of sculptural installations for ‘Beachlife', Islington International Festival, London (Clive Sall / Robert Wilson at FAT Architects)
    1994: Curation of Wormwood Scrubs Perimeter Wall-Paintings: 8 monumental paintings on prison wall by Julian Opie (The Governor, HMP Wormwood Scrubs / Hayward Gallery / Lisson Gallery)
    1994: Animation for video ‘The Pink Hotel’ with inmates of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, London (London Sinfonietta / South Bank Centre, London)

    Bibliography
    2014: ‘Con Artists’, Lucy Fisher, Sunday Times Magazine, 6 April (feature article)
    2014: ‘Constructing Meaning in a Destructive Place’, Matthew Cort, Not Shut Up, Issue 25 (essay)
    2013: ‘Prisoners find a Release in Art’, Poppy Bradbury, Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle, 27 September (press interview)
    2011: Forgotten Spaces London, RIBA, London (catalogue)
    2010: Matthew Meadows, Insider Art, A&C Black, London, (interview and images in book)
    2010: ‘Art of Giving’, Art of Giving / Saatchi Gallery, London (programme/catalogue)
    2005: ‘Events: Küba on the move’, Time Out London, 18-20 May (listing)
    2002: Cowparade London 2002, Cowparade / Sotheby’s, London, (catalogue)
    1999: Matthew Arnatt, Sali Gia, David Mollin, 100 Reviews, Black Dog, London (review)
    1998: Beachlife is FAT, Islington International Festival, London (catalogue)
    1997: Hayward Education: Hayward Gallery, National Touring Exhibitions, Arts Council Collection, The South Bank Centre, London, (catalogue)
    1997: ‘From Grand Tour to Small World – The Package of Art & Tourism’, Miriam Reik (unpublished essay)
    1996: 228th Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 1996 (2nd Edition), Royal Academy of Arts, London (catalogue)
    1996: 'Clean and Pleasant Lands', Claire Melhuish, Building Design magazine, 8 November (review)
    1994: 'Her Majesty's Pleasure', Richard Dorment, Daily Telegraph, 2 November (review)
    1994: 'Pleasure at Her Majesty's', 'Astragal', Architect's Journal, November Issue (news article)
    1994: 'Julian Opie at the Scrubs', Nell Wendler, Art Monthly, November Issue (news article)
    1987: A3 Magazine (gallery / magazine project)
    1983: 'Neon all'ombra di Francesca', Leopoldina Pallotta, La Repubblica, Bologna edition, Dec. (review)

    TV
    2009: ‘The Culture Show’, BBC2, 17 June  (review of Car, Height 1:1 by Lauren Laverne & Andrew Graham-Dixon)

    Collections
    Works held in private collections in the UK, Germany, Australia and Dubai

    Teaching
    2016-present: Tutor in Art, Morley College, London
    1985-present: Tutor in Art, HMP Wormwood Scrubs
    2005-08: Member of Judging Panel, Annual Koestler Arts Awards
    1998-2008: Tutor in Art, HMP Pentonville, London
    1994-98: Tutor in Art, Hounslow Community Education, London
    1993: Co-Ordinator of Art workshops in HMP Wormwood Scrubs with Aboriginal Australian artists from Hayward Gallery exhibition 'Aratjara' (in association with Hayward Gallery Education)