Popbang@solihull - Artist Ian Cook

(G1) within Solihull Central Library & Arts Complex

Introducing an amazing and talented local artist who is building a reputation, not just in our region but internationally via the internet. Ian has innovated a whole new style of art which he calls Popbang. His work is often based in the local community and Ian is a strong believer in the process of art creation being accessible to local communities - thereby challenging some of the prevailing elitist ideas about art.

Here's what Ian says about his art:

"The artwork I produce is defined as a 'Popbang', a friendly explosion of colour. Popbang first originated in 2004 and is process that describes how I effectively use colour. Through my artwork I use a number of key themes this being vehicles, toys and mass produced objects.

'Popbang colour' glorified the commodity of advertising and marketing, using die cast toys as an entity. The sculpture is entirely built out of hundreds of toy cars and is constructed by colour."

Ian thrives on process. Using everyday mass-produced recognisable objects to create artworks that are unique, bespoke and elicit a reaction from the viewer. All the artwork produced has a sense of fun about it and is intended to be easily accessible by all this can be interpreted by using toys.

He trained as a painter and sees the sculptures created as three-dimensional paintings. The aesthetic appearance of the piece is more important than final form created. Quirky and unique ideas are powerful and can have an instant impact in today's throwaway society.

His more recent 'Popbang - auto drawings' are paintings created using radio control cars on large format paper. Mostly created within non-studio based areas such as a shopping centre, he intends to bring artwork out of traditional art venues and will be 'driving' a radio controlled car from Lloyds bar & restaurant in Solihull back to Solihull Gallery during the exhibition.

Popbang art forms by Ian Cook

• Popbang Colour
  Sculpture that originally formed the centrepiece of an installation, it has been exhibited separately too. Constructed out hundreds of cut-up die-cast toy cars and defined by colour. The piece can have a rotating element and features motors and lights within it.
• Popbang Auto drawings
  Auto Drawings are created using radio control cars on large format paper. The process of creating the Auto Drawing is dependant upon the intended outcome. The selected media is applied to the paper and the toys create the image through mark making. Auto Drawings can be viewed as a performance piece and be done on a site-specific basis.
• Popbang Sculpture
  The sculptures are constructed of recycled objects. All the elements to these pieces were items that originate from end of lines sales, garage clearances or were found. There is no glue or intentional binding of the construction, the aesthetic to the piece is done by coloured sections.

Popbang Exhibition Information

21^st April - 31^st May 2008 open normal Library hours - free entry

Launch night Thurs 24^th April 6-8pm

Solihull Main Gallery (G1) within Solihull Central Library & Arts Complex