Multicem (Red) - 19/07/23

2023, 22.6 x 21.2 x 3.5 cm, LED curable ink, Cement, Paraffin wax, Oil pastels, Resin, Industrial gloss, Varnish on Polyethylene plastic

This artwork visually demonstrates the importance and value of a building bag as an object. The contents inside each building bag whether it is cement, building sand or ballast is what is most important to all bricklayers, and usually the packaging is discarded and thrown away in the skip once it has been used. 

I want to challenge this kind of wasteful behaviour as an artist by testing the possibilities of something that is so typically thrown away without thinking, by putting the bag through several experimental processes to see how interesting, intriguing, and exciting the building bag can become.

I created new working methods for this building bag artwork. I used an oil pastel coloured wax to layer on top of the building bag surface. I then worked with a meticulous technique of cutting out the wax with a scalpel and hot knife. This was a nod to the precise actions that are carried out on the building site where I support my dad. Every job we do has to be perfect when complete, however, I could not help myself but to add some free flowing chaos to this artwork.