Les Bicknell Eva’s Place Sibton Green Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 2JX

artist

m 07875186542

Commissions since 2000

Jubilant! 2022

As part of the Stowmarket Jubilant! Project, I worked with pupils from Stowupland High School and Colin Lay of Red Gables to envisage the possible uses of a large open area on the school site. We set out to investigate and question the space to help us understand and map it. The idea was that by mapping what is there we could determine what could be. An outdoor installation and a printed limited-edition book were two physical outcomes.

Garden of emotions 2022

A commissioned set of instructional/inspirational posters exploring the potential of paper folding within a well-being context. These were sited within a specific area created within the science museum on the London Bridge Kings campus that was set out as a quiet area. This was accompanied by a series of workshops.

#knownknowledge, 2018

Working with Essex County Council and Commissions Projects to develop 6 steel plasma-cut public art sculptures for Goldlay Square in Chelmsford.

unfoldingthinking, 2017

A year with NanoTech DTC collaborating with PhD students and academics at the Maxwell Centre for Nanotechnology in Cambridge. The project sought to extend an understanding between cutting edge science and contemporary art, specifically making connections between nanotechnology and the making of bookworks. Outcomes include a series of interventions within labs and communal spaces, films, artworks, exhibitions, papers, and workshops.

Make:Shift - 2017

Delivering a paper as part of the Crafts Council 2-day biennial innovation conference in Manchester. This year’s event questioned, investigated, and pushed the boundaries of craft in the 21st century.

Postures of Making - 2016

A participant in the Arts Council funded project that explores the ergonomics of making. A research and development project which is centred on working collaboratively with ergonomics scientist Dr Valerie Woods.

Build your own: tools for sharing, 2016

Working in the Castle Museum, Norwich during the Build your own exhibition. Engaging with members of the public and creating a number of films exploring the process of making. The work built on the collaborative work I had recently engaged in within the NanoPhotonics Centre in Cambridge University. Working with the Director Prof. Jeremy J. Baumberg on an experimental project

Parallel Practices. 2015

A collaborative project with the Crafts Council and Kings College London. Working in collaboration with Thrishantha Nanayakkara Senior lecturer, King's College London and jeweller Naomi Mcintosh to explore soft robotics - squeeze fold bend and expand - Structural Memory in Deformable Objects.

unpicking and rebinding. 2013 - 14

Working with Ipswich Record Office, Museum of East Anglia and The Costume and Textile study Centre in Norwich to explore the role of the fold within historical and contemporary textiles and printed material to create a body of work, a book and film.

Creative Carers. 2013

An Artlink pilot project to enable the writing of a report - working within residential homes with carers of the elderly, developing their own creativity and supporting their work with the elderly residents.

Bookmare. 2012

Creating a body of work for the first bookmare at Camberwell College of the arts – to include an illustrated talk and the design of the print material for the exhibition.

The big book. 2012

The creation of a large bookwork for the learning programme at firstsite gallery. The piece celebrates the history of the space from its inception to the first exhibition alongside ideas including looking, thinking, colour and illusion. The book is to be used as a tool to engage the public in the exploration and understanding of the permanent and touring exhibitions.

Journey to the podium. 2012

A commission for Essex County Council – to create a collaborative bookwork with an athlete for the 2012 Olympics. Working with Dan Bentley, paralympian gold medallist, boccia player to create a piece that connects the audience to the experience of Boccia. The work has a functionality that mirrors the initial simplicity of the sport; but when handled reveals the complexity and gamesmanship which is embedded within the game play.

Interactive print. 2011

Working with Firstsite, Colchester Museum service and Essex schools to develop specialist print around the Roman Berryfield mosaic which is embedded within the floor of the space.

Wrapping the Corn Exchange with cornfields and sky. 2010

A temporary piece for Ipswich Borough Council which celebrated the history of the space whilst generating a moment of calm within the town. The 75m x 10m printed piece wrapped Ipswich Corn exchange while it was being redeveloped.

bench for Leiston. 2009

Working with Suffolk Coastal District Council on the creation of an ‘art bench’ for the town of Leiston. The project involved working with all of year 8 pupils from Leiston Middle School, creating drawings at The Long shop Museum that were developed into designs which were then sandblasted into recycled stone blocks and sited in the main square.

Diss stones. 2008

The creation of a work with Diss Town Council and Cittislow sited at a Morrison’s store. The work celebrates the history of the site while providing a talking point for the residents of the town. The piece

takes the form of 4 large granite pieces in the shape of buildings formally located on the site with text/equations generated from community involvement sandblasted into it.

Beyond. 2007 - 08

A piece for the Hythe area of Colchester which celebrates the stories of the people who used to work, live, and play in the area before its redevelopment. The two-piece artwork sits either side of a path and the continuous text is derived from reminiscence work with past residents of the area and workers from the laundry. The shapes are derived from the distinctive laundry building roof that was on the site. Supported by Barratt’s and delivered by Colchester Borough Council

Temporary installation - based on ideas around Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. 2007

Large-scale installation for St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta. The piece explored concepts around the science of seeing and the myth of believing.

