As one of the resident studio artists at ActionSpace’s North London Studio in Holborn, Patrick Moses has for several years, explored the potential of words as an aesthetic operating on the outside of language rather than communicative tool in his painterly art practice. Words in his artworks act as visual poems that are organised by their phonetic and visual shapes to document his everyday encounters travelling in London, as well as interests in music, video games, films, cartoons, food and family life, captured on vivid colourful textiles and canvases. In the anecdotal recollection below, Lisa Muten, Artist Facilitator, reflects on Moses’s distinct practice ahead of his debut presentation of Autocity at The Smallest Gallery in Soho where the artist will present a site-specific textile and text installation.

Patrick Moses has been experimenting with words in his art work for many years.  He has worked with lower and upper case and changes the letter size and width accordingly; finding ways for the text to fill the space he is working with. His approach is reminiscent of graphic art. The words that Moses uses are a sculptural tool and are not distinct from the materials or the colours he uses, giving an insight into Patrick’s interpretation of his environment. Patrick also explores words through sound. He created a soundscape of himself speaking words from his artwork to accompany Don’t Tell Mother exhibited at Camden Arts Centre and University of Kent.

The length of fabric that is Autocity fills the space and drapes in such a way to give the illusion of extending beyond the gallery walls. At night, the vibrant colours are lit up and glow from the window and out onto the street. This is reflective of the themes that Patrick constantly uses his work that centre on his experiences of travelling around the expansive city of London. Walking is very important to Patrick and he enjoys exploring London on foot. The urban experiences he collects on his walks feed into the artwork including London locations and its sights, sounds, music and flavours. Patrick is stimulated by colour and light and he predominantly chooses electric and acid colours to include in his work. Patrick engages physically with the colours he chooses; he uses his hands to mix paint and inks and pushes the ink into the fibres in the fabric.

Patrick has been an ActionSpace artist since 2009 and using the studio has given him the opportunity and freedom to explore and develop his artistic practice in a supportive environment.  When in the studio, his work often narrates the activities around him such as conversations and the music he is listening to. Patrick has worked alongside other ActionSpace artists and with two artist facilitators over the years, firstly Michelle Kurth and now Lisa Muten, as well as several ActionSpace volunteers, giving him the opportunity to exchange artistic experiences with other artists. He has exhibited widely including at Camden Arts Centre, the Freespace Gallery, University of Kent, the Old Diorama and at Cockpit Arts where his work is popular, and he has sold several pieces.

Patrick Moses: 'Autocity'
The Smallest Gallery in Soho
62 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 4QF
July - August 2019

Patrick Moses

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About ActionSpace
ActionSpace is a London-based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities and creative innovative projects for people with learning disabilities to engage with the visual arts.

actionspace.org | Twitter: @THEActionSpace | Instagram: @actionspace

'Autocity' is curated by Philip Levine and Andreia Costa.

About the Curators:
 
Philip Levine
Philip has been working in the creative and cultural industries for the last decade as a producer. This has ranged from exhibitions, events, publishing, talks and creating his own unique artwork under the title ‘Headism’. He has gained a MA in Culture, Policy and Management at City, University of London. Being from London, his passion is knowing ‘who and what’ is up and coming in cultural trends and being involved within them. Read the Run-Riot interview with Philip Levine, here.
 
Andreia Costa
Andreia is an Associate Architect at Jamie Fobert Architects. She studied in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto and practiced for 3 years in her native Portugal. Before moving to the UK Andreia decided to explore her contemporary art interest by working in Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art as an architecture and art lecturer. In 2010 she joined Jamie Fobert Architects, where she has been involved in several projects including Selfridges and Tate exhibitions.
 
About the Gallery Manager:
 
Moira Rizopoulos
Moira is a Creative Producer at The Garage Soho, she works on array of creative projects, including advertising campaigns, films, exhibitions and events. It was this role that lead her to manage ‘The Smallest Gallery in Soho’ where she helps showcase creative and thought-provoking work. Previously, Moira gained a BA in Fine Art and a MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from Goldsmiths, University of London.