#ianwornast

Thompson Hall and Ian Wornast during the Autograph Gallery Workshop

Thompson Hall and Ian Wornast have been really busy researching and developing new work for their Unlimited Emerging Artists Commission.During this first stage of their project, they have been exploring London through exhibitions and sights and looking back on their own life in London and examining what London means to them now. They have visited many exhibitions including David Hockney and Giacometti. The visits that had the biggest impact on both were: a workshop at The Autograph Gallery workshop, Chris Ofili at the National Gallery and Camille Walala at NOW Gallery. The Autograph Gallery workshop was a great experience where both Thompson and Ian recalled childhood memories of London based on the pictures they saw from the archives. Thompson relayed Ghanaian traditions told to him by his grandfather and Ian told his family stories of growing up in South London. Thompson’s initial ideas were strongly influenced by the Chris Ofili’s tapestry with its flowing watery figures, Caribbean storytelling and the woven aspect of the piece. Here he created a series of drawings which led to paintings and woven paintings and a greater interest in African fabrics and their stories too.

Ian Wornast and Thompson Hall visiting Chris Ofili’s tapestry

Following this, Thompson met with Christopher Spring, The African Galleries curator at the British Museum, to understand more about Ghanaian fabrics, their symbols and their colours. Thompson really enjoyed speaking with Chris and it really made him think about how to integrate what he learnt in his new work.

Architectural models of the new Greenwich underground

Ian’s inspirations has come from his visits to architectural models of the new Greenwich underground area, the model of the new Battersea Power station and surrounding area, and Camille Walala’s exhibition. He has used image of buildings, bold patterns and colours to create his latest series of drawings and is now looking at making his drawings into 3D models himself.

I have been visiting exhibitions for research for “My Life in London” the Unlimited Emerging Artists Commission I am working on with Thompson Hall.  I am very inspired by the different artists whose work I have seen.

David Hockney. Tate Britain, 9 Feb – 27 May 2017

I saw David Hockey’s exhibition at the Royal Academy a few years ago when I went with the Friday Afternoon Art Club. I did not really like his work then, but when I went to the exhibition at Tate Britain and saw some of his work again I got more interested in it.  I admire the drawings and some of his paintings.  I like the way he mixes colours.  I have been trying out using some of the colours he uses in my work, which is making me think a lot more about how I use colour and patterns.

David Hockney, Garden with Blue Terrace 2015

“Weaving Magic” by Chris Ofili, National Gallery, 26 April – 28 August 2017

I like the big tapestry and the colours of it. I did not know very much about Chris Ofili, but I would like to find out more about how get his ideas and how he does his paintings. I really liked the large drawings on all the walls.  It made me think about drawing on the walls of the gallery for my exhibition.  I am experimenting with doing very large drawings and paintings.

Thompson Hall and I at the National gallery looking at Chris Ofili’s tapestry

Giacometti, Tate Modern, 10 May – 10 September 2017

I love some his drawings and the way he uses paints and pencils together.

I think it is interesting that you can see the brushstrokes in his drawings.  Lisa told me that he uses very, very tiny brushes. I really like the tall sculptures in the last room, the size and the texture.  It has inspired me to do more painting and I am going to try doing some sculptures to try something new.