We visited our special release artist Tom Butler to ask him about his practice: Hi Tom, your cabinet card project is a formidable body of work that collectors globally are well aware of. But where did the original idea come from? Thank you. I started drawing on vintage postcards when I left art school because I had little money for material, no workshop and I was moving around a lot. They were like small readymade environments and each one gave me something to respond to. Before I knew it I was carrying round a small file of bizarre sculptural proposals of barriers dividing towns, huge bugs climbing buildings or skies filled with balloons wondering how to make them real, only...
Zavier, who took your eye this time? I‘m going for two of the founding PROJECT PAPYROPHILIA artists in Graham Dolphin and Sam Jackson, and relative newcomer Lisa Ivory. Tell us a bit about each selection starting with Graham Dolphin: The use of text in work is a personal interest of mine, and in fact I’ve collected a number of pieces by Graham since the project began. These three are a new departure and are iconic in their adoption of the crucifix, and similarly religious iconography is of great interest to me. Within the crucifix Dolphin writes the full lyrics of his chosen song. The obsessiveness appeals to me, as does the artist’s relationship with music and popular culture. And your...
Every release we invite a respected collector to recommend three pieces selected from the PROJECT PAPYROPHILIA inventory. We are delighted to introduce Sabrina Phillips. Hi Sabrina, when did you get into collecting and how did it come about? I’ve always had an innate love and interest in art. While it was not my primary focus, I took a number of studio art and art history courses throughout high school and college. Collecting came about organically. I lived with and around a lot of artists in my 20s. It was more about making art, being surrounded by creative energy and less about collecting at that point. I’ve worked with really talented graphic designers who are artists in their own right and...
Every release project curator Zavier Ellis recommends three pieces from the PROJECT PAPYROPHILIA inventory: Zavier, any thoughts on the new drop? All of the artists continue to make great work and it’s interesting to see their evolution over time. Who did you go for and why these artists? I’m pleased to see Adam Dix back in the programme and I’m always interested to see what comes next from Melissa Kime and Michael Scoggins. These two continue to evolve at a rapid rate – they’re always moving! OK, tell me a bit about each selection starting with Adam Dix: Adam’s work is beguiling. He has interests that in combination are unique to him. The touch points that interest me are suggestions...
We asked featured artist Alex Gene Morrison to expand on his practice: Hi Alex, there is so much going on in your work but it’s not always easy to unpick. Can you talk a little about your influences and intentions? The work does contain many layers of reference points that have gathered and grown like a tumbleweed over the years. These range from Suprematism to video games to punk graphic design and all in between. This wide-ranging mix of interests and influences is important as I’m not aiming to make things that have one specific meaning or message that needs to be decoded or understood. I want the work to hint at a multiplicity of references whilst remaining somewhat an...