Taxi Gallery

Back Seat Tuna Town James R Ford
June 5 - 30

Taxi Gallery visited Tuna Town, a world inspired by the hidden mischief in early children’s cartoons. The exhibition contained soft sculptures of all the characters and an interactive DVD to introduce visitors to the inhabitants of Tuna Town. Ford’s work is constructed from nostalgic/childhood visual references & ideas, combined with humour, personal history and contemporary issues. Giving illustration a conceptual edge and bringing it into the context of contemporary art, Tuna Town is a deconstruction and investigation into the systems within cartoons, their embedded/subliminal messages and our british obsession with toilet humour. Like the seaside postcard or pantomime joke this is an innuendo filled world with the potential to both delight, disturb and raise provocative questions. James says “I would like Feecal (the little chocolate starfish heroine of Tuna Town) to become a universal icon, transcending boundaries of language and race. I hope she will benefit the viewers by raising issues, instigating debate, and conveying the way the art can take many forms outside of the gallery context. With Tuna Town I set out to create an aesthetic, fully interactive, accessible project that can be read and enjoyed on many levels. Using a cartoon character to establish an arts activity is a contemporary idea, and I hope one that can be taken seriously despite first impressions. The website is the focal point which actively involves the viewer and allows them to become part of the work, instead of passive voyeur.” Feecal and her Tuna Town friends are developing a world-wide following which you can become part of and enjoy the many benefits. For just £6.95 you can become an official Feecal Matter Fan and receive a membership pack including: * an official membership certificate, signed by Feecal. * an inflatable balloon with a hand-drawn character on it. * a shiny Feecal and Friends badge. * a pack of collectable "top trump" style cards containing all 10 characters, each with a picture, statistics, likes & dislikes and general trivia. There is also the tasty treat of an edible little chocolate starfish in each pack! * 15% discounted prices on picture books, paintings and soft sculptures. Go to www.littlechocolatestarfish.com to sign up and declare your love of Feecal Matter!

James Ford My work is eclectic and draws upon many sources. The work takes many forms, ranging from a ball of my bogies in a broken eggcup, to theories on human characteristics, to photos of teletext. They act as thought catalysts; the sometimes whimsical starting points for something much more interesting. They can, however, also be appreciated in their own right, be they addictively interactive, emotionally provoking or simply fun. I think of my work as projects and investigations based around observations, process and play. Crossing-over web/digital with the physical manifestation of the art. Often involving humour and the everyday, so as to tap-in to our collective memory/consciousness. I am artist as self-imposed pursuer of goals and follower of rules. In my work I am attempting to empower banality with new meaning and I hope that the viewer might try the tasks and projects that I set myself, in their own space and time, without the awkward connotations of the gallery. And when the viewer undertakes these tasks such as collecting their bogies, performing House Gymnastics, or looking for their own number plate initials, they become the artist making the art, thus blurring the definition of artist and viewer and questioning the nature of authorship. www.jamesrobertford.com

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