Franko B
Encyclopedia
Franko B is a London-based performance art
ist. He studied fine art in London at Camberwell College of Arts
(1986–7) and Chelsea College of Art (1987–90). His work was originally based on the bloody and ritualised violation of his own body. Later on he embraced a wide variety of media including video
, photography
, painting
, installation
, and sculpture
.
He performed at the ICA
, London
in 1996 and 2008, the South London Gallery in 1999 and 2004, the Centre of Attention
in 2000, Tate Modern
in 2002, the Ikon Gallery
, Birmingham in 2005, Arnolfini, Bristol in 2007, The Bluecoat Centre, Liverpool in 2008, CENDEAC, Murcia, Spain in 2007 and The Crawford Municipal Gallery in Cork, Ireland in 2005. He has exhibited work internationally in Zagreb, Mexico City, Milan, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Madrid, Vienna, Liverpool, Brussels, Cork and Siena.
He is professor of sculpture at Accedemia di Belle Arti di Macerata, Marche, Italy and has lectured extensively at a number of art schools, including St. Martins School of Art, New York University, Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, Chelsea College of Art, London, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee, DasArt, Amsterdam, Goldsmiths College of Art, London, Zurich University of the Arts and the Courtauld Institute of Art.
His work was the subject of three monographs: Franko B (Black Dog Publishing 1998), Oh Lover Boy, (Black Dog Publishing 2000), Blinded by Love (Damiani