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What’s This For…

A series of digital and mixed media compositions, based upon Killing Joke’s second album ‘What’s This For…’

This is a selection of about 30 artworks that were on show. No imagery of the band or any their design work was used in any of the pieces.

Unspeakable One of the larger full colour Digital Composites, that are printed on aluminium. ‘Unspeakable’ is the third track on the album ‘What’s this for’, and this visual response combines an array of jumbled imagery that does not intend to create a new narrative, but only as a response at the time of creating the work. An industrial backdrop that combines lyrics and numbers, semi-indecipherable text that permeates the composition, making the viewer look closely into the layered textures. possibly revealing elements that were not apparent at first glance. The standout gas mask image is representational of what? The on-going global pandemic? The suffocation and inability to breath in a future existence with a polluted world? The continued threat of a nuclear war? Or perhaps a reflection of anxieties that seem to permeate so many of our lives? There is a purposeful ambiguity in the works, and I want the viewer to be responsible for making their own narrative and versions of what they see.

unspeakable: digital

Print for sale
Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian-follow the leaders Follow The Leaders The lyrics from the song 'Follow the Leaders' from the Killing Joke album ‘What’s this for’, is a probable reference to the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, as well as the people who will follow anyone with a stronger personality than them. How things have not changed in 40 years! My personal visual response to this song shows children in a circle holding hands going round and round, is representative of a population being led a merry dance by the dictates of our leaders. The lyric ‘same old story’ also visible in the composition, surely speaks for itself. There is a dark cloudlike shape, threateningly hanging above the playing children, alluding to a constant threat from our World Leader’s decisions. ‘Playtime doesn’t last forever’ which again is a lyric from the song, is equally important in supporting this aspect of the artwork. The partially visible figure in the foreground, creates a menacing presence, as it appears to approach the children and light flare. Look at this in context of the song and the other visual clues in the work. It is not more sinister than that! Overall, text is embedded in the layering of the composition, with ‘Follow the Leaders’ being clearly visible, but parts of it disintegrate into the background, adding to the confusion and melee of the competing elements within the framework.
Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian Follow The Leaders The lyrics from the song 'Follow the Leaders' from the Killing Joke album ‘What’s this for’, is a probable reference to the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, as well as the people who will follow anyone with a stronger personality than them. How things have not changed in 40 years! My personal visual response to this song shows children in a circle holding hands going round and round, is representative of a population being led a merry dance by the dictates of our leaders. The lyric ‘same old story’ also visible in the composition, surely speaks for itself. There is a dark cloudlike shape, threateningly hanging above the playing children, alluding to a constant threat from our World Leader’s decisions. ‘Playtime doesn’t last forever’ which again is a lyric from the song, is equally important in supporting this aspect of the artwork. The partially visible figure in the foreground, creates a menacing presence, as it appears to approach the children and light flare. Look at this in context of the song and the other visual clues in the work. It is not more sinister than that! Overall, text is embedded in the layering of the composition, with ‘Follow the Leaders’ being clearly visible, but parts of it disintegrate into the background, adding to the confusion and melee of the competing elements within the framework.

follow the leaders: digital follow the leaders: mixed media

Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian
Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian

tension: mixed media tension: digital

Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian
Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian
Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian

fall of because: digital fall of because: mixed media madness: digital

Digital composition - Killing Joke - Artwork- Mixed Media - Dystopian

exit: digital butcher: digital

Exhibition Poster:

February 2022.

Unspeakable One of the larger full colour Digital Composites, that are printed on aluminium. ‘Unspeakable’ is the third track on the album ‘What’s this for’, and this visual response combines an array of jumbled imagery that does not intend to create a new narrative, but only as a response at the time of creating the work. An industrial backdrop that combines lyrics and numbers, semi-indecipherable text that permeates the composition, making the viewer look closely into the layered textures. possibly revealing elements that were not apparent at first glance. The standout gas mask image is representational of what? The on-going global pandemic? The suffocation and inability to breath in a future existence with a polluted world? The continued threat of a nuclear war? Or perhaps a reflection of anxieties that seem to permeate so many of our lives? There is a purposeful ambiguity in the works, and I want the viewer to be responsible for making their own narrative and versions of what they see.

unspeakable (gold series) who told you how (gold series)