The Artist
Patrick works across a wide range of projects from art commissions for large-scale installations such as ‘Belonging’ at Walker Gallery for the Liverpool Biennial, to ‘Bruised not Broken’ commission for BBC Easter Passion broadcast and his recent commission to produce automotive art for Coventry Transport Museum. His exhibition curation of leading design projects include ‘Revolutions; from Gatefold to Download, an history of the album cover’ and the 2015 celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the British Road Sign at the Design Museum, London. In 2016 Patrick was selected by the influential magazine Creative Review to feature in their UK Top 50 Creative Leaders project.
Patrick’s conceptual approach is grounded in creating a dialogue with our surroundings and each other. Using familiar objects and themes to depict and examine our culture and environment, he seeks to alter the original context of his subjects so they appear simultaneously both familiar and unfamiliar, to encourage and stimulate a sense of questioning and search for meaning from the viewer.
For more information visit Patrick’s main website and shop www.patrickmurphystudio.co.uk
The Commission
To a large proportion of people, the river is invisible. Even if you are looking closely at the area around it, a river is naturally less visible running below view with just telltale flora, fauna and topography to hint at its existence. Like anything witnessed regularly, it can fall into being a forgotten backdrop; you don’t really see it anymore. Patrick gave his project the title of ‘Neon River’. Neon (Greek νέον (néon), meaning “new”) the idea of creating a ‘new’ look at the river appealed and also the words connection to brightly coloured signs and lights suggested an ideal metaphor for signposting the river.
To read Patrick’s blog about the project, as it developed, click HERE.
Patrick’s work culminated in an event at the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley in February 2018. A laser was shone down the Dearne Valley reflecting the river. The installation ran for three nights and could be seen from over ten miles away. To compliment the movement of the laser, Hayley Youell and Andy Seward part of the artist collaboration, also commissioned as part of the Art of the Dearne project performed at the event. Below are images from the event.
