For enquiries about specific pieces please contact David directly by email db@davidblackmore.co.uk

Someone once introduced me as a 'conceptual archivist'. Previous to this I hadn't thought of what I do in terms of the creation of archives of works.
However the more I thought about this the more apt it became.

My initial artistic development was through photography - a medium that has had not only a turbulent time becoming accepted as an art form but also one which has a long running tradition of topography. An oeuvre involving the creation of bodies of work which document and categorise aspects of life and the world we inhabit. The grouping of objects and scenes, animate and
inanimate, leads the viewer into a mindset of comparison between the different elements in a work. This opens up a dialogue surrounding
uniqueness and commonality. Rather than cementing a sense of likeness this process highlights the difference between seemingly similar subjects and
their connotations regarding contemporary existence. From August Sander to the Bechers through to Ruff. This is a long running and accepted methodology within 'art' photography.

As a result of this introductory development approach to examining the world, the early photographic work I made referenced and continued this genre.

Following my photographic visual education my practice gradually diversified and moved away from photographic imagery. The opening up of my
practice is as a result of my role as a fractional lecture in Art and Design. With this role I am charged with exposing students to the wide
gamut of creative practice and over time this has had a visible impact on my artistic work and my practice began to incorporate different media. Each idea has its natural approach, materials and media to which its execution is best suited, which in my work utilises a variety of media, techniques
and methodologies.

Presently I'm interested in objects we encounter in daily life which for me connote wider statements of contemporary existence. Be it the blue lights used to prevent intravenous drug use in public spaces, free pens given away by banks at the height of the recession, second hand self-help books or the lucky pennies I collect.

These and many others appeal to me and comment on a sense of anxiousness; to live up to or be happy and media perfect. These objects also highlight
the cracks in this simulation we all inhabit. The catalogue of my work thus far is about the futility of this desire and hopefully holds resonance with others through collective pathos or frustration.

The term 'conceptual archivist' seems apt because each of my works catalogue a type of object or material that when placed alongside other
similar objects have a compounded meaning.

Control is manifested not just in the creation of these archives but also within specific pieces of mine. While I am still interested in control, I
am increasingly producing work involving an element of unpredictability, such as my buried cameras, found annotation in second hand self help books, lucky pennies and my upcoming attempt to cross Ireland without passing a pub. These works mark a change in my practice’s underlining concern; away from control and to the futility of control and the embracement of chance.

David was invited to make work for The Schwartz Gallery’s Project space [London]in 2010. The work that was produced for this space, 'Self Help', has since travelled to The Voorkamer [Belgium] as part of ‘In and outside – writing’ and been published in Argon Magazine. In addition to this Blackmore exhibited work in The Irish Photography Festival, The Belfast Photography Festival and The Margate Photography Festival during the summer of 2011.

Previously David has had solo shows at Gallery Vassie [Amsterdam], Draiocht [Dublin], The Central European House of Photography [Bratislava] and also been involved in a number of group shows in Canada, India, Malaysia, Slovenia, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Aside from his own artistic practice Blackmore is a part time lecturer at the University for the Creative Arts [UK]. David has also guest lectured at a number of institutions including the University of Westminster [London] and the Institute for Art, Design and Technology [Dublin].

For more information visit www.davidblackmore.co.uk or www.davidblackmore.blogspot.com … Read More