What is important? – Working on a housing estate in Great Cornard within the Housing Department of Babergh District Council. 2004 - 08

This became a 4-year project working to develop a permanent creative shared space. The work included working closely with the residents and all stakeholders to development a shared language with which to develop concepts and drawings. These became final inclusive pieces, including paths, which realigned the estate.

Writing instructions / reading words – a site-specific text-based work at the Poetry Society and an artist book Here are my instructions. 2002

Curated, produced, and edited by Redell Olsen and Susan Johanknecht with support from an Awards for All grant.

Multi-functional street furniture in the Quayside area and at St Crispin’s Urinal in Norwich. 2001

Developed with Norwich City Planning Department a large text fence and ‘functional’ text feature that explored the history of the developed space.

Queen’s Suffolk Book. 2000

Creating an editioned book, a one-off bookwork and web site for Suffolk County Council in celebration of the Queen’s jubilee visit to Suffolk.

Louth Millennium sculpture project. 2000

A number of interventions around Louth with the sculptor Lawrence Edwards including 3 life-sized bronze figures and floor text panels. The work also involved working with local media to generate text, alongside workshops in schools and the generation of a one-off book and exhibition for the library. Commissioned by Louth Town Council and Commissions East.

Earlier Commissions include

North Kesteven District Council.

Alnwick Library.

Sustrans.

Scunthorpe Borough Coucil.

Essex University.

Suffolk County Council

Lincolnshire County Council.

Eastern Arts Board.

Crafts space Touring

Manchester Metropolitan University.

Birmingham City Council

Norfolk County Council.

National Museum of Scotland

Suffolk College

The Minories

Lead Artist roles since 2000

NanoArtDTC 2016

Working within a team of scientists, a collaborative project organised with Jeremy Baumberg within the NanoDTC Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge. This included presenting a paper at the Festival of ideas in Cambridge.

Dementia Quilt 2015

Supporting and co-ordinating a student engagement with a local nursing home in Norwich with NUA. Working with the residents, staff and students to develop a number of artworks to be located within Grenville Court residential home.

‘Home Zone’, Suffolk County Council Environment and Planning Department. 2002-5

Redesign of two new streets in Lowestoft within the context of the national 'homezone' design criteria with the residents of those streets, the business's, local and national services. This was a 3-year project and also included in the last year the generation of a creative team to build a new kind of manual for the residents to understand their new street which resulted in many digital interventions, a bookwork, CD ROM, web site and conference.

Marriott’s Way, cycle path, Norfolk County Council Planning and Transport Department. 2001-3

Working over 21 miles in liaison with 12 Parish Council, Norwich City Council, Norfolk County Council on the development of an artistic vision for the path. The work over a 3-year period included numerous consultation situations, developing the signage, the creation of a number of sculptural text interventions, the interpretative material, working with the Poet Esther Morgan on a YOTA project and the design of a bridge.

Artistic Director of the Millennium Gorleston Psalter Project. 2000-1

A collaborative community art project that included building an art team, working with over 200 volunteers and a team of artists and designers to develop, design, and create a one-off Psalter. I then worked in collaboration with musicians, both professional and amateur to enact the book in a performance in the church that was involved in the commissioning the initial Psalter.

Exhibiting

Selected one person shows since 2000

the lesson-National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Jan 2000

reading landscapes -Focal Point Gallery, Southend, Jan – March 2000

rural but not isolated-Peasenhall and Sibton Youth club. June 2000

sibton-Peasenhall and Sibton Youth club. May 2001

folded space-IP Gallery, Colchester, April 2003

suppose it is true after all? -The Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth April 2005

threads: mapped -Gallery 1.1 Town Hall Gallery, Ipswich Sept 08 – Mar 09

unpicking and rebinding -Norwich Gallery, Nov 2013

unpicking and rebinding -Museum of East Anglia, Stowmarket Sept – Nov 2013

unpicking and rebinding -small tour includes Ipswich, Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds Record Offices, Castle Museum, Norwich May – Oct 2013

Les Bicknell-Centre for Fine Print Research, UWE Bristol, April 2014

plis croisés-mprints, Piegros La Castre, France, Aug – Sept 2014

unfoldingthinking -NanoDTC, Cavendish Museum, Cambridge, Dec 2017-18

Selected Group shows since 2000

Views across the Pond Blickling Hall National Trust House 2000

Inside Cover Touring inc Oxford Brookes, 2001

On Paper. New paper art. Crafts Council, July – Aug 2001

Edges, Crossings, Thresholds. Elizabeth Fry Building, UEA, July – Aug 2001

paper past/paper perfect MoDA, Feb - March 2002

paperworks Norfolk Creative East Tour, May – June 2002

Right here, right now the Herbert, Coventry, Sept 2006

looking for University of the arts, London March 2007

Action/interaction Chicago Centre for Book and Paper May 2007

Picasso’s Laboratory St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity, Valletta Malta 2007

