Chewing Gum Man

Sorry about another long one, but this is pretty moving. Saw another work of art walking to the tube this morning, 10cm wide and perfect, painted one of the billion-trillion-million spodges of chewing gum canvasses that the eye can see down the street. It's always uplifting when I see them, a small sign of humanity in a mundane landscape. Here's a bit from the Guardian by Madeleine Bunting about the artist who makes them.

"Here's a tale for our times. Over the last three years, it has been possible to catch the 'Chewing Gum Man' at work somewhere in London, crouched on a pavement. From a distance, he could be homeless or a drunk - his coat is spattered with paint - but as you near, you see that he is painting in enamels, with great delicacy, a picture on the discarded gum that litters urban pavements. When he moves on, the picture will catch passing eyes - particularly children's - for months to come. Each picture tells a story as recounted by a passer-by: this was the place where someone was knocked down or had their first kiss. The pictures are small signs of personal connection, a humanising of an anonymous urban environment; he doesn't want payment, it's a gift of recognition in the city's commercialised and often violent public space..." (continues here)

Says Ben Wilson, the artist, of his work: "My paintings are a way of reflecting people back to themselves..."
But also: "In part, you are turning a thoughtless action into something positive."

Here's some more good links to Chewing Gum Man in the Guardian and lots of shots of them on Flickr

Comments

[keith]

met chewing gum man. nice bloke. did a still life near vodafone oxford st london 4 me. first still life he done!!!!! done just b4 xmas. was 4 luck. bit has been damaged but u can find it on ist side st left of vodafone shop opposite steak house. next to a pilla on left of side road third or fourth one down.
had a couple of coffees and a chat. nice bloke. i am a big issue vendor.