Conceptual / experimental multi-discipline artist, writer and photographer. Art influencer and founder of London Dada, recalling Dada's original aims and principles as envisaged by it's founder Hugo Ball.
Eschews the often politically-motivated taboo on expressions of critical thought within art.
Admiring Duchamp in going beyond the seemingly endless infatuation with the ' pretty picture' retinal and instead refusing to accept the standards and practices of an established corrupt art world and creatively stifling conventions that are still considered essential to attain fame and financial success: refusing to repeat himself or to develop one recognizable style to placate the commercial needs of the market.
Shades of Paranoia II / TWHSTH XI c. Michael St.Mark 2015
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Lady in bus shelter; North Finchley terminus, London N. . . . Marking the start of the mini heatwave, end June / early July 2015 and second in the Shades series and continuation in ” They Who Have Seen the Light” . .
The psychology of sunglasses is fertile ground for social commentary in terms of how chioce of design / style can define – along often vaguely menacing cinematic archetype lines – how an individual’s character is perceived.
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Link to first in the series, Work no. 329 from 2008 . London Dada – true perception and criticism of our times.
Social commentary work. Burly tradesman plying his sander tries to make an entrance; ruins a pleasant evening ( No peace and quiet anywhere in this desperado / chancer-pervaded metropolis.)
Midsummer Sea c. Michael St.Mark 2015 {top} ( 2014 solsitce, above, click to enlarge )
Photo taken looking SW out to sea at 12.00 noon GMT on Midsummers Day and posted online here shortly thereafter;
mid day on 21st June being the precise point in the year when the earth reaches it’s seasonal maximum tilt towards the sun
( summer solstice, longest day ) ..and inexorably begins its reverse movement back again towards the winter solstice – its maximum tilt away from the sun and giving the shortest day in the northern hemisphere.
( All downhill til Christmas, as they say )
THE SEVEN TENETS OF LONDON DADA
Represented by six bright green spots with one central ( unifying One-Ness ) spot
By Michael St.Mark ( based on the founding group of Dadaists’ collective vision )
1. Radical art innovations 2. New art inventions / concepts 3. Morally-motivated art protest and fearless critical analysis of contemporary art 4. Perceptive societal and political commentary expressed through art. 5. Serendipity / chance or random art expressions 6. Humour ( dry, whimsical or sardonic ) 7. Multimedia expressions of the One-ness of life. ( central green spot )
( The 7 tenets are ever present, often in various combinations within Dada Works )
” The Dadaist is convinced of the overall connection between all entities and beings ” – Hugo Ball, father of Dada
” Dada is essentially the search for a new morality ” – Richard Heulsenbeck, Dada’s co-founder