Ben Walker

Lives and works in London, UK

Artist statement

Source material includes long since cancelled tv programmes, vaguely recalled childrens films, public information films, books. Some of these became deeply ingrained not just in memory but even affecting a world view as well. There were some dark and challenging programmes in that era, (1970s and 80s) with layers of interpretation and wit. Modern technology has allowed this engagement with the past, instant availability via the internet. Memories of the past have been preserved and have a continued life in the present. I think creating an image that is simple and unified can be something that stays in the mind. That kind of simplicity is linked to memorability. It even reflects the mental process of creating memory. We have to distill facts from a vast amount of information to confront the complexity of reality. This can indicate the relevance and importance of handmade paintings in this image saturated environment. The aspects of memory I’m most drawn to exploring or recreating are those that are unsettling or eerie but also familiar or comfortable. I think of the paintings as a misremembering or a re-imagining of a parallel Britain. I’m interested in the idea of hauntology – that is art or music that draws from and examines a sense of loss of a post war utopian modernist future that was never quite reached. I’m trying to create a picture of childhood wonder or innocence that is fragile, continually threatened or on the verge or being lost, or tainted by the intruding...

Artwork