5’9 / B Rh+ / I like sambal, 90s supermodels and Mitch Hedberg.
Artist-writer. I have an interdisciplinary practice across text, poetry, performance, moving image and sound. I could tell you that I often use wilfully inappropriate theoretical frameworks (archive cinema, pop music, esoteric philosophy) to explore cosmic and expansive concepts, and it would be true – but the fact is that all artists’ statements, this one included, are essentially a decoy. The real reason that any artwork exists is extremely specific and extremely private. Good luck with that. Anyway, my work has been exhibited and/or performed at FACT, Wysing Arts Centre, Somerset House, Liverpool Biennial, The Tetley, SPACE, and more. Let’s face it, I’m the only person to have ever screened Wayne’s World at Flat Time House.
I was in residence at Wysing Arts Centre in 2018 and Jerwood Arts x FACT Digital Fellow in 2021. You can see details of those projects here and some newer video and text work here.
I co-edited Excavate: The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall which was published by Faber in 2021. It was named as a music book of the year by Rough Trade, The Times, Mojo, Uncut, &c. Louder Than War said it was like “A Mark E Smith version of The Arcades Project” and Bookforum said my essay was their favourite. Other writing about arts and culture appears in various publications including The Wire, Corridor 8, Tribune, Burlington Contemporary. As West Riding Arts Research, I also design (typographic and/or aggressively socialist) artwork for projects like Saint Etienne’s International (2025) – which was, among other things, notable for being a top 10 album featuring Jonathan Meades sleevenotes.
I am working on a series of short archive-based films; a second music book which you will not believe; and an experimental screwball comedy about New Labour-era architecture.
Can I commission you?
Yes. Unless you’re the ghost of Walter Becker come to lob household objects at Donald Fagen while he sleeps, it’s unlikely that I’ll want to review your band’s album.
I’m @veryspecificvideotapes on Instagram. I sort of hate it though.
Bored? Here’s a playlist.