From Book to Book Leeds Art Gallery, March – April 2008

The Last Book National Library of Spain, May 2008

imprints mediatheque La Durance, Cavaillon, France Jun – Aug 2009

we are the history of textiles Dragon Hall, Norwich, March – April 2010

exhibitor Royal Academy Summer Exhibition July – Aug 2010

Prospero's Library Studio 75, London April 2011

Modified Expression National Craft Gallery of Ireland, Kilkenny July – Sept 2011

“Between You and Me’ Samwon Paper Gallery, Seoul Korea Nov – Dec 2011

rewind Texere bi-annual, Kaunas Dec 2011

repeat Norwich Gallery Jan 2012

library of lost books Birmingham Library June 2012

bookmare Camberwell space July 2012

The Art and Soul of Paper Various locations Norwich 2013

Codex: Between This and That bookartbookshop London 2013

Boarders and Crossings Dundee Aug 2013

International Artists Book Prize Bank Street Arts, Sheffield October 2013

Resurrecting the Book Library of Birmingham, November 2013

DIY Cultures Rich Mix - London May 2014

Cley 14 Cley, Norfolk, June 2014

RUKSSIAN Artists’ Books Touring exhibition Tsaritsyno State Historical, Architectural, Art and Landscape Museum-Reserve, MoscowPavel Kuznetsov Museum, Saratov - Russia 2014-15

fashion 360 fashion week at NUA 2016

Art Language Location Cambridge 2016

paperscissorsbook a Northern craft touring show in 2016

we love your books http://rejectamenta.com/wlyb/intersect-2017/

of average sunlight Kingsland Project Space, March - May 2017

Intersections Loughborough University - unfoldingthinking,Sept 2017

of average sunlight Poetry Library, Southbank Festival Hall - May 2018

PAGES Touring - Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham - March 2019

Print Matters - books from the archives Przy Rektoracia Gallery. Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Art and Design, Poland. May 2019

Constellation Inspiration and the Artist Book Laramie County Library, Wyoming, USA - June - Sept 2019

gommisti. imprints, Crest, France - July – 2010

site specific online The Cut, Halesworth. Aug – 2020

Wood-Sun-Stone – Friends of Roger Ackling. imprints, Crest, France. March - 2021

Firstlight Bird Box project various locations, Lowestoft July – 2021

BABE 2021 “Lost weekend” https://www.instagram.com/respondproject/

HERE artstation, Saxmundham. September – 2021

Flag artstation, Saxmundham. September – 2021

La Fabrique du pont d’Aleyrac, à Saint Pierreville en Ardèche.July - 2022

Grants and Awards since 2000

YOTA - Arts Council 2000

Working for a year with my Parish Council exploring the role of the artist in society. The outcomes were rich and varied including abstract signage, lighting the church, exhibitions in the village hall and editioned artworks each month for every household.

Commission East – Awards for Artists 2001

To work with The Museum of East Anglia Life, the artist Sue Brinkhurst and poet Esther Morgan to work on mapping the collection project.

Commissions East/Eastenglandarts – Awards for Artists 2002

To develop concepts and new work around ‘idea’ a virtual artwork in collaboration with the writer Robin Brooks.

Commissions East/Eastenglandarts – Awards for Artists 2003

Purchase of digital equipment to extend and develop practice.

Arts Council Grant recipient GFA 2013 – exploring the role of the fold within historical and contemporary textiles and printed material held in heritage collections within the Eastern region

Arts Council Grant recipient GFA 2016 - unfolding thinking sought to extend our understanding between cutting edge science and contemporary art, specifically making connections between nanotechnology and the making of bookworks at the Maxwell Centre in Cambridge.

Published writing and articles:

Artists Newsletter.

Galleries magazine.

Artists Book Yearbook.

Catalogue statements as an artist and curator.

Engage 9

Norfolk CC P&T Website

Writing 2000:

work included in catalogue Buch Kunst Objekt published by Kunstmuseum Stuttgart 2016

'Smocking Is Evil?' Unpicking and Rebinding Futurescan 3: Intersecting Identities. 2016

unfoldingthinking making book art with scientists Artists Book Yearbook 2018-19

NanoArt - Science Exhibitions in the Cavendish Laboratory January CavMag 2018

Observing a gap and filling it with connections:

Where does creativity come from and where does one go to encounter it?

exhibition catalogue essay and interview Telling Tales by Debjani Bhardwaj 2018

Advisor/Board membership:

Artist advisor for L.H.C.C.

