Bank Street Gallery
Working in many different media, Wands is self taught and pragmatic. He is perhaps best known for his use of a monochrome pallet. His charcoal portraits enjoy popular appreciation, tapping in to the feel-good nature of the retro lifestyle.
A quiet man, you might pass Wands in the street - but he is watching you. Look at the detail of his portraits. His facility to capture character is honed in his comic drawings. Not only can he create mood in his work - his technical ability in the creation of light can be breathtaking - he can also set up mood in his audience. His pheasant series is a glorious example of his manipulation of the spectator. At first sight, those cartoons make use of the viewer’s expectations of hunting art. The faithful gundog loyally waiting behind his master is what a first eye believes it has seen, but look again. Wands’ humour is manifest in his manipulation of his audience’s expectations.
A man of few words, his art speaks volumes.
Graham Wands exhibition runs at Bank Street Gallery from 24th January to 7th March. for opening times check the website
www.bankstreetgallery.org