Trisickle Magazine

—Arts—

Posted on: 24/08/11 —

Team Recoat Showcase: Mark Lyken

Mark Lyken

http://www.lykenlove.com/

http://www.facebook.com/MarkLyken

Mark Lyken lives & works as an Artist and Musician in Glasgow, Scotland.  A notable pioneer, he was among the first to begin writing Graffiti in the 80′s in Scotland. His paintings are influenced by cellular division, decay, bacterial spread and meteorological phenomena. His textural paintings toy with scale and time. Are we looking through a telescope at the beginning of the universe or through a microscope at minute, interacting cells?

He has work in several important London exhibitions this summer.

Do you have a favourite piece of art that you created?

Generally it’s the painting I’m working on at that moment but as soon as I’m onto the next I know I will want that current one to be point zero. Its difficult to know how perceptible the development is. I imagine you must get to a stage where you start to consider your work as a back catalogue, rather than just developmental pieces. I’m beginning to feel like that a little bit but there is still that urge to want to go back and revise. Which is a bad idea.
Just ask George Lucas.

Do you have a favourite medium to work in?

At the moment, acrylic and spraypaint…you just can’t beat a bit of the old rap juice for blocking in intense pigments. I plan to work on the environment a bit more in future, start playing with lighting and incorporate the music I make into the space in a more interactive way. as long as the paintings don’t suffer. Maybe I’ll do one of those new fangled “conceptual” shows the kids are all face-tubing about…..

Who or what inspires you?

Older dudes who are still into metal, indy cinema, my friends….
Just folk being driven and doing stuff, be it music or painting. Rather than bitching about lack of opportunities or hating other artists I like it when people make it happen for themselves; get a cracked copy of logic and make a tune, if no one will release it start a label, build a bike, paint a piece, put on a show, write a short story, photocopy a zeen, wear a dress, dance in your pants, whatever makes your little soul sing.

What would be your dream art project to be involved in?

The Rudimentary Perfection show I curated in July was just that. I basically got to choose a “dream team” of artists that I was totally into and through a combination of good luck and good will we managed to get them all to Glasgow so I could get really drunk and challenge them all to a breakdance battle.
Team Recoat as a collective is also pretty exciting, I get to hang out and make art with a bunch of folk I find super inspiring. I’m looking forward to the type of projects we will tackle as a collective.

What are you working on right now?

Same as always, a way to hard wire the internet into my cerebral cortex so I can work and mess about online at the same time.

That and a solo show but mainly the internet thing.

 

Mark’s print is featured in the latest exhibition at Recoat in their Team Recoat launch. You can view and buy each of the prints here- http://recoat.bigcartel.com/category/team-recoat. They are A2 and only £80 each!

 

 

 

 

  • just enquiring

    What is defined as an “important London exhibition” and why are these more important than say Skegness?

    I think the “important” thing you should be focussed on relates to  “I like it when people make it happen for themselves” At the expense of what exactly? Would you care to expand.

  • Lyken

    Skegness, Stranraer, Syria. All would be equally important. “London Exhibitions” relates to particular shows which are among the first to display the kind of work I happen to make, they are not important by virtue of location, important overall to a fledgling movement.
    I meant simply I enjoy the diy attitude of Hip Hop, Punk, Skate Culture etc.
    There is nothing more inspiring to me than say a bunch of kids taking over a space & building ramps or putting on a party or starting a band. I just love seeing people do “stuff” I don’t even care if I’m not into the end product, its just exciting to see the creation of something from nothing.
    Not at the expense of anything, just pure creation & positivity.

  • just enquiring

    Your response highlights that the statement is a nonsense. It does not actually get across any point other than try to hype you with regards to your participation in these so called “important” exhibitions. As for a “fledging movement!? How long does something need to be in place before it is no longer classed in that particular bracket?

    There is always an expense. Its just that some are unaware of what that may be or choose to ignore or deny it. Its up to the individual involved to look and see what that expense may be and if they are comfortable with living with it. Creation and positivity as you put it may be the result of selfish actions which affects others.

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