Tom Estes in Z4RD at The Center for Recent Drawing

Tom Estes in Z4RD at The Center for Recent Drawing

Tom Estes in Z4RD Volume 2: Box of Desires, The Centre for Recent Drawing, Highbury, London

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The work of artist Tom Estes in the second edition of Z4RD


In his work for the SELL OUT exhibition, Z4RD at The Centre for Recent Drawing, artist Tom Estes directly references the surreal wit of Sci-fi horror films and their related ideological fictions. Through this interactive work called 'Dear Earthling' Estes conjures subjects revolving around alien invasions and alien abduction. The term ‘alien abduction’ describes subjectively real memories of being taken secretly and/or against one’s will by apparently nonhuman entities and subjected to complex physical and psychological procedures. Typical claims involve being subjected to a forced medical examination which emphasizes sex and the reproductive system.


Artist Tom Estes:


"Putting aside the question of whether abduction reports are literally and objectively "real", their popularity and their intriguing appeal are easily understood. In the post-modern age, tales of abduction are intrinsically absorbing and it is hard to imagine a more vivid description of human powerlessness in the form of a shared delusion. The science fiction genre itself has long served as a useful vehicle for "safely" discussing controversial topical issues and often providing thoughtful social commentary on potential unforeseen future issues. Presentation of issues that are difficult or disturbing for an audience can be made more acceptable when they are explored in a future setting or on a different, earth-like world. The altered context can allow for deeper examination and reflection of the ideas presented, with the perspective of a viewer watching remote events. Consequently, while many of these purported encounters are described as terrifying, some have been viewed as pleasurable or transformative."


Z4RD at The Centre for Recent Drawing


Curated and edited by Paul Kindersley, the second edition of Z4RD, is released to tie-in with the C4RD’s exhibition HAND JOY, which explores eroticism, desire, possession, longing and the body through drawing. Each artist contributed 20 original artworks, ranging from original drawings to poems to DVDs to woodcuts to photos. This edition is a unique opportunity to own a collection of exciting artworks by new and established international artists. The launch was on WEDNESDAY the 19th MAY

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Drawing: the exercise of imagination on line

"Drawing as an approach is regaining the importance it once had as a way of thinking or acting that is fundamental to the human experience. It is being considered less as a particular use of materials or sub-activity of a particular discipline, and more as an approach discrete in itself.

C4RD’s purpose is to make space for drawing - to maintain the visibility of a characteristically humanist mode of expression and to explore the boundaries of the approach that is drawing; the encouragement and refinement of understanding of which the arts and society at large can benefit. C4RD seeks to facilitate access and dialogue for current drawing practice independent of structural forces in commercial and institutional educational settings. Drawing defined as ‘human imagination on line’ reinforces drawing’s capacity as a performed analogy (mentally/manually) of the continuum that is human consciousness; two marks, as in mathematics, necessarily make a line."

Andrew Hewish

Volume 2 is presented in a plain brown cardboard box, that, like Pandora’s, when opened unleashes the secrets, desires and fantasies of the artists involved. A cornucopia of drawings, from the pornographic to the abstract, exploring the energy of the artists hand. A plain box, a time capsule, hidden under a bed, opened in private, explored, each encounter offers up something different, individual artworks, for the owner to paw over, investigate, watch, read. Trying to evoke the excitement and longing of desire, Box of Desires, presents a unique artwork, a thrilling secret exhibition.

Each box contains original works by - Derya Akay, Maxime Angel, Daphne Astor, Paul Bench, Kirsty Buchanan, Jennifer Campbell, Joan Edlis, Tom Estes, Carlos Franklin, Helen Gorrill, Alex Gough, Gabo Guzzo, Rie Hale, Andrew Hewish Alexander Hidalgo, Sule Kemanci, Paul Kindersley, Sarah Lederman, Neil McNally, Christina Millare, Robert Monk, Oscar Oldershaw, Susannah Pal, Alexander Rathbone, Thom Ravnholdt, Dominic Rich, Grace Schofield, Mark Scott-Wood, Corinna Spencer, Patrick Staff, Magdalena Suranyi, Fred Vernon, Rafal Zajko



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The launch was on WEDNESDAY the 19th MAY, with a drinks reception from 6-8pm, where the Z4RD was available to buy, priced at £120, in a numbered limited edition of only 20 copies.



All proceeds went directly to Centre For Recent Drawing which is Registered UK Charity 1123530.

Read more: http://www.myspace.com/testes2/blog#ixzz12XkxsOUS