IMPORTANT ARTIST

2011
Its about time @ DEATH BE KIND with Alex Gawronski

As one of the founders of ‘Death be Kind’ Elvis Richardson has a long-standing interest in themes of the longevity and precariousness of artistic ‘fame’. Her work for this particular exhibition centres on a series of anagrams derived from the phrase ‘Important Artist’. The wordplay that results is simultaneously playful, absurd and vaguely sinister. Actually, in this case Richardson’s concern is with the sort of hyperbole associated with the endemic inflation of the famous artist’s public reputation and persona. Her text pieces broadly parody the sorts of conspiracy theories so popular in the mass media. Through such conspiracies the suggestible are encouraged to read the most exaggerated importance into otherwise conspicuously prosaic events and objects. Richardson’s overlaying of delusional pop-culture and art world fame-fixation questions the sorts of similarly exaggerated readings often applied to the work of contemporary ‘artist-heroes’. Overall, Richardson's clever text derivations erased from a layer of soot on paper, cast a wry eye over a milieu where frequently the emperor is indeed, without clothes.

exert from essay by Alex Gawronski for exhibition
It's about time at DEATH BE KIND

left to right
Important Artist
ink on paper 80 x 80 cm

Important Artist : Its important Art
soot and eraser on paper
70 x 55 cm

Important Artist
install @ DEATH BE KIND

Important Artist : Mr Artist to Paint
soot and eraser on paper
70 x 55 cm

Important Artist : Mrs Attrition Apt
soot and eraser on paper
70 x 55 cm