firstsite contemporary art colchester

Adam Humphries, Dead Ground, 2004

30 April – 11 June 2005
Adam Humphries
New Commission

firstsite is proud to present a new installation by young emerging artist Adam Humphries. Featured as one of London's 25 top new artists (Art Review, 2004), he is known for his extraordinary polystyrene sculpture-scapes.

Tangled roots, boulders, oversized potatoes and stalks of cow parsley may contribute to this new surreal landscape, as the artist plays with scale and dislocation across two and three-dimensions.

Using materials that hold little value or significance, he surprises us with the possibilities of unlikely substances: polystyrene, cardboard, aluminium tin foil. He is interested in making the disregarded monumental.

In his own words:

"Forms that interest me exist close to nothing; there is a beauty here that is overlooked. I try to create sensations of nothing or non-value while paradoxically finding the value for unconsidered beauty."

These are sculptures almost made from nothing and of nothing. They represent decaying substances, whilst actually breaking down themselves. Fragments, remnants, particles, bits and pieces; sculptural form mutates and spawns organically.

In a surreal landscape we question notions of the natural and the real. Cartoon-style foliage and props are transformed and assume new status: a schematic, cartoon tree becomes over-sized broccoli!

Step into a bizarre landscape of curious yet strangely familiar features, to be transported and disorientated.

Adam Humphries lives and works in London. He completed an MA in Sculpture a Royal College of Art, London. Exhibitions include: Laura Bartlett Gallery, London (2005), Substance Abuse, Chambers Gallery, London (2004) and Guild House, Hunde, Hockney Gallery, RCA, London (2004). He was also selected as one of London's 25 Top New Artists, Art Review/ Diesel 2004.

	Adam Humphries, Dead Ground, 2004 30 April – 11 June 2005 Adam Humphries New Commission firstsite is proud to present a new installation by young emerging artist Adam Humphries. Featured as one of London's 25 top new artists (Art Review, 2004), he is known for his extraordinary polystyrene sculpture-scapes. Tangled roots, boulders, oversized potatoes and stalks of cow parsley may contribute to this new surreal landscape, as the artist plays with scale and dislocation across two and three-dimensions. Using materials that hold little value or significance, he surprises us with the possibilities of unlikely substances: polystyrene, cardboard, aluminium tin foil. He is interested in making the disregarded monumental. In his own words: "Forms that interest me exist close to nothing; there is a beauty here that is overlooked. I try to create sensations of nothing or non-value while paradoxically finding the value for unconsidered beauty." These are sculptures almost made from nothing and of nothing. They represent decaying substances, whilst actually breaking down themselves. Fragments, remnants, particles, bits and pieces; sculptural form mutates and spawns organically. In a surreal landscape we question notions of the natural and the real. Cartoon-style foliage and props are transformed and assume new status: a schematic, cartoon tree becomes over-sized broccoli! Step into a bizarre landscape of curious yet strangely familiar features, to be transported and disorientated. Adam Humphries lives and works in London. He completed an MA in Sculpture a Royal College of Art, London. Exhibitions include: Laura Bartlett Gallery, London (2005), Substance Abuse, Chambers Gallery, London (2004) and Guild House, Hunde, Hockney Gallery, RCA, London (2004). He was also selected as one of London's 25 Top New Artists, Art Review/ Diesel 2004.