“The side effects to the hardships of the day-to-day dross we endure will come out in various forms of vices” – Melville on his debut exhibition ‘Lager, Lines & Louts’

Sheffield-based artist Melville chats to Exposed about his upcoming debut exhibition, which will see him joining forces with a number of creatives to explore the underbelly of British society and its often dicey relationship with escapism.

How long has this exhibition been in the works?
The current project has been in the works for over a year now. The first finished piece that will be on display will have been around for nearly a year to the date of the exhibition. After featuring in the January edition of Exposed, I’d said that I’d love to finally do an exhibition this year. Thankfully, Mondo Radio reached out to offer their historic place as a home for the event.

What has the process been like to pull it together so far?
The most enjoyable thing with this collection of work is that it’s been able to naturally progress to its current form. I’ve always split my work into main projects and single pieces which have acted as a continuous visual diary. With Lager, Lines & Louts it’s been nurtured and developed over a long period of time, so it feels like some of the most complete set of works that I’ve created. The idea that I’ll be showing this work in a real visual setting has been an enriching experience.

Your work often explores the vices of British culture, or as you’ve termed it yourself, “the underbelly of society”. Creatively, what interests you in this subject matter?
Ultimately, it’s a reality we can’t ignore: we are a product of our environments. We have too little time to discuss every issue we face in modern Britain, from corrupt politicians to low-paid jobs and greedy corporations. But unfortunately, the side effects to the hardships of the day-to-day dross we endure will come out in various forms of vices. Growing up and experiencing first-hand a lot of these issues has made me want to put a spotlight on it. I also find that this transcends class systems, which really interests me. From the lower to the upper classes, we all have our ways of escaping our expectations in life.

On that note, which specific topics will the exhibition explore?
The main idea behind the exhibition will focus on escapism. Why do people need to participate in the things that they do as a release from the realities of life. My work will touch on the topics of drink, drugs, violence and different ways that we find solace in life, like our British holidays abroad. All of these things are deeply rooted in British culture.

We have too little time to discuss every issue we face in modern Britain, from corrupt politicians to low-paid jobs and greedy corporations. But unfortunately, the side effects to the hardships of the day-to-day dross we endure will come out in various forms of vices.

You’ll be collaborating with a range of artists on this. What can we expect to see and why did you it was important to add new artistic voices into the mix?
Personally, from the very start I’ve wanted to collaborate with other creatives. That’s what I love, and there’s definitely not enough of it happening. It’s important to share these experiences with other people. We have some amazing creatives involved in the exhibition: Spicebag (mála spíosraí), who recently painted the ‘Free Derry’ wall; Bloodshot inc, a class videographer who I’ve done many projects with; Get A Real Job Kid, an artist who’s worked with bands such as Paramore, Green Day and My Chemical Romance; Ugloe, a talented creative who’s featuring soon at Bring the Paint. We’ve got True Fiction, of Sheffield’s finest podcast, Tha What, who is going to be curating all the music for the night. These are all individuals I have a huge respect for and have the same ideals as.

What do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing the art, sculpture, videos and music curated for the exhibition?
The most important thing for me is for people to see this exhibition and be inspired to host their own events, as this has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. By pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I hope others will follow and do the same – the Sheffield art scene needs more of these events! We have a lot of talented individuals in and around Sheffield, but unfortunately as an art community, it’s quite stagnant right now. We do have the opportunity to change this by making more of these events and supporting each other.

Lager, Lines & Louts opens on Saturday 27th April from 7pm until late at Mondo Radio, 7 Smithfield S3 7AR. Free entry and bring your own booze.

@melville_the_third