What the Others Built

Peter Hanmer draws on history, politics, philosophy and storytelling to create allegorical, fantastical sculptural works chiefly in miniature. These reflect his interest in the power of art as a cultural and political critique, presenting intricately crafted worlds imbued with meaning. Plato, Descartes, and today’s computer simulation builders generate scepticism about the credibility of our ordinary experience. They raise doubts about how we can distinguish reality from substitutes made of shadows, dreams, or virtual realities. Hanmer’s work proposes that our reality is essentially a political reality made of images, slogans, and fantasies.

Paul Raymond is an artist and educator. He is interested in experimental, collaborative and playful approaches to making, and his work often invokes imagery from surreal childhood memories and half-remembered nostalgic nightmares. Raymond’s current practice explores the tension between creativity and conformity, emerging from his own experience of working within an increasingly regressive educational system shaped by political ideology and imagined nostalgia. Taking inspiration from the derogatory term ‘The Blob’ (popularised in politics by former Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove) Raymond aims to upend this insult and harness the chaotic power of The Blob as a means of resisting the rigid systems in which we are forced to operate. His Blobby methodology draws upon surrealist games, embraces uncertainty and celebrates unpredictable outcomes.

Stuart Mel Wilson constructs drawing installations that examine the shifting societal role of labour, craft and art. His work explores the absurdity and humour in the way we process this world, touching upon philosophical ideas such as the human experience, perception, interpretation, language, and the expressive power of art. By using traditional techniques and transforming them into installations and sculptural works, Wilson seeks to invite viewers into a space where they can engage with the artwork in a holistic and sensory manner. This intention aligns with the belief that art has the power to transcend literal language and communicate on a deeper, more experiential level.