Simon Bird

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Since leaving my sculpture degree course at Canterbury five years ago I have struggled to regain my faith in Fine Art and in my ability to make it.

On returning to South London I became involved in squat parties, producing publicity, painting backdrops and making sculptures working as part of the "Conscious Collective". We put on clubs and performance nights in deserted and derelict buildings, mostly in the beloved Lady Flo's, an abandoned community hall in Deptford.

I also worked on the Fordham Park Urban Free Festival designing and screen printing T-shirts and getting stressed. My involvment with this "DIY culture" has shown me how much can be achieved from meagre resources with cooperation and ingenuity.

Like many ex-art students I found that an Art Degree course is one of the best cures for the desire to make art. However after these few years I am attempting again to express myself through sculpture.

The work in this show concerns itself with swimming and diving and the different worlds above and below water.

When I swim without my glasses I am alone in my world; above the water is unfocussed and vague, submerged I see more clearly and
think.

28A Vesta Rd
London SE4 2NH

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