Kim J Thornton
Born in 1966, Luke studied Fine Art in the 1980s and while others faithfully chanted the Conceptual mantra of the time, Luke perfected his drawing skills and drew inspiration from the early 20th century French painters - particularly Henri Matisse and Picasso.
His recent move to a quiet village near Rye in East Sussex has afforded the space and time needed to develop his practice - each painting is drawn or indeed wrenched from the bottom of his boots. Whether on a large or small scale every work has an immediacy and punch that is truly inspiring.
We think Luke Hannam is a rare talent and are thrilled to present his work.
kim j thornton
‘When I first started studying sculpture at Morley College, I worked in clay to produce portrait heads and figures. Over recent years, I have been working in metal and plaster, making walking animals or birds. This work has been inspired by the Victorian photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Muybridge photographed the movement of animals and birds frame by frame, creating detailed studies of motion. My walking pieces aim to convey the sense of a figure on a journey and with that, the passing of time. Using plaster allows an exploration of form. The introduction of steel, often rusted, gives the work a skeletal quality, hinting at decay.’
In contrast, the sculptures in static poses have been stimulated by Victorian taxidermy. When I came across a stuffed Shoebill at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, I was taken by its strange and fantastical appearance. This was the first sculpture in which I used a found object; a Victorian shoe tree perfectly reflected the shape of the bill. The success of this piece became a springboard for further bird sculptures incorporating vintage tools or objects as beaks.
EDUCATION
Morley College 2008-2019 ongoing sculpture workshops
Group Exhibitions
Cameron Contemporary Art, Hove 2019
Here Lies Art, Nunhead Cemetery 2010
Sculpture Society Annual, Morley Gallery 2010
Lambeth Open 2015 Portico Gallery
Made 2016 , Morley Gallery
Dulwich Artist Open 2016 and 2017
Roseberys' Introducing, Roseberys' Auction House 2017
Made 2018, Morley Gallery
Dulwich Open House 2019