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Ryan Jarvis

Discipline:

Artist

Location:

Glasgow

ABOUT:

Ryan Jarvis is an artist based in Glasgow, Scotland. At any time he has several projects ongoing; most are collection based which may be completed upon stopping or contributed to forever.

Based on his experience in wage-labour roles, Ryan reflects on how authority and control is administered over and through workers, particularly where it appears lateral, self-governed or invisible altogether. This forms a significant bearing for his work, where-in habits, routines and sensibilities common to many workers regardless of role or position are exaggerated or mimicked.

This idea of de-centralised control and worker disempowerment is a big underlying theme which informs a ‘world-building’ aspect of Ryan’s work. For example, a prevailing motif is mundane and noxious entities becoming animate, everyday objects with unseen threatening auras like an irradiated material, and references to esoteric/conspiratorial modes of social control. These notions are often embedded in nostalgic or self-effacing forms to create a dynamic of funny ha-ha and funny strange/peculiar.

WORKS:

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'Working Class Creatives' responds to a need which is too often overlooked in the arts; that of the barriers facing working-class artists from getting on in our sector. They are instrumental in initiating much-needed change that will see the art world become more inclusive and reflect the society it purports to serve. I often search their database in my research, it is a vital resource for any arts professional working in culture today. That they have got this far on so little financial resource is remarkable and I am excited to see what they will achieve with further support.” Beth Hughes, Curator, Arts Council Collection.

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