The Work
Statement
Oliver MacDonald works offer the essence of a recognisable coherence in his mode of art practice – beyond that of sculpture. They are an acknowledgement that an artist takes liberty to ‘play’ with the world and its information with either a seriousness or with laughter.
Whilst acknowledging serious concerns in the artwork, Oliver's practice moves forward more often with play and a regression of mind. His approach is defined through materials – often children’s toys, games and accoutrements – recontextualised to comment on an adult world. The works’ plaintive subject matter is suspended through the ‘word-plays’ of their titles; mocking, as jokes do, the seriousness of life with artful, playful scribbles.
CV
Born 1974, Halesworth, England.Living and working in south London.
Education
2006 – 2008 MA Sculpture, Royal College of Art, London
2000 – 2004 BA Fine Art (Hons.), Goldsmiths College, London
1996 – 2000 Apprenticeship in willow basketry; production of furniture; fencing; sculpturalcommissions - Brampton Willows, Brampton, Suffolk, England
1992 – 1994 Foundation in Art and Design, Lowestoft College, Suffolk, England
Exhibitions
2010, Bergen Biennale, The Woodmill, Neckinger
"Global Watchdog" Young Art, London Museum of Young Art (MOYA), Vienna
2009, Alternative Risk Transfer, The Rag Factory, London
PARADE, Hamilton House, Stocks Croft, Bristol
The Annuale (SHOWFLAT), Mile End, London
reFRAMED, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, Greenwich, London
Toy Box, New Cross, London
Encounters with Scale, Portman Gallery, Bethnal Green, London
2008 : Art in the Car Park, Liverpool Independents Biennial, Liverpool
The Fresh Air Machine, Calvert 22, Shoreditch, London
Anticipation, Selfridges, Oxford Street, London
MA Sculpture: Final Show, Royal College of Art, Battersea, London
2007:MA Sculpture: Interim Show, Royal College of Art, Kensington, London
2005: Whatever, The Old Seager Distillery, Deptford, Londom
ETA, Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, London
Cartoon, Fiesta Gallery, New Cross, London
2004: Amelia Plover 1974-2004, St. Pancras Church, Euston Road, London
Divided Lines , Numbers Gallery, Shoreditch, London
Seven, The Prenelle Gallery, West India Quay,London
Cardboard Mother, Numbers Gallery, Shoreditch, London
2.4, Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London
2003: Still and Chew, Pilot Art Space, Hastings, East Sussex
23 Qualities (after Kosuth), Pilot Art Space, Hastings, East Sussex
Oliver MacDonald vs. Adam Thompson, The Prenelle Gallery, West India Quay, London
Nothing to See, Nothing to Hide, Pilot Art Space, Hastings, East Sussex
Degree Show, Goldsmiths College, New Cross, London
2002: Restoration, The Crypt, Deptford, London
Football, The Prenelle Gallery, West India Quay, London
Part 1: Crucifix Lane, London
2001 : Run with it, M&B Motors, New Cross, London
Scape, The Prenelle Gallery, Millwall Inner Dock, London
Welcome to the Laundry, The Prenelle Gallery, Millwall Inner Dock, London