IAN DAMERELL
Born in London 23.08.47
Childhood North Wales
Fluent in English, Welsh and Norwegian
Learning Russian
I am a professional artist living and working in Oslo, Norway, where I have a studio. In addition, I am a professor of art at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences in the Faculty of technology, Art and Design.
I have recently concentrated my art activities on a project known as 'Unfolding the Cards' taken from my unpublished book of the same name. These are a series of projects that deal with a variety of approaches to the portrait. In the main it focuses on the ex-Soviet Union where I attempt to map the ideas and thoughts of various citizens of these countries.
As a lecturer in art theory and aesthetics, I am concerned with how the art is received in the contemporary social arena. In addition, I believe that any approach to aesthetics needs to consider ethics - and therefore social and political concerns.
I travel around Europe giving lectures on a variety of themes related to this approach, and have a special relationship with Vilnius Academy of Arts where I am a visiting lecturer. In the past I lectured at both the Royal College of Art (visiting lecturer) and Goldsmith's College of Art (permanent position for 2 years in the 1980s).
Education:
MA Royal College of Art
BA Hon West Surrey College of Art and Design
Foundation:
Manchester College of Art and Design
I have been writing a novel 'Sacrificing an Angel' and a kind philosophical/theory/art book called 'Unfolding the Cards' for the last 7 years. I have too started to write a new novel 'Kerch: The Three Ships'. I have finished writing Unfolding the Cards and am awaiting comments from Dr Agne Narusyte from Vilnius Acadmey of Arts, who is reading it. I will soon be finished a final rewrite of my novel 'Sacrificing an Angel' and this will then be read by Ole Øyvind Sand Holth, a Norwegian literary critic. As for my second novel... Kerch: The Three Ships... this is an ongoing project. Here is a small excerpt from the beginning of this novel:
Chapter 01 Печаль: Summer Break
ATOMIC SKY: Do I remember that strange rain? It fell like a million diamonds from the sky, light as feathers swaying like snow, but smaller, in the sunshine. I remember placing my hand automatically to my hair as if to shiled myself. We were like visitors outside that day, as if we were walking the baby on an alien planet. 'Be patient!' I thought to myself. There was as unsual anticipation; something was different. I peered into the oddly lit sky that day and, unkonwn to me, I was experiencing my first contact with the Ukraine. It was not to be my last.
STATUS: 03.10.11
"Unfolding the Cards" awaits publication in Lithuania (in English) and hopefully Norway - when translated to Norwegian.
"Sacrificing an Angel" once completed and read by Ole Ø Sand Holth will be sent to publishers.
Unfolding the Cards Projects: These are ongoing and, in the main, incorporate photography and drawing. They are situated mainly in Estonia, Lithuania and the Ukraine.
HISTORY
My theme for many years has circled around the concept of a meeting point between the human body and modern institutions (in the main the health institution). The Unfolding the Cards projects approach this same theme, but, in addition, attempt to deal with a traditional art issue: the portrait. This is perhaps a kind of deconstruction… but I am thoroughly tired of postmodernism and its lack of seriousness.