HAMISH PRINGLE

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Hamish Pringle's sculptures are designed to be touched. However, while tactility can be rewarding in itself, for him this interaction alone is not sufficient. In his view the participant activity must be integrated closely with the core idea of his work, and designed to amplify and elucidate it. Hamish believes that when people become participants and interact with his art physically as well as mentally, the experience is both more enjoyable and more meaningful.

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A key challenge has been to overcome the deeply entrenched culture which has told people “do not touch” when visiting museums and art galleries. Delivering a surprising, rewarding, and often gently humorous experience is an important element in encouraging participation.

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William James’ ‘As If’ principle – “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.” – and artists including Yoko Ono, Félix González-Torres, and Olafur Eliasson have inspired him.

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Hamish’s research has drawn on key texts including 'Relational Aesthetics' by Nicolas Bourriaud, and 'Participation' and 'Artificial Hells', both by Claire Bishop.  To explore his concept Hamish uses eclectic sources and semiotics. He adopts and adapts familiar objects and symbols to create new ones with fresh meanings and thought-provoking qualities.

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Very often people have entrenched attitudes towards the big social, environmental, and political issues of the day. Hamish’s goal is to use object-centred participatory art to provoke fresh thinking on them. 
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Hamish is part of Dogma19, a new artists’ group whose purpose is to challenge and inspire its members. For ‘Immurement’, the Wimbledon MFA Show at The Crypt Gallery, Dogma19 has adopted cement as its medium.

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hamishpringle.wixsite.com/mysite

Instagram : hppringle

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