Hogarth Brown - Trophallaxis
Brown has metaphorically and etymologically applied the concept of Trophallaxis to the collective cultural stomach of humanity: this project, and in particular the Trophallaxis light box, serves as an in-depth look at the constant consumption and regurgitation of ideas and obsessions. Beautifully crafted and sensitively illustrated, Hogarth’s light boxes draw the viewer in.
N.A.S (National Alcoholics Service)
The title is a play on NHS, the work a reflection on its increasing frustration in having to deal not with operations that save lives, but with pumping the stomachs of drunks, and alcohol related injuries. The work depicts both the joy and the sense of abandon felt when drunk. The presence of the ambulance serves as a kind of warning of where those excesses can lead.
‘The Golden Handshake’ (the Sir Fred Goodwin)
A work depicting the irony of Sir Fred’s massive pension, in light of his failures as a chief executive. It is an exploration of the moral degeneracy signified by excessive bonuses. The red bag and gold emblem are symbolic – relating directly to the Chancellor of the exchequer, and 20 billion pounds of public finances spent on bailing out RBS. The helicopter tries to depict a daring or audacious escape; the roulette wheel ‘helipad’ alludes to the bankers having ruthlessly gambled our money.
Champagne Salute (or… The Gun, The Knife and The Booty Girl)
This work is a powerful reference to gang culture and the glamorisation of violence, yet Hogarth is also suggesting that through the active consumption and wider engagement with culture, one can become ‘emancipated’, and gain personal empowerment. It is also implying that this culture should be taken very seriously as it does have an impact on society, and no longer exists on the ‘fringe’ as a small niche. Impossible to ignore, the prominent height of the trio of ‘leaders’ in the light-box dwarfs the symbolic reference to justice and order (parliament & Big Ben) suggesting that perhaps the problem may be too big for politicians to deal with alone.
Hogarth has also created this panel to show that it is in fact the ‘hoodies’, the youth of today, that will be the future adults of tomorrow. He asks us to imagine what a future full of thugs and violence means for society as a whole? The faces of each hoodie is in constant shadow because the hood serves as a uniform of anonymity. One cannot be accountable directly if you cannot be identified. The red figure in the large trio also references Soviet propaganda posters and the power of the proletariat.
Worship of the Barren Eve
Contemporary society is obsessed with celebrity and thinness, and the preservation of youth at all costs, this is an example of the extremes that people go to. Eve has a head adornment that is in reference to the Russian Icon ‘Halo’ – a divine entity. Halos are also known within the sphere of astronomy. The five pointed stars are representative of the planet Venus. Venus represents art, culture, society and its mechanisms, attraction and beauty, just like the goddess Venus herself. This symbolism suggests that the skeletal figure is meant to be a ‘desirable’ representation of a woman.
The moon is also referenced in Eve’s crown – the moon having always been linked with feminine energy and power. There are nine moons on the crown, a reference to the nine stages of procreation, and the duration of time in months it takes to have a child. Note that there is no ‘Full Moon’ on her halo because there can be no progression as she is ‘barren’, her body is so malnourished that it is incapable of having children.
Trophallaxis
Hogarth Brown
Hogarth Brown is a young and dynamic artist who grew up and still lives in London Fields. He studied at Camberwell College of Art, doing both his Foundation and a BA in Graphic design there. Since then he has worked to cultivate and develop his own highly detailed and distinctive style.
His current work aims to address various prevalent societal issues. Here, we present photographs of his recent Trophallaxis exhibition – featured at the TenderPixel Gallery last year. An installation project comprised of illustrated light boxes that closely resemble stained glass windows, Trophallaxis is essentially a social critique of his perception of modern obsessions – with wealth, celebrity, financial scandal and alcohol. The show was in turn inspired by and pays homage to William Hogarth, after whom the artist is named.
Last year Hogarth interviewed Quentin Blake for the Guardian, and has since gone on to illustrate a children’s book of his own, due out in 2011. Brown is passionate about environmental causes, and is currently working on a new project concerning environmental conservation.
http://hogarthbrown.wordpress.com/
