Info & History
Pre-neone
23/07/96
Interview from a member of neone
“During the early 90’s a loose group of artists, in the South East of London, were making work along similar lines. Dealing with areas and subjects like the idea of painting in a society driven by technology, the fetishism and consumerism of the day’s art, the status of art and the artist.”
“A rough collective was forming, people coming and going, exhibiting together, sharing studios. It was not until 1996, that what could be called ‘pre-neone’ was finally realised. The “I used to be a ______ painter. Now, I’m not so sure” series was shown in the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham, actually it was first shown in the ‘Jubilee Trade Centre’. One T-shirt and jeans and 4 suits, were splattered in paint, or rather were transformed by the process of the actual act of painting, where shown in a gallery. A residue of a performance, the paintings created while donning these suits were immediately destroyed on completion, leaving only the suits.
The clothing acting as canvas, recorded the performance of the artist, while all conscious thoughts on aesthetics where directed at the painting. The suits merely documented without prejudgement. They became a true reflection of the artist’s intention, ego, the eye, aesthetic choice, all vanished. All that remained was the act. “