The Art of Paul Chisholm is a conundrum, it is at once pleasing to the eye, but also disturbing at the same time. Many juxtaposed colours, objects and texts proliferate out of the everyday and extraordinary materials the artist utilizes in each of his works.
Touching on issues of health, life, sex, death, war, relationships, human emotions and the world as a contemporary fleeting moment, the artist seeks us to ask what is important in our lives and how we all have the power for change; even when obstacles seem insurmountable. His sculptures are at first glance playful and childlike but with further investigation each work has serious undertones of a world struggling to deal with its own ideologies. To each statement said there is always someone who will agree or disagree just to play ones devils advocate. And the same goes for the works of this young artist each work plays against the other in a game of kiss and tell, to reveal to the viewer what is necessary and for what is to be seeped out of these mysterious and intriguing objects.
Life for humans is far from perfect one may say we are living in Hell and are far from the pure and perfect world some would like us to believe we are living…… I think the same goes for Chisholm’s art works; are we entering a fantasy land of playful fun or a more sinister laboratory of man’s making…….
Education
Nottingham Trent University BA Fine Art
2011- 2004
Metafora Contemporani D’Tallers D’Arte, Barcelona, Espana
2010 -2011
Kensington and Chelsea college of Art and Design
Foundation in Professional Teaching Adults
2006-2007
Awards / Grants / Residencies
The Cyprus College of Art Summer Residence 2004
The Princes Trust start up grant scheme for Artists 2004
The Sir Thomas Wyatt fund for Arts Education 2001
Art Related Work
Creative Director The video Art Gallery, London, 2007 -2009
Art Assistant, The Sharkey Gallery, Mayfair London, 2006
Gallery Assistant, The Woolf Gallery, London, 2007
Exhibitions assistant, Private Art collector, London, 2005
Exhibitions
Solo
2007The Paul McPherson Gallery, London, UK
2006The Limelight Gallery, London, UK
2005The library Gallery, Warwick University, Midlands, UK
2005 The Loft Gallery, Royal Leamington Spa, UK.
Group
2011
Mailto: Drift Station Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A
Mixed Messages:La Mama La Galleria, New York, U.S.A
The Alella project:: Can Manye Gallery, Alella, Barcelona, Espana
Stairway to:Untitled BCN Gallery, Barcelona, Espana
2010
Des de fora:Punt Multimedia Gallery, Barcelona, Espana.
Pensa positiu:Convento de St Augustin Gallery, Barcelona, Espana.
Urban identity:Untitled BCN Gallery, Barcelona, Espana.
Social justice:Cubbits Arts, Islington, London, UK.
2009
An Ogee: Acquire arts Gallery, Battersea, London, UK
2007
The PrincesTrust: The Air Gallery, Mayfair, London, UK.
2006
To be an Artist:The Redchurch St Gallery, Shoreditch, London, UK
Deptford X:CorBlimey Arts Gallery, Deptford, London, UK
2005
The Red Door Gallery, Greenwich, London, UK
The where I feel in love Gallery, Shipston on Stour, UK
The South London Gallery, Video Lounge, London, UK
Media and Further Reading
Clarity through mixed messages by Lily Bouvier 2011
http://www.gaycitynews.com/articles/2011/06/15/features/doc4df90c7c6ba1c...
100 Artists of the male Figure, Published By Schiffer, New York 2011
Hauntingly Beautiful, Recent Works Catalogues, 2010 Published by Blurb online books, 2010.
A Bad Crit Online Interview Blog 2010
Hijack Reality, By Bob and Roberta smith, published by CT editions, 2008
BBC midlands today interview 12th August 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJMW-bw4bag
The Leamington and Warwick Observer, Interview August 2005.
Collections
LNG Capital, Berkley square, Mayfair, London
David smith collection, Pimlico, London
Various private collections in Spain, France, Holland and the U.K
Review of Mixed Messages, La mama la galleria, NEW York
Fri, 29/07/2011 - 12:09 — paul chisholmClarity through mixed messages
Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:01 PM CDT
BY LILY BOUVIER
How do you put more than 30 years of pandemic struggle, horror and death into words? In “Mixed Messages,” over 40 artists try their hands at expressing the HIV/AIDS crisis through whatever means possible — from words scrawled on bathroom walls and ceiling ducts, to statements proclaimed in paintings, prints and sculptures, to messages stamped on door handles and floor mats. All of these methods, and more, are employed to communicate messages meant to end the silence (and death) that still persists.
The brilliance of those concise messages resides in their endless possibilities: “You do what you do/And they do what they do” (James Joyce), “So what if I did” (Lou Laurita), “Lifestyles/Ultra Sensitive” (Sam McKinniss), “Touch Me” (Yoko Ono). Each can mean one thing to the artist, another to the viewer.
The works are accompanied by neither a face nor a story, and yet are painfully intimate. Curator John Chaich focuses on a message he heard years ago from a colleague at an AIDS service organization: “AIDS is a crisis of connections.” Recalling the lasting impact of that quote, Chaich says, “The acts through which HIV is transmitted — intercourse, sharing needles and even giving birth — may be the very ways through which we find connection.” A piece by artist Paul Chisholm (“Fuck Me I Have…Love & H*I*V”) echoes this agonizing reality.
“Mixed Messages” is the most recent project by Visual AIDS — a contemporary arts organization dedicated to HIV prevention and AIDS awareness. They seek to fight AIDS by provoking a dialogue, and that’s what these artists have done. Their words are not just a cause for reflection, but a call to action.
Through July 3 at La MaMa La Galleria (6 East 1st St., btw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.). Gallery hours: Thurs.-Sun., 1-6pm. Call 212-505-2476. Visit visualaids.org and lamama.org. On Wed., June 29, 7-9pm: “Ask Me: Mixed Messages.” This benefit for Visual AIDS features a night of storytelling inspired by the exhibition, hosted by Cammi Climaco and David Crabb. Suggested donation $10; all are welcome. Visit askmestories.com.