Phil Illingworth's Page

Website

www.philillingworth.com

College / University

Portsmouth College of Art

Member type

Artist

If you're an artist, what kind of art do you make?

Digital, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking

About my artwork

In my work I try to pose a question without necessarily passing comment or judgement. Frequently a sense of fun is apparent in the work, but this is usually misleading. There is almost always a serious, if not dark, underlying theme.

Primarily my work examines the cultures of consumerism, sex, and celebrity. In particular I am interested in portrayals of role and gender in modern society. I cross-reference 'pulp' imagery from the 1940's, '50's and '60's with today’s ephemera, and compare and question the media.

I revisit allegorical representations of traditional art in a way which not only points a finger retrospectively but also at contemporary life. A recurring proposition is: in a post-feminism world, have we advanced as much as we might like to think?

My current work uses and subverts the visual language of advertising. Advertising has its own distinct syntax, and given my background it seems entirely apposite that I should exploit that. In this way these works operate through the medium of advertising and also place a mirror before it.

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http://www.artreview.com/profile/PhilIllingworth
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