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David Clapham
David Clapham was born in North Yorkshire. He now lives and works between Rotherhithe on the south bank of the Thames in London and his studio in rural Central Portugal near the historic City of Coimbra.
From his studio David creates large canvases using acrylic paint and collage techniques which draw on his years as a Filmmaker and Fine Artist. He also produces smaller works as a preparation for larger works and prints.
His recent pictures have been strongly influenced by the forest fires which swept across his land and almost destroyed his studio.
Educated at the Slade School of Art in London, David had a successful career as a University lecturer introducing moving image and sound into the traditional Fine Art curriculum at the time before focussing on work in documentary film making and television. He was co-founder of the Bridewell Studios in Liverpool, an influential workspace that included Anish Kapoor and Ian McKeever as resident artists.
David has exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and particularly in Portugal. His most recent one man exhibitions in London were at the Pavilion Shad Thames, May 2019, Bermondsey Gallery in 2018 and D Contemporary, Grafton Street, Mayfair in 2017.
A recurring concern in his work is inherited memory, he does not look at nature to represent what we immediately see. It is looking through the lens of history and recollection that sets in train a series of memories, of a moment, a place, a passage of a particular day, a glimpse of colour with its inherent memories that create the true reality.
His work reflects the process of research that underpinned his film making. Carrying and merging an image from other locations with the Portuguese landscape his most recent pre-occupation with the forest fires is documenting a landscape that has been irreparably scarred and destroyed. The rapid return to verdant growth is remarkable whilst the doubts about the future of the global environment will remain an everyday concern.
The new project space in Olivais, Coimbra builds on successful recent exhibitions, but allows David to return to a broader spectrum of approaches to Fine Art and to include partners in the process. Through collaboration we will be providing a platform between the areas of film, theatre and sound in an intimate space as an integrated programme of activity.
Recent exhibitions:
The Pavilion, Shad Thames, London,May 2019, solo exhibition
Bermondsey Gallery London 2018, solo exhibition
Galleria SETE Coimbra 2018, Arte de Bolso, mixed exhibition
D Contemporary, Mayfair, London 2017, Das Beiras, solo exhibition
Galeria Rastro, , Figueira da Foz 2016 selected works
Galeria Quadra Soltas, Porto, 2015, Amalgama, solo exhibition
Art Catto, Loule , 2015, selected works
Casa do Artista, Gois, 2014, Fervenca, solo exhibition
Merceria do Artes, Coimbra, 2013, Vale, solo exhibition
Galeria Almedina, Coimbra 2007, solo exhibition
Work in other exhibitions: Harrogate Open, Bridewell Studios Open Liverpool, Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool University Gallery, Third Eye, Glasgow, Kunsterne Hus Oslo, Walker Art Gallery Liverpool, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Plymouth City Gallery
Bluecoat Gallery Liverpool, 1967 promoted and organized ‘YOKO ONO’ ‘Music of the Mind’ performance piece
Purchased works in private and public collections in USA, UK, Angola, Germany, Portugal