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Mark Titchner is an artist based in South London. Over the last two decades, he has used language in various forms to explore ideas about belief systems, whether religious, scientific or political. During this period, much of his practice has focused on working in the public realm, on the streets and in spaces we share with others, such as hospitals, stations and libraries.
For MOCA WE, Titchner has made a series of animations to extend his installation ‘Routine’, which is currently on show at DKUK; a unique hair Salon in Peckham that showcases contemporary art in its workspace. Titchner has a long-term fascination with the relationship between the language of self-help, self-improvement and, in particular, the intersectional point between the language of control and authority. In this installation entitled Routine, the viewer is confronted with a series of mirror-sized artworks, each presenting a short affirmation of the kind commonly found in self-help programmes. The statements in their original context are designed to reinforce the reader’s self-esteem, acting as a series of internalised mantras to carry through the difficulties and challenges of life. However, when presented visually en masse, these aphorisms suggest a potentially more oppressive presence. They remind us of the pressure placed on the individual in our society to conform to a specific psychological stereotype, which is reinforced by the phenomena of happiness and well-being in contemporary industry. He was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2006, participated in the Venice Biennale in 2007 and was Artist in Residence at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, in 2012. In 2018 he completed a major new permanent public work, ‘Me, Here Now,’ installed at London Bridge Station. His work is held in numerous Public Collections, including Arts Council, Tate, British Council, Government Art Collection, South London Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Guildhall Art Gallery. @mocalondon_we www.marktitchner.com IG: @marktitchner DKUK @dkuksalon |
Work list (from top left to bottom right):
1 - 'I love myself. I am worthy of love.' 2 - 'I am worthy of good things.' 3 - 'I can choose positive thoughts.' 4 - 'I let my happiness be visible to others.' 5 - 'My happiness overflows from me.' 6 - 'I can use my happiness to bring joy to others.' 7 - 'I am stronger and braver than I look.' 8 - 'My life is moving forward perfectly.' 9 - 'I am confident of my decisions.' 10 - 'I am the creator of my own destiny.' 11 - 'I stand behind the things I say and do.' 12 - 'I can choose the people I allow into my life.' 13 - 'I surround myself with loving people.' 14 - 'I surround myself with those who adore me.' |