Christian Marsden Artist

One of the artists, participating in the Open Studios, we visited over the weekend, was Christian Marsden. It was really nice to meet and chat with him, very personable and easy to engage with. Christian is in his early twenties and not long out of Art College. I really appreciated his artwork as it appeals to me on different levels. I am a townie at heart and love urban culture so can identify with the 'everyday' subject matter Christian is using in his work. He has taken mundane items and turned them into objects of desire.

" I try and choose objects that have intrinsic meaning to broader issues or a bigger picture. I take them and translate them in ceramics, I make moulds of the objects.  I turned the casts into a functional object, they are quite quirky. It's post-modern really, taking an object with the potential of adding something to it with an additional meaning."

I also have an interest in the medium he uses, ceramics, being the proud owner of an O level and A level in the subject (I was attracted to 'being good with your hands' subjects at school so couldn't resist ceramics when it was introduced into the curriculum)  Christian's work appeals to my design sensibility, not only does it stand as art but it has functionality too, always a plus in my book!

Christian says "I'm more interested in the street artists rather than the Turners or the classical artists, and I have little interest in traditional craft or sculpture. I look towards recent culture and modern landscapes for ideas and visual pleasures. Studying in an isolated, countryside landscape, I now realise I can find beauty in cracked, old, industrial architecture and graffiti on train windows."

I can relate to this sentiment, when at art college, doing the rounds of the art galleries, I remember thinking if I see another room of Turner's paintings ('Turner's Bequest' at the Tate) I will scream, is that sacrilege?

I wish him luck with his endeavours, I'm sure he will do very well.

There is still time to see Christian's work his studio is open on these days and times-

Saturday 25 Sept 12noon-4pm   Sunday 26 Sept 12noon-3pm

Saturday  2 Oct 12noon-4pm       Sunday  3 Sept 12noon-3pm

22 Charles Street, Berkhamstead, HP4 3DF

01442 872486

stolenform@hotmail.com

www.stolenform.com