ARTISTS TALKING

David Kefford is a sculptor who uses low-tech craft processes to transform found objects into surreal creations imbued with human characteristics and emotions. He featured in a-n’s Signpost publication for new graduates in 2001. Six years later, whilst still applying relentlessly for opportunities, David’s attitude to his work has developed. While the need to continuously self-publicise remains a fact of his career, it is done so in a more relaxed, less anxious way, “in the knowledge that I no longer need to prove myself to everyone and appear somehow apologetic”. This attitude is reflected in his practice; the work remains gallery-oriented, but has become more site-specific and in the form of installation. David combines time in the studio with teaching and educational workshops. He is one of thirteen artists selected for Arts Council England East’s Escalator Visual Arts programme, and has recently been awarded an Individual Grant for the Arts for research and the development of his practice.

Profile

David Kefford is a sculptor that uses low-tech craft processes to transform found objects into surreal creations imbued with human characteristics and emotions. He studied for a Fine Art MA at University of Brighton in 2001. Like any well-instructed postgraduate study, the emphasis was on teaching the students to be proactive by supporting them in such endeavours as setting up gallery spaces, thus helping to ease the students out of the “bubble” of their first degree.

Since Signpost, David has taken part in group shows, conferences, lectures, workshops, seminars, residencies and solo shows. As a result, his networks have become more extensive and he feels supported and connected by a cross-spectrum of people within the art world.

The main change in David’s practice in the last few years has been one of attitude. Whilst still aware of the need to “put himself out there” and regularly apply for opportunities, he feels more relaxed about the process, and “less anxious in the knowledge that I no longer need to prove myself to everyone and appear somehow apologetic.”

Similarly, whilst David still uses a-n’s Opportunities section, he no longer uses it as the “art bible” he did a few years ago. Again, the change is more mental than circumstantial: “I no longer need to seek stuff out in such a desperate manner... opportunities are now quite often presented to me”.

Whilst he feels that the progression of his career has been steady, one of the challenges of being an artist is the pressure of being in a continual state of learning with every opportunity he takes, that is at times “precarious and unpredictable... I don’t rest easy”.

David’s work continues to be focused round the gallery, but the last few years have seen a shift to a more site-specific and installation-oriented approach. He has introduced a more live element to his exhibiting, with more of an emphasis on audience participation and interaction. This recognition of his audience demonstrates increased confidence in his practice.

A multi-faceted practitioner, David combines time in the studio with teaching and educational workshops. Looking back over the last few years, David can pinpoint pivotal moments that have symbolised the developments of his practice into a full-time career, such as giving up a part-time job, renting a more expensive studio, going freelance and moving house; but he admits that at the time they seemed like “giant hurdles”.

He is one of thirteen artists selected for Arts Council England East’s Escalator Visual Arts programme, a pioneering scheme that recognises emerging talent and supports individual artists with funding, mentoring and professional development. He has also recently been awarded an Individual Grant for the Arts to help him research and develop his current practice.

Past and recent projects have included a five-week residency, Take Over, at the Pump House Gallery, London. He used this opportunity to re-evaluate and consolidate his existing practice and push his work into new territories. The residency was continually open to the public, which consequently provided a live art aspect to the project. At the end of last year he was also invited to collaborate with Ansel Krut to install a 3-D spatial drawing at the Centre for Drawing, Wimbledon.

David has also been selected for a group show called ‘OBSTACLE: New UK Sculpture’ at Spectacle gallery in Birmingham. This will be a curated exhibition organised by Dan Mort and including seven artists from around the UK.