Leigh ClarkeWorks
As a resident of Hackney, Clarke became interested in how the local newspaper was decorating the streets with headlines that mis-represented the area. Their focus on disseminating negative news to increase sales did not coincide with the rapid gentrification and positivity in the creative and multi-cultural community. Over a year, Clarke documented the weathered text from the newstand posters and built an alphabet of letterforms, each of the 26 from the first letters of negative words. For example, A = Arson / B = Bloodbath / C = Cancer / D = Death etc. Once the alphabet was digitally prepared, Clarke literally created good news from bad, making comments on normal, positive happenings that occurred on a daily basis in the town. By replicating the posters through screenprinting, Clarke slot his positive statements into the news-stands on Saturday mornings so that the residents of Hackney would enjoy a bombardment of celebratory news over the weekend.
Good news out of bad news
Photocopy and silk-screen print in newspaper stand 2007
Good news out of bad news
Photocopy and silk-screen print in newspaper stand 2007
Good news out of bad news
Photocopy and silk-screen print in newspaper stand 2007
Baby
Acrylic on canvas 2008
117 x 158cm
Exhibited at No Letters, Nettie Horn Gallery and SPACE Now!, The Triangle, selected by Caroline Douglas Head of Arts Council Collection
Love
Acrylic on canvas 2008
117 x 158cm
Exhibited at No Letters, Nettie Horn Gallery
People
Acrylic on canvas 2008
117 x 158cm
Exhibited at No Letters, Nettie Horn Gallery and SPACE Now!, The Triangle, selected by Caroline Douglas Head of Arts Council Collection
Couple
Acrylic on canvas 2008
117 x 158cm
Exhibited at No Letters, Nettie Horn Gallery and SPACE Now!, The Triangle, selected by Caroline Douglas Head of Arts Council Collection
Happy
Acrylic on canvas 2008
117 x 158cm
Exhibited at No Letters, Nettie Horn Gallery and SPACE Now!, The Triangle, selected by Caroline Douglas Head of Arts Council Collection
No Letters at Nettie Horn Gallery 2008
Curated by Leigh Clarke
Works by Ian Breakwell, Leigh Clarke, Lucy Harrison, Dick Jewell, Conor Kelly, Bob and Roberta Smith and Peter Suchin
SPACE Now!, The Triangle 2008, selected by Caroline Douglas Head of Arts Council Collection
Happy and Baby
Acrylic on canvas 117 x 158cm
Good news out of bad news
Photocopy and silk-screen print installed by the Landlord of the Albion pub in Hackney
Life is Only Half the Story
Christ Church, Spitalfields, London 2007
