Approved: 14.08.2023

Rob Birch

Artist, Gallery educator, Lecturer / academic, Researcher, Teacher

Approved: 14.08.2023

At the core of my practice lies this question. “How can I, a white working-class, straight, cis-gendered male, define a place within a discourse of identity that conforms to a traditional experience of self – which is a series of racialised, colonial, patriarchal, and socio-political hierarchies – whilst rejecting such conceits as outdated, riven with violence and no longer fit for purpose? 

Read more ...

 
 

Artist Statement

At the core of my practice lies this question. “How can I, a white working-class, straight, cis-gendered male, define a place within a discourse of identity that conforms to a traditional experience of self – which is a series of racialised, colonial, patriarchal, and socio-political hierarchies – whilst rejecting such conceits as outdated, riven with violence and no longer fit for purpose? 

My work is a collage-based visual enquiry into a postcolonial, unrecorded, working-class notion of self. It is a layered study of the forces and pressures placed upon us all – which have a lasting effect in this post truth age.

We live in a post truth world where what we think we know is more important than what we know to be true. I create digital photo portraits and collages that explore the validity of identity in a world which does not value or understand what it can be. My work is an exploration of identity without representation. It is one that explores the notion of self as a felt experience, one not grounded in notions of likeness and kudos, but a shared experience between an infinite number of social and political relationships.

CV & Education

 

•       Born London 20/01/1963

 

Education

•       PhD Royal College of Art (part-time, by practice). Currently on leave of absence

•       MA Drawing as Process Kingston University, 2004

•       BA Fine Art, Painting, Norwich School of Art, 1990

 

Exhibitions and Residencies

Solo shows

·       “If I Had a Kettle, I’d Make You a Cup of Tea” – Muse Gallery, London, Sept. 2023

·       “I Know Kung Fu, A Journey into Unreality” – Touchbase Care Gallery, Folkestone Dec.2021

·       “I Know Kung Fu” – Stonespace Gallery, London, Oct 2021

·       "The Violence of Hiccups” – Brewery Tap Gallery, UCA Project Space, Folkestone Oct. 2019

·       “Post Referendum Portraits” – SEAS, Brighton, May 2019

·       “It Will Be Beauty That Will Save the World”.  One Paved Court Gallery, February 2019“

·       “Post Referendum Portraits”: – The Bowery, Headingley, Leeds. April 2018

·       “Everybody Gets What Nobody Wants”: – Muse Gallery, London. March 2018

·       “Post Referendum Portraits”: – Canvas and Cream Gallery, London.  December 2017

 

Group shows/Publications

·       VAA International Exhibition & Scholarship Prize Shortlisted Artist 2023

·       “Representation” Research Communiqués, RCA School of Art and Humanities 2022

·       “Common” Classy Looks Research Hub Publications, RCA, 2022

·       Signature Art Prize. Short-listed finalist 2022

·       “Unruly Encounters”, work by SoAH students on the PhD, MPhil and MRes programmes, Southwark Park Galleries/Dilston Grove, 2022

·       “Untitled Studies”, – Babylon Summer Exhibition, Babylon Art Gallery, Aug. 2021

·       “We Need Guns, Lots of Guns”, – “Viscous Circle” Old Biscuit Factory, Dec.2019 – Jan 2020.

·       “Bleedin’ Spunk Bandit” – Fringe Arts Bath, Bath, May 2019.

·       “The Summoner, Metamorphosis/Paramorphosis” – Koniaren Gallery, Trebisov, Slovakia, May 2019.

·       “Things My Mother Said to Me” – Murze Magazine #4 April 2019.

·       “The Spectre of the Real” – SEAS, Brighton March 2019.

·       “The Summoner, Metamorphosis/Paramorphosis” – Galeria Caraffova Väznica, Presov, Slovakia, March 2019.

·       “Chris, Charles and Taylor – Post Referendum Portraits”.  Summer Salon, Islington Arts Factory, June 2018.

·       “Post Referendum Portraits” Angle magazine #1.  Online magazine. October 2017.

·       “Chris, George & Charlie – Post Referendum Portraits”, AiR Competition- Summer Group Show 2017, Muse Gallery, London, July 2017.

·       “He Grew Up and Then Was Sold”, Creekside Open, APT Gallery, London, 2017.

·       “Following Ships Until the End of Their Journey” Ibero-American Arts Award, London, 2016.

 

Residencies/Teaching

·       Pre-Sessional Lecturer. Royal College of Art, Aug. 2021

·       Visiting Lecturer, Liverpool Hope University, Feb 2021

·       Visiting Lecturer, Royal College of Art, December 2019.

·       2018 Artworks @ Touchbase Care 12-month project working with adults with physical and sensory impairments.  Exploring their creativity and developing a creative identity through workshops and projects exploring collage, digital media, film and animation.

·       2017 Creative Thinking @ ARRCC six-month workshop program to encourage adults with physical and sensory impairments to explore new ways of thinking and methods of creating art.  The project was designed to empower the participants to explore their creative potential, through a range of workshops and projects.  The project culminated with an exhibition of participants' work and two published documents.

·       2014 Pedal Powered Barbers. Site-specific art installation at several venues/events in Cambridge and throughout the UK. The performance area was a stage/barber shop where members of the public can receive free haircuts using bike generators, creating clean and environmentally friendly energy, thus highlighting an alternative power source to carbon-generated electricity.

·       2010 “Comic Life”, A series of workshops using digital media to create comic/graphic novels exploring the experiences of young people at St Michael's All Angels School, Camberwell, St Olavs School, Bermondsey, and Kids Company, Camberwell