The three artists putting themselves at risk…

In Harm’s Way at Electro Studios

Oli Spleen, Mark Walter and Wolfgang Dubieiniec are exhibiting at the Electro Studios for their second show from the three friends and fellow artists. Mark Walter talks to Jude Montague.

Jude: How did this show come about?

Mark: After last year’s highly successful show upstairs we wanted to use the bigger space downstairs to exhibit larger pieces and give Oli the chance to play live at the private view.

We all met in Brighton around 2018 and connected quickly as friends firstly through our music tastes which I would describe as gothic, story telling with an indie vibe. Then as a result of Covid we all ended up in Hastings – following each other in dribs and drabs and we have remained very good friends and artistic collaborators.

We use a mixture of paints – acrylic and oils – and Wolfgang sometimes makes his own paint from naturally found objects. He also makes jewellery from tin mined in Cornwall and garnets found in the Thames. Oli and Wolfgang are both musicians as well as artists. I use acrylic paints, inks and (less so now), oil paint. Wolfgang also collects old frames and uses them in his latest work and sometimes works over the old painting to add depth.

Jude: We are approaching the darkest time of the year and ‘In Harm’s Way’ seems to suggest living and surviving in difficult times when light is poor and absent – any thoughts?

Mark: The title does resonate in the current times – living has become more difficult with living costs going up and the world being in unstable times and l feel this gives vulnerability to the title In harm’s way.

I have always been a huge admirer of Frank Auerbach’s work and who sadly died this week. His thick use of paint and the many layers over many months sometimes years gives his compositions a life of there own and this resonates with some of my work as I too like to build up many layers over many months and years.

We all have our own way of working but there is a connection in styles and our outlooks on life. Oli and Wolfgang both use video/film as one of their main mediums but I still feel a connection between our work even though my work is more abstract and particularly Oli and Wolfgang’s artwork has a more figurative bent.

In Harm’s Way and OUROBOROS are at the Electro Studios Project Space, Sea Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0AL
Private View: Friday 15 Nov 6–9pm
The exhibition is open on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November 11am–5pm

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