MGH TUCKER - BIOGRAPHY
Michael Tucker was born in St Albans in 1989. Growing up in the UK, he went on to study Visual Arts at Coleg Harlech in 2010, where he acquired a Foundation diploma. From there, Tucker attended Aberystwyth University where he studied and practiced Fine Art, earning a Bachelor's degree in 2014 and a Master's degree in 2020. During this time, Tucker successfully exhibited his artwork in Harlech, Aberystwyth and London. In 2019, Tucker was featured on national television, where he participated in "Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019".
EDUCATION:
Aberystwyth University (MA) 2018 - 2020
Aberystwyth University (BA) 2011 - 2014
Coleg Harlech (Foundation) 2010 - 2011
EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS:
"Spring Back" Exhibition, The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans - 2021
Aberystwyth School of Art September Exhibition (Online Exhibit) - 2020
The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Aberystwyth School of Art Postgraduate Degree Show (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Featured on "Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019".
The Wallace Collection, London - May 2018
Aberystwyth School of Art Undergraduate Degree Show - 2014
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2013
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2012
Coleg Harlech Summer Exhibition - 2011
EDUCATION:
Aberystwyth University (MA) 2018 - 2020
Aberystwyth University (BA) 2011 - 2014
Coleg Harlech (Foundation) 2010 - 2011
EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS:
"Spring Back" Exhibition, The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans - 2021
Aberystwyth School of Art September Exhibition (Online Exhibit) - 2020
The Nude Tin Can Gallery, St Albans (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Aberystwyth School of Art Postgraduate Degree Show (Online Exhibit) - 2020
Featured on "Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019".
The Wallace Collection, London - May 2018
Aberystwyth School of Art Undergraduate Degree Show - 2014
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2013
Aberystwyth School of Art Winter Exhibition - 2012
Coleg Harlech Summer Exhibition - 2011
MGH TUCKER - ARTIST STATEMENT
"From an early age I have been fascinated by the aesthetic quality of television static. This fascination seems to have combined with my later interests of dreams and nightmares.
My work is a combination - or perhaps a mutation - of these interests.
My work is focused on exploring the aesthetic makeup of dreams and nightmares through the lens of a distorted digital perspective.
Dreams, or nightmares tend to be characterized with graininess and distortions, which, in a paradoxical sort of way seem to lend a kind of authenticating quality to them. Dreams and nightmares feel distinctly and uniquely real precisely because of their aesthetic lack of clarity, and their distorted - glitchy - nature.
Visual malfunctions of reality serve to draw renewed attention to it.
'Found Footage' style horror movies, for example, go out of their way to present their stories through a shaky glitchy camera in order to enhance their authenticity and believability.
There is something almost absurd about this apparent contradiction, which is why I also like to put a tongue-in-cheek level of Absurdism into some of my works.
This injection of Absurdism has since evolved into Cyber Surrealism.
There seems to be something inescapably absurd about using paint to describe something digital or analogue. However, perhaps the medium of painting owes something to the simulated world of glitches, distortions and cybernetic landscapes.
The future is looking more nostalgic yet cybernetic day by day, and as we enter our glitchy digitized future, dreams and nightmares retain their ever constant presence.
It is my aim as a painter to bring the idea of 'Cybernetic Dreams' and 'Cybernetic Nightmares' to life."
My work is a combination - or perhaps a mutation - of these interests.
My work is focused on exploring the aesthetic makeup of dreams and nightmares through the lens of a distorted digital perspective.
Dreams, or nightmares tend to be characterized with graininess and distortions, which, in a paradoxical sort of way seem to lend a kind of authenticating quality to them. Dreams and nightmares feel distinctly and uniquely real precisely because of their aesthetic lack of clarity, and their distorted - glitchy - nature.
Visual malfunctions of reality serve to draw renewed attention to it.
'Found Footage' style horror movies, for example, go out of their way to present their stories through a shaky glitchy camera in order to enhance their authenticity and believability.
There is something almost absurd about this apparent contradiction, which is why I also like to put a tongue-in-cheek level of Absurdism into some of my works.
This injection of Absurdism has since evolved into Cyber Surrealism.
There seems to be something inescapably absurd about using paint to describe something digital or analogue. However, perhaps the medium of painting owes something to the simulated world of glitches, distortions and cybernetic landscapes.
The future is looking more nostalgic yet cybernetic day by day, and as we enter our glitchy digitized future, dreams and nightmares retain their ever constant presence.
It is my aim as a painter to bring the idea of 'Cybernetic Dreams' and 'Cybernetic Nightmares' to life."
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
