Mark Chadwick
Mark Chadwick
Mark Chadwick

Mark's art practice is concerned by the use of machines in the production of an artwork. With our culture becoming more and more engaged with new technologies, Mark's work questions the implications of handing over control of an artwork to a mechanical device. Through experimentation with using a number of crude technological devices and minimising his interaction with the decision making process. Mark's work investigates the status of the artist and what the artwork actually is. With the actions of any machine the result of human intention, Mark uses machines to allow chance to enter the creative process, exploring ideas surrounding authorship, consciousness and interaction. The systems Mark sets up incorporating the use of a machine either allows his tools to create their marks and record its action in a physical way on to the canvas, or manipulates the surface to which the paint is applied. Mark's work is also concerned with painting process as the performance aspect of the production of an artwork, exploring the relationship forged between materials, aesthetics and perception across cultures. Mark uses machines/technology and natural forces to allow paintings to make themselves in order to further remove the hand of the artist. Once set in motion Mark often removes hisself from the studio and painting process.
In his current series of fluid paintings, the paint is manipulated in a number of different ways each driven by ideas surrounding process, materiality and chance encounters. The unique display of forms and colours are brought together by the artist's hand but manipulated though the use of machines or natures forces. Some paintings are spun or shaken while others rely upon reactions between materials or gravity to allow the painting to almost form itself. The paintings are built up of many layers of paint, each creating it's own flowing abstract surface left open to interpretation by the viewer.

cv

2007-2008 BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERISTY
Successful Completion; MA Fine Art, Funded by AHRC.

2004-2006 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ENGLAND
Successful Completion; Bachelor of Arts with Honours, First Class Honours.

2002-2004 SUTTON COLDFIELD COLLEGE
Gained a HND in Fine Art.

2001-2002 SUTTON COLDFIELD COLLEGE
Gained a BTEC Diploma for Foundation Studies (Art And Design) (Merit) and a Certificate in Art and Craft Studies (level 2) in Life Drawing (DISTINCTION).

Exhibitions

WORCESTER OPEN – Group exhibition in the Pitt Studio from 24th April - 26th June 2010.

VOLTE GALLERY – A group art exhibition in the old Wolverhampton Railway Station from 25th August - 9th October 2009.

MA SHOW – The MA Fine Art Show “Clutching At Straws” took place at Margaret Street, Birmingham between 29th August - 7th September 2008.

RAW MATERIALS – Group exhibition that I curated and invigilated at The Custard Factory from 15th- 21st January 2007.

BA DEGREE SHOW – The BA Hons Fine Art degree show was displayed at Margaret Street in Birmingham between the 17th-26th June 2006.

RBSA GALLERY – NEW HORIZONS 2006 – Between the 13th February until 18th March, I took the opportunity to display my work in a group show to promote emerging students from local Universities.

CITY INN HOTEL – City Inn Birmingham, specially commissioned artwork from selected artists to display throughout the hotel. Between 2nd May – 30th June 2006 my work was selected to be part of a show from the University of Central England.

THE WORKS GALLERY – UCE group show, displaying 2 paintings from my work during level 2 in Birmingham in 2005.

THE CUSTARD FACTORY – HND Final Show displaying 6 paintings from my work during my time at Sutton Coldfield College in 2004.

Grants

2007 ARTS & HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (AHRC) – POSTGRADUATE AWARD RESEARCH PREPARATION MASTERS SCHEME