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Derek Dickinson Artist | Just a Moment

Derek Dickinson

AVAILABLE
Archive
Exhibitions

Resilient Vulnerability - Expressions of Strength | Theatre Royal Plymouth, Devon, UK 2024​​
Kips Bay Palm Beach, 230 Miramar Way, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA - 2024
Collaborative - Lisk Gallery at: 44AD Gallery, 4 Abbey St. Bath, Somerset -  2024
Collaborative - Lisk Gallery, Liskeard, Cornwall - 2023
Dreaming in Colour and Shape - Daa Art Online Exhibition - 2023
MA Contemporary Art Practice - Graduation Show - University of Plymouth, Devon - 2022
Collaborative - KARST Gallery, Plymouth, Devon - 2021
Gallery Shtorm Inaugural Online Exhibition - 2021
Equilibrium & Chaos - Collaborative - Gallery Shtorm in residence at Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, London - 2021
Summer Exhibition 2020 - Royal Academy of Arts, London - 2020
Solo - Host Galleries, Plymouth, Devon - 2019
Solo - Scholars, St Germans, Cornwall - 2019
Solo - Scholars, St Germans, Cornwall - 2018
Solo - Long Gallery, St Germans, Cornwall - 2016
Collaborative - Artmill Gallery, Plymouth, Devon - 2017
Collaborative - Artmill Gallery, Plymouth, Devon - 2016
Collaborative - Artmill Gallery, Plymouth, Devon - 2015
Solo - The Pipe Gallery, Plymouth, Devon - 2012
Collaborative - Modern Artist Gallery, Pangbourne, Berkshire - 2012
Collaborative - Royal William Yard, Plymouth, Devon - 2010
Collaborative - Royal William Yard, Plymouth, Devon - 2009
Solo - The Gallery, Liskeard, Cornwall - 2009​

About

Derek Dickinson (b. 1960) is from southwest England. In 1983, he relocated to London and worked as a designer and stylist for film, photography, television, video, and performance. He was also an assistant director on music videos and worked in artist management and PR, predominantly associated with the music industry.

After returning to the South West, Derek completed a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Plymouth University in 2010 and a Master of Arts in Contemporary Art Practice in 2022. He has exhibited work in numerous solo and collaborative shows, including The Summer Exhibition 2020 at The Royal Academy, London, Berlin, and southwest England. His work is in permanent collections in the USA, Canada, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Derek resides in a remote farmhouse cottage on the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.

Statement

 

My work explores the human condition, delving into the intricacies of human existence. As my practice evolved, I witnessed a shift in its conceptual expression of human emotion. The pieces started to assume a more figurative shape. This evolution led me to consider whether the subconscious development of these forms was influenced by memories from a time when I worked closely with performative artists.

Captivated by their unwavering commitment to their art despite its challenges, I began contemplating the human experience through the performer. Taking a more biographical approach, I started reading the stories of other performative artists, which led me to Vaslav Nijinsky, referred to as the greatest dancer of the early twentieth century.

I was drawn to Nijinsky while reading The Diary of Vaslav Nijinsky (Nijinsky, 2006). The diary was a starting point for exploration, presenting vast insight into Nijinsky’s vulnerability. The diary entries provide a raw and unfiltered glimpse into Nijinsky's mind, revealing his struggles with mental illness and his complex relationship with his art. I seek to capture the essence of Nijinsky's emotional complexities.

Movement plays a crucial role in establishing mood; exaggerated and distorted shapes significantly enhance the perception of motion. I include only the essential elements necessary to evoke specific emotions, thereby encouraging deeper interpretation and personal engagement from the viewer. The minimalist canvases, meticulously crafted from a combination of muslin fabric and acrylic paint, present dynamic, intricate, and sensuous textures that invite contemplation of the complexities of the human mind.

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