Michael Taylor

Artist Statement

My work functions within a visual art context which attends to the relationship between image and text. I am mainly concerned with the connection between the picture and its title – which I see as the viewer’s accepted textual entry-point
to significance. But none of my art (be it the illustrative – nonsense – or abstract work) is created to illustrate or supplement any form of text, or with a preconceived title. For me, the image-making process always precedes the naming or labeling of the image and, in most cases I choose titles which evoke something entirely different from what the image represents. This deliberate way of juxtaposing image and text is aimed to address the viewer’s understanding of the relationship between a representation and its accompanying title, as well as signification as a result of parallel inter-texts (because both the image and the title induce their own set of relative texts and contexts), and also, the viewer’s familiarity and employment of visual narrative codes in order to construe visual events.

I think my work deals with the “burden of reading things the right way”. It is not my intention to be political or “culturally conscious”, even though it filters through the work; by means of irony, symbolism etc. I’m starting to see my work, more and more, as self-reflexive – it is definitely humorous, a guise for the serious side I guess. Much like nonsense is for sense. The idea of “recognition through ambiguity” / “confronting by covering-up” / “defacement through disguise” is something I intentionally inject into my work.

I’ve always preferred drawing to talking when expressing myself, and when I was younger I used to draw pictures for people to get what I wanted. I don’t think there’s anything like a picture… if the only presents I ever receive were pictures, I would be the happiest person. Pictures are my life’s ‘events’.

Selected Exhibitions

  • Nocturnes - Solo show at Whatiftheworld / Gallery, Woodstock, Cape Town (2007)
  • Am I a Painter - Group show at ArtB Gallery, Bellville (2007)
  • Paper and Me - Group show at Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town (2007)
  • Who Framed Michael Taylor - Solo show at Whatiftheworld, Cape Town (2006)
  • The most exciting drawing show ever - Group show at the KKNK, Oudtshoorn (2006)
  • Title Sequence _Group show at US Gallery, Stellenbosch (2006)
  • ABSA L’Atelier Awards - National Exhibition at ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg (2004)
  • ABSA L’Atelier Awards - Regional Exhibition at ArtB Gallery, Bellville (2004)

Awards

  • Winner: 9th International Competition of Illustration Teatrio Venice, Chioggia (Italy) (2003)
  • Finalist (with special mention): 8th International Competition of Illustration Teatrio Venice, Chioggia (Italy) (2002)

Publications

  • Launch of electronic flipbook entitled The Book of Immediate Nonsense (2005)
    www.michaeltaylor.co.za
  • Launch of PRESENT magazine – An international visual culture screen-magazine (based in South Africa), serving as a vehicle for the work of
    upcoming artists and a critical voice for issues around contemporary image-making. (2005)
    www.presentmag.com