Panel member for the distribution of individual grants to artists for L.A.B.

Member of the working party validating the M.A. in Book Arts and writing the student

Course handbook at Camberwell College of Art.

Validation panel member for proposed B.A. in Fibre Art/Textiles at Norwich School of Art.

Member of Eastern Arts Board’s Regional Artists Advisory Group, The Year of the Artist.

Board member Commissions East 2007 - 2010

Mentor Crafts Council Parallel Practices 2016

Fairs:

Frankfurt Book Fair 1993

Chelsea Craft Fair 1994 - 97

Represented at Frankfurt Book Fair 1994 - 97

London Book Art Fair 1994 - 97

Collections:

The work has been acquired by numerous private and public collections nationally and internationally including – Blackburn Art Gallery, The Bodelian Library, Oxford, Chelsea Art College Library, Bibliotheque Nazionale, Florence, Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry, Manchester Met University Library, Bibliotheque, Paris, L.C.P. London, The Rijksmuseum, Den Haag, The Victoria and Albert Museum, New York Public Library, H.R.C. Centre, Austin, M.O.M.A. New York, St Martins School of Art, London, Wimbledon School of Art, Yale Centre for British Art.

Education work

Current Education posts

Senior Lecturer Textile Design BA at Norwich University of the Arts. 2004 -

Teaching Experience

Lincolnshire College of Art. G.A.D. Graphic Design 1990 – 92

Suffolk College, Foundation. G.A.D and B.A. Graphic Design. 1992 – 94

Camberwell College of Art. B.A. Graphic Design & Joint Hons. 1993 – 99

Norwich Institute of Art and Design. B.A. Textiles 1999 – 04

Course Tutor University of the Arts London Camberwell on the MA in Book Art 1996 - 19

Visiting Tutor MA Fine Art Course at Open College of the Arts 2012 - 18

Year Tutor MA Fine Art Course at Open College of the Arts 2018 - 19

Visiting Lecturer

Brighton University, B.A. Fine Art.

Coventry University B.A. Art & Craft Studies.

Hertfordshire University. B.A. Fine Art.

Humberside College of Art. B.A. Fine Art Sculpture.

Kent Institute of Art and Design. B.A. Communication Media.

Loughborough College of Art and Design. B.A. Fine Art.

Middlesex University. B.A. M.A. Fine Art, Printmaking.

Manchester Met University. B.A. Visual Communication Media.

Norwich Institute of Art and Design. H.N.D. Surface Pattern, Crafts, Foundation, B.A. Visual Studies, Textiles, Fine Art, Contextual Studies.

Suffolk College. B.A. Visual Studies.

Mentoring and Speaking

Mentoring role within the Crafts Council Parallel Practices 2 programme 2016

Speaker at MakeShift Crafts Council 2016

Speaker at Making Materials Matter conference 2017

Consultant with Synthetic Anatomy at Kings. 2017-22

Mentoring role on The Critical Practice Program at Tashkeel 2017/18

Workshop presenter Making Materials Matter conference 2018

Materials Research Exchange, Business Design Centre 2020

Speaker for BSc Science communication students at Kings, London 2021

Knowing through Making symposium, Kings, London 2022

Speaker at FLEXchange, Kings, London 2022

Consultant on receptor pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Kings, London 2022

Recent online workshops

Printworks, Leicester printmaking Workshop. 12 month and 4-month 2021/22

Double Elephant, printmaking workshop - Exeter 4-month 2022

Residencies post 2000

Sibton Parish Council 2001

Physical Poetry, YOTA, NCC 2001

St James Centre for Creativity, Valletta 2007

Workshop for Being a man - BAM Southbank Festival Hall 2015

Build your own: tools for sharing, Castle Museum, Norwich 2016

Maxwell Centre for Nanotechnology in Cambridge 2017

Previous Residencies include

1989 Household Waste Disposal Site, Lincoln 1994 Becon Hill Special School, Ipswich

Morton Hall Prison Lincolnshire 1995 Camden Arts Centre

Scunthorpe Library 1996 Suffolk College

1991 Kesteven House Assessment Center 1998 Norfolk CC P&T Yota

Alnwick Festival 1999 Engage, Encompass Project UEA

1993 Stowmarket Library

Schools Residencies – over 20 years experience of ‘rising fives’ to 6th forms including inset training with Humberside County Council, Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council Education Authorities.

My Education

Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry, Foundation Course 1982

London College of Printing, Graphic Design BA Hons 1982 – 85

University of the Arts London - Post graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching 2009/10

Current Work includes

Continuing to develop a Synthetic Anatomy 3D modelling and reflective thinking module at Kings for biomedical students with a team constituted of members of staff from medical, biological engineering, and anatomy.

Building a project around receptor pharmacology with the Department of Pharmacology, Kings, London.

Writing text for Turn the Page, Norwich.