Will Sweeney

http://willsweeney.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/willsweeney_uk/

London based illustrator and graphic artist specialising in comics, clothing graphics, animated videos and music packaging. He has collaborated and worked with a variety of labels/bands/TV shows and publications. He is also known for his comic series Tales from Greenfuzz and for Alakazam - his T-shirt and print label. Clients include Penguin books, Stella McCartney, Undercover, The Horrors and Beck. Will has exhibited his work in galleries around the world, including London, Paris, LA, Madrid, Tokyo and Melbourne.

SOLO EXHIBITION

2005

･ “Alakazam!”(with Susumu Mukai), Beams T, Tokyo

･ “Alakazam!”(with Susumu Mukai), Colette, Paris

･ “Alakazam!” (with Susumu Mukai), PAM Gallery, Melbourne

2007

･ “Mutatis Mutandis”, (with Susumu Mukai), Undercover, Tokyo

2009

･ “Subterraneans”, The Narrows gallery, Melbourne

2010

･ “Overgrown”, Hope Gallery, LA

2012

･ “Explorers Club”, Synchronicity Space, LA

2014

･ “Microlife”, Beach gallery, London

･ “Captain Mindseye“, Liebre Gallery, Madrid

2016

･ “Citadel”, Red Bull Gallery, Paris

GROUP SHOW

2003

･ “Where is Silas?”, Parco Museum, Tokyo

2005

･ “Zarjaz” Play Lounge, London

･ “Hysteric Mini 20th Anniversary” Visual Arts Centre Hong Kong

2007

･ “I love Tourism”, Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice

2010

･ “Youtube Play” Guggenheim Museum, New York

2013

･ “Print Show” (with Charles Burns), Surgo Store, Berlin

2014

･ “House of Vans”, House of Vans, London

2015

･ “Mapping The City” Somerset House, London

2016

･ “Forbidden Archeology” Centro cultural Conde Duque, Madrid

― Please introduce yourself.


My name is Will Sweeney and I’m a graphic artist from London.

--How did the idea for the title Vorpal Sword come about?


It’s a line from a poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Caroll. I’ve always loved this poem since I was a child and I thought that Vorpal Sword was a good title because it’s kind of ambiguous and it doesn’t have a strict definition. It sounds magical and intriguing.

-- Could you tell us about the focal point of the exhibition?


I don’t think there is any one specific focal point of the exhibition as it’s quite varied. My opinion of which piece is my favourite tends to change as time goes by. My favourite pieces at the moment are the really detailed water colour ball-point pen pieces like Germs Forming and Mustard Gas 2, because they represent a looser approach for me.

-- The artwork is based on the post-apocalyptic vision of England. Can you describe how the theme is reflected in the artwork?


I think that’s for the viewer to interpret themselves. It’s not for me to describe what’s going on in the pictures too literally.

--When did you first take interest in anatomical and biological drawings? How is your work influenced by these type of drawings?


When I was about thirteen or fourteen, I became interested in images of medicine and science. Also my interest stemmed from medieval engravings. Things like the image of a flayed man flayed man which was a much copied image of a human figure holding its own skin with veins and flesh exposed. I also like the idea from medieval alchemy of microcosm and macrocosm, so the human body could be like a city in a scaled down version. It functions in a similar way. The cells being the population, the circulatory system representing traffic and movement, the brain a giant computer and the heart the engine or power system.

-- You have used various types of materials in your work. Could you describe your working process?


With a lot of newer works in the show, the process would be that I would start in a very random haphazard way; applying water colour very quickly to a large piece of paper and setting myself a time limit in order to cover a surface. Then allowing this paint to dry and working into it with pencil crayon, gel marker, and then finally refining and realising the image in black ink.

-- Please tell us about the source of inspiration for your work.


Inspiration comes from many many areas, it’s very difficult to pinpoint one. Music, graphic design, books, architecture and also stories particularly. In general, I’m very inspired by stories and I constantly consume fiction and stories in many forms, comics, games, novels, films and radio.

-- Please name a few artists or movies that have been influential to you?


Time bandits by Terry Gilliam. Nemesis the Warlock, a comic by Pat Mills and Kevin O’niell. Also the work of Alan Moore. Recently I’ve been inspired by Michel Fiffe, who writes and draws a comic called Copra. I love 80’s horror films, particularly the work of Brian Yuzna and Frank Henenlotter.

-- You’re a keen listener of music as well. Any artists you’re into at the moment?


The last five records I bought: Rezzett LP, Tom of England ‘Care to destroy’ EP, Tommy McCook, ‘Superstar Disco Rockers’ LP, Young Echo LP, Hieroglyphic Being ‘The Red Notes’ LP.

-- What’s your impression on the Japanese art/culture scene?

When I was in Tokyo this time, I went to an opening of my friend Hiroshi Iguchi’show, Synthesizer, at SO Gallery. Hiroshi is a Tokyo underground graphic legend. There seem to be many great artists behind the scenes in Tokyo and it’s always exciting to visit and see their work. They need to be discovered for yourself.

-- As a regular visitor of Japan, do you have any shops or places that you always visit?

Tokyu Hands is always a must visit for art materials and creative technology. Big Love Records Harajuku. Undercover Store Aoyama. Pink Dragon Cat Street.

-- How do you spend your day off?


I don’t have days off!

-- Some fans traveled afar to your signing. How did it feel meeting them in person?


Very pleasant. That was a very nice surprise to find out that people wanted to make the effort to come and see the show from far away.

-- Do you have any upcoming projects or is there any project you want to work on in the future?


I’ve always wanted to work on computer game. My dream project at the moment is to work on a game for Nintendo Switch!