The Skinny Showcase: Ant Hamlyn

“My work explores participation and the performance of viewing through technological encounters with sculptural objects and installations. Contextually underpinned by a fascination for all things arcade-esque, a combination of traditional handmade craft and digital media allows my work to fluctuate between both the static and the kinetic. I find [that] trying to make eye-catching, inviting work enables me to appeal to a wider audience and through this I try to explore both concepts of viewer experience and the physical act of making simultaneously. A lot of my influence comes from the 1960s Minimalists, particularly the way in which they explored how the viewer would navigate and experience the sculptures within a space; viewing would become an act. I like that notion and like to think of my work as a performance by the viewer, where the made object plays a part in that performance.

“I am currently developing a large-scale installation at FACT Liverpool, for a major show in December. The piece looks at how social media can allow us to live in an idealised world and can be used as a tool for boosting our own self-worth. I have developed an inflating orb within the FACTLab space inside the gallery on Wood Street. The orb will be suspended above the audience and will grow in size and remain inflated if it is liked through Facebook, tweeted about or hashtagged via Instagram. If the orb is ignored, over time it will subtly deflate and fade into the background of our lives. The orb exists in real time and runs parallel with human life. Its significance is entirely dependent upon its viewers.

“The work, titled The Boost Project, will be live at FACT from December 2015.   

“I am also very excited to be part of this year's neo:artprize final exhibition.”

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The Boost Project, from Dec 2015-Feb 2016,, FACT, Liverpool, fact.co.uk

The neo:art prize is at neo:gallery27, The Market Place, Bolton 27 Aug-1 Nov