Danny POCKETS

Born in 1964,Danny went to the Chelsea School of Art in 1985 and then The City & Guilds of London Art School from 1988 - 1991, where he studied Fine Art Illustration and Printmaking.

Danny Pockets work crosses disciplines. Working in film, performance, installation, the written word and painting. Since 1979 his Universal Racket Press has put it’s name to a number of publications and interventions. He moves fluidly through these media and recent large installations are an example of this.  We have concentrated on the painted element of his work for his exhibition here in Highgate.

Danny grew up around art, his father is landscape artist Fred Cuming. Throughout his childhood he encountered a colourful selection of artists, first while living at the artists’ commune, Egerton House, in the 1960’s and then as a young man growing up on the south coast. A stream of artists, tutors and students from the RA, Hornsey and Walthamstow as well as writers, musicians and filmmakers would stay en route to the ports of Dover and Folkstone. Endless discussions and debates about theory and practice from some of the most exciting artists of their day would habitually take place. It was in this highly-charged creative atmosphere where Danny developed his creative overview.

After leaving college and in isolation Danny set up studio in Somerset where he attempted to deconstruct everything he had learned so far, teaching himself to think creatively from scratch. After returning to London exactly one year later, he set up studio in Limehouse and started to work in earnest; painting, constructing, writing, curating and exhibiting within the framework of living in the city.

Whilst talking on the radio about his combined show together with the artist, A Lincoln Taber called “empty y’ pockets” one day, the presenter kept forgetting his name and repeatedly called him Danny Pockets - and the name stuck.

For twenty five years Danny has worked in London. His work draws on the fragility of existence and on the touchstones we need to keep us feel safe. The rituals and locations of the everyday that are transformed as soon as they are taken into the gallery. and imbued with a meaning far beyond their intention. Painting urbane, everyday, .......... they become a bit more special. In the past he has shown paintings from his Sodium Urbia series and Manhattan paintings and is currently working from his Trajectory series which started in the studios of London and have been completed on the south coast before returning to London again, as the title implies.

For this exhibition 2011, Danny has continued to work within the framework of the city, and London is his territory and inspiration.  He has produced this selection of paintings specifically for his 2011 show - landmarks and minutiae of North East London such as the Holloway Road, Junction Road, Tuffnell Park and Seven Sisters.  He is a collector of images a witness watching the world go by.  Danny documents the fragility of existence and time through his art and he delights us with his edgy take on real London.

Laurie MacLaren & Diana Lanham 2011

Paintings