About Plaza

PLAZA is a collaborative project between London based artists Oliver Herbert and Edward Simpson. PLAZA is concerned with the glamour and aspirations of public space. They produce a popular blog and regular exhibitions in the UK and abroad.

Ed Simpson

http://www.edjsimpson.co.uk

Ed Simpson, FIS Athlone

Ed Simpson is a London-based artist utilising objects and thoughts that have a profound effect on him to create works covering a diverse range of media. The viewer is invited to question the artist’s thought process, and construct their own narratives and conclusions.

Simpson reacts to extensive research and gathered material, using an idea, image or site as a starting point. Results can be far-ranging and display a curious and sensitive approach to questioning the everyday and bizarre.

Past works range from installation, books, film, painting, performance, 3-D collage and photography. Ed uses each medium as a reaction to a specific project.

Oliver Herbert

http://www.oliverherbert.com

Oliver Herbert, All The Finery, 2010

Oliver Herbert uses the glossy and glamorous visual language of fashion and the luxury industries to playfully handle problematic and inflammatory subjects such as death, poverty and globalisation.

His work lures the viewer in with shiny and sparkly materials to surprise them with darker themes. He openly enjoys incongruity —when things are not supposed to work together, both culturally and aesthetically.

Artistic and literary influences include Charles Avery, William Blake, Margaret Atwood, Phil Collins and Greyson Perry. The world that Oliver Herbert’s work inhabits is set in a futuristic dystopia overtaken by a desire for indulgence.

Oliver Herbert makes art that is opportunistic, which directly responds to global social and political events using current trends and fashion as a gateway for people to access the conceptual core of the work.

Oliver has exhibited and travelled extensively internationally. Recently showing as part of the Tehran Biennial 2009 entitled Urban Jealousy. Previous important projects include being selected for a solo show as part of New Work Scotland, a collaboration with Emporio Armani and ‘Vogue India’ an ambitious video work Oliver Herbert directed and produced in Mumbai, India. Oliver is also a regular contributor to Bareface, a Scottish visual culture journal.