Biography
David Laurence Pratt
ARTIST'S BRIEF STATEMENT:
My work sets out to develop personal mythologies through drawing, utilising repetition and variation. I explore themes combining experience with observation. I start with drawing as a means of establishing some fixed point around which the work can develop. My subject matter comes from assorted eras as the mood takes me. I strive for a ‘pancronicity’, troubled not so much with the now, as with all time.
I seek the universal in the particular, rather than the general. This displays itself in my use of the human figure which often takes the form of semi-portraiture, as opposed to unfocused crowd. Around this person-centred tableau, I introduce the familiar in unexpected combination as a means to hint at narratives and symbols. My method is to behave as if I am writing a familiar language with established rules, playing this off against our era’s uncertain eclecticism. Paradoxically my work is very eclectic in its use of objects and material, frequently taking the form of whimsical contraption.
STUDIO:
Unity Arts Trust, St James Ind.Est. Chichester, W. Sussex.
CURRENT / FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS:
From June, 2010-2011: Broomhill Art & Sculpture Foundation: Selected Finalist in National Sculpture Prize
October 2011 - Open Studios:- http://www.unityartstrust.org.uk/open-studios-2010
OTHER EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS:
July 2010, Unity Art at The Oxmarket Centre of Arts, St Andrews Court
July, 2010: Blakes Heaven Joint ARTEL Exhibition- The Priory, Chichester
June 2009: ARTEL - Chichester Art Trail Exhibition
October, 2007 The Prince’s Drawing School:- The Drawing Year Exhibition, Shoreditch, London
October, 2007 The Tea Buildings Studio ,London
May 2007: Windsor Castle - Student Drawing Exhibition
May 2007-June 2007 Sculptuur Biënnale - Reflecties aan zee Kijkduin:- The Hague, Netherlands
October 2006 The Hayes Prize:- Chichester University (Arts) Award
September, 2006 Scholorship:- The Prince’s Drawing School, London
June 2006 - May 2007 Suburban Odyssey exhibited at :-Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood, W. Sussex
May 2006 Degree Show University of Chichester
November 2005 Commissioned as Portrait Artist during exhibition Chichester Open Art Exhibition
July 2005 Naked Drawing The Otter Gallery, Chichester University
July 2005 Untapped The OxMarket, Chichester
PUBLICATIONS
(included in) Book: Cass Sculpture Foundation 2004-2007 ISBN 978-0-9537794-5-1
POSTGRADUATE STUDY:
The Prince’s Drawing School, London: Awarded Full time Scholorship
Postgraduate Diploma:- "The Drawing Year" Sept 2006 - Oct 2007
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:
2006- MA Equivalent Postgraduate Diploma - The Prince's Drawing School
2003- May 2006 BA (Hons.)(First Class) Fine Art University of Chichester:
1979 to1982 Diploma- Portsmouth College of Art & Design