Paul Wakelam

Paul Wakelam’s career began in architecture and he commenced a two year Fine Art MA in September 2022 concurrently with his work as an architect.

His artwork is in contrast to the precision of architectural drawing being based around the use of charcoal & graphite, collage and printmaking.

Wakelam’s practice explores his connectedness with landscape; this is an evolving method of exploring himself and his response to unstructured natural spaces.

The genesis for much of his work has been walking; the physicality of walking helps to evoke a state of mind and a relationship to the landscape. Walks are often repeated and through repetition changes occur, traces are left which develop into works.

Drawings become an act of expressing on paper the textures, shapes and lines that create background noise in the mind, memories of place.

Emerging within his work is a particular focus on the implements of making a mark, highlighting the role that objects play within the making process –a dialogue with something taken from the landscape and a collaboration with the materials.

Objects and/or tools aren’t passive but have agency in the making process, the paper takes a critical position as the holder, or archivist of the drawing in time and place.

This has become particularly relevant with his creation of fragile works where applied material may fall away leaving traces + fragments on and in the substrate.

Paul was part of newplatform.art’s 2022 cohort and is also a member of ArtCan.

Links:
Website: paulwakelam.co.uk
Instagram: @paulnwakelam