David Shrigley

After visiting sketch and seeing David Shrigley’s illustrations covering the walls I wanted to learn more about him. I liked the way he looked at life and thought it was interesting how mundane but relatable some of his sketches were featuring everyday feelings and very dry humour.

He brands himself as an outsider in the art world and the majority of his work is illustrations with a child like aesthetic as they feature crossed-out words, scribbles, uneven lines, and darkly funny observations of the world. They are flat compositions which take on the inconsequential, the bizarre, and the disquieting elements of everyday life. As the words he writes along side these images often feel like the small voice you sometimes hear in your head from time to time.

I found he also dabbles in photography and sculpture with his photos still featuring his signature handwriting which is placed on inanimate objects from coconuts to notebooks in mundane settings. My favourite of his photography pieces seemed to be ones that focused on mental health. One in particularly the giant paint bucket labelled ‘antidepressants’. I liked the dark humour he placed on an otherwise taboo subject.

One of his most recent displays of work was at the Skip Gallery, which is essentially a bright yellow skip at the side of the road in London featuring different artists work. As for his exhibition it featured a small and simple sculpture of 3D words saying ‘look at this’ made out of bronze. 

It seemed to be taking art to its most literal form taking charge of the viewer in a very ironic display,  making art seem almost stupid as we all just stare at something like sheep and follow the crowd. I also really enjoyed the sunflower yellow of the skip featuring his working giving his otherwise very monochrome pallet a pop of colour.

Overall I feel David Shrigley’s work is full of straight up observations and an interesting look on darker topics with a hint of humour. I like his handwriting style and feel many of his pieces would work well incorporating embroidery in some way with the uneven and scribbly lines he uses. He is able to work in wide range of forms but I do enjoy his straight up prints and illustration best with the shapes and style he uses.