Press release
Mc Hope
The Brewery Tap Gallery & Project Space, Folkestone Arts Quarter, Kent, UK. April 10th -16th 2023.
Private View Thursday 13th of April, 5pm -10pm
Open Daily 10 am-5pm
Mr Paul David Chisholm
Coming home what does that mean exactly? Where is home what does a home mean? Is it the planet Earth or our locality or even Nationality or familiar ties? And where do I or you lie in that home? Bringing together over twenty years of practice the artist Paul Chisholm proposes the question what is a home and where do we come from? Are we animals, human organisms or spirits or all in one? The Artist was born in Canterbury in 1983 Un-yet he has not been back to Kent till now 40 years later. With 20 plus years of practice under his belt he beggars the question where are we? What are we doing to ourselves, the planet and our family? Are we human or just an answer?
The artists practice revolves around questions of identity, belonging, consumerism and total oblivion. Utilising everyday objects and paintings of clowns, murder victims, and people in his dreams and childhood memories through this the artist try’s to reconstruct or deconstruct the world around him. Having been brought up in the 80’s/90’s section 28 era of no gays allowed the artist has struggled with his self-esteem and belonging in this turbulent society and this anxiety shows in his portrait paintings of masks and other beings that are both distorted and worryingly familiar.
Since being born in Canterbury 1983 the painter has experienced many adversity’s firstly section 28, then homophobia and discrimination against his HIV status. His paintings and sculptures are a result of the hypocrisy and virulent and violent times in which we live.
The artist hopes to portray a home coming as both a soldier for lgbtq+ rights, a spy on the human mind and one of ultimate love and hope.
The Artist will present as series of his ‘ lost children of paradise’ and an installation/ performance of ‘mc whimsical’ This is bound to be a spectacle of delight and amusement for both Art lovers and the public alike raising issues of Capitalism, Queer Identities and the human condition as a whole.
Paul Chisholm (1983) Born in Canterbury, Kent, U.K Studied Fine Art at Warwickshire College of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent University and Chelsea College of Arts, London.
The Artist has had numerous solo and group shows including but not limited to: The Terrence Higgins Trust annual auction @ Christies,London, Turf projects, Croydon, London & The Lightbox Museum, Woking, Surrey (Upcoming November 2023). Last year he was awarded The Sane Grant for Visual Artists overcoming mental health, The Eaton Fund Grant, The Oppenheim John Downes Memorial Trust Grant and a grant from Visual Aids in New York.
