Exhibition Top Pick: We Love What You’ve Done with the Place
A collaborative show spotlighting some of the city’s most exciting creatives, We Love What You’ve Done with the Place takes a caustic swipe at the state of things through a blend of various mediums. Exposed spoke with the artists behind the concept, Kieran Flynn and Melville, to learn what more to expect from the upcoming exhibition.
How did the idea for the show come about?
KF: As an artist, it’s easy to get trapped in your own world a bit. I spend loads of time in my studio beavering away. Then I put on an exhibition of my work, and whilst I will have got lots of other people’s input along the way, the whole process can be very insular. I had been thinking for a while that I wanted to meet some other Sheffield artists that make interesting work and put a group show on. I just hadn’t been too sure how to go about it. Then a few months back I went to Melville’s show, Lager Lines & Louts. I loved how in your face it all was: a mix of different media, some collaboration pieces and the opposite of what an art exhibition usually is – there was a real party atmosphere. Melville and I got chatting, and We Love What You’ve Done with the Place was born.
“As an artist, it’s easy to get trapped in your own world a bit… I had been thinking for a while that I wanted to meet some other Sheffield artists that make interesting work and put a group show on.”
It’s not just you two exhibiting, so how did the other artists come on board?
M: We decided as we already had two lads in Kieran and me, that we wanted to bring in more of a diverse lineup for the exhibition. I got both Suzi Kemp and Nameless Nat on board, and Kieran got in contact with an anonymous sticker artist called Swan Vesta. They’re all people who are making interesting artwork and doing it in a way that is a bit away from the norm, which should make the show quite an eclectic one.
Tell us about the show’s title.
M: It’s an ironic title. The exhibition is a look at the state of the nation/world and a comment on the fact that, in many ways, things at present are utterly shit. From social housing to Gaza, from NHS waiting lists to Donald Trump, both nationally and internationally, we feel the world is going down the shitter. It’s also good timing with the general election coming up. Look out for our Tory-sponsored sick bags!
KF: The title is open enough that all the artists can find something to inspire their work and the fact that it’s ‘We’ and not ‘I’ is important. The exhibition is a chance to express how we’re feeling about things through our art. Doing that in a group feels like a powerful thing as you’re not just one voice and it also invites people who come to see the show to come along with us. Hopefully, it’s not just us that feel this way. As with everything, there is more power in the collective.
A piece by Melville. “The exhibition is a look at the state of the nation/world and a comment on the fact that, in many ways, things at present are utterly shit.”
In terms of the art styles on show, what can we hope to see?
M: I‘ll be doing my usual collage and I’ve got a new video piece with Bloodshot in the pipeline. I’ve got some exciting people collaborating on some of my pieces including Ugloe, Cocobongo, Krime, Ellie Ramsden, 1eurofiddy and loads more. I got about 20 people to help me out in total. The message that I’m trying to get across with my work is that I’m just trying to find my way through all the bullshit like everyone else. I love British culture – the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s something the politicians, royalty and the powers that be can’t take away from us. My art will be celebrating that.
I think Nameless Nat’s’ stuff will fit well alongside mine. Her style is very different; she has an illustrative style with thick black lines and lots of prose. She draws her inspiration from a similar place, though, with references to working-class culture and her upbringing in an area with high unemployment. Her poems are brilliant.
Suzi’s artwork is illustration and design-based; she usually works in ink with digital colour. She loves wordplay and that features heavily in her stuff. I know she’s excited to be doing this show with other artists who see the world in a similar way and to be doing stuff outside of a usual design brief. She mentioned the other day that she’s been looking at black mould as inspiration for her work, as she’s sick of it turning up in every house she’s ever rented.
By Suzi Kemp, who will be exhibiting her work at the show.
KF: I’ve been doing my usual stylised/abstract bright and bold paintings. Loads of spray paint and enamels. I’ve started mucking about with oils too. I’ve been looking at all sorts of issues from climate change to war. I think I’ve been taking more of a general worldview than coming down on specific issues.
Swan Vesta is a bit of an unknown as they’re keen to keep things anonymous. I think perhaps some sculpture, possibly matchstick-related, maybe some photography and I’d be surprised if stickers don’t feature quite heavily. I noticed on their Instagram that they’ve started putting little exhibitions in phone boxes for people to find, which I think is a cool idea. I love the idea of people drawn as burnt-out matchsticks making nihilistic remarks.
You’ll be hosting at the Two and Six micropub on Snig Hill. Why have you chosen that venue?
KF: It’s a really cool setup there and I encourage any artists looking for a venue to check it out. Dan and Juliet really know their beer, so they’ll have some great ales on. On the other side they have a white box gallery with gorgeous light due to the big glass front to it. It’s really reasonable to hire too, with wheelchair access into the gallery. It’s a little gem.
“I love the idea of people drawn as burnt-out matchsticks making nihilistic remarks.” Work by Swan Vesta.
What else can people expect on the night?
KF: We’re going to do some goody bags for the first 20 people that arrive. We’ll have some music, possibly a heavy hardcore-based playlist due to our collective music taste. It should be a very unpretentious and enjoyable night of contemporary Sheffield art.
Is there anything in the pipeline for you both after this?
KF: I’ve taken over running the Kelham Island Arts Collective. We’re hoping to reopen our gallery soon and some studios, so that’ll take up some time. I’ve also been designing wallpaper; people can see that at @needleandcapp. I’d love to do more group shows and work with these lot again.
It’s also good timing with the general election coming up. Look out for our Tory-sponsored sick bags!
M: I’ve got a few more collaborations and commissions coming up. If this show goes well, we’re talking about doing it again or trying to take it to another city. I’ve got some pieces in a show called Dlúthpháirtíocht Irish Solidarity with Palestine at the P21 Gallery in London – all the profits go towards Palestinian aid.
We Love What You’ve Done with the Place opens at Two & Six Micropub, 26 Snig Hill, on 19 July from 7pm-11pm. Follow the artists on socials for exhibition updates and afterparty announcements: @melville_the_third and @flynn_kieran.
Top image: @lili_takesflickis
