Andre's Dad - work made with the young people at Rockingham Estate Play Association (REPA) summer 2002

Marq's work looks at how the urban environment intentionally, and unintentionally, subverts street signage's messages. If a snow-capped mountain can evoke spiritual uplifting, what does a torn poster inspire ? Marq ran four very successful workshops over the summer at REPA (Rockingham Estate Play Association) exploring these ideas. Over 35 participant were involved, reflecting the rich diversity of the community and ranging in age from 6 to 16. They combed the streets in the surrounding area and collected relevant graphic images, and from these they created collage artworks by cutting, tearing and pasting.

Questions asked to participants

What have you learned from the project? 'No idea...' 'Signs are everywhere you look and go'

What did you enjoy? 'Everything' 'The walk' 'Using the cameras' 'I like painting'

Collected quotes 'I love this class' - Penniel 'Can't wait to see our works up in lights' - Leon 'Will we get paid for this?' - Laura

Marq is a practising artist based in Brixton, South London, he has been involved in international exchanges in New York and was the British representative in the Tulipamwe International Artist's Workshop, Namibia, Africa. He has worked on numerous projects in Southwark including workshops at Camberwell Choir School. He has just recently finished a second workshop in New York. Marq has created paintings that look like fly-posters. They have been pasted onto board and cut into particular patterns and shapes, suggesting that these works have lifted themselves off a wall.
I just want an emotional response

'These paintings are samples of London taken between my house and my studio. They are remixes of Camberwell and Camden Town sampled with stuff in the middle. They refer to classical and ancient art, as well as local events, new cd's and trainers.

'Yet the paintings convey something outside of the language they adopt. On one level, there is a collection of images familiar to the contemporary culture. These hand painted gouache posters are recollections of standard pasted street-side walls. However, on another level, the specific shape of the painting, the arrangement of the contained images, the selection of particular words and colours, this level, there exists the felt sensation to the artwork. Between these two levels is the motivation to make the work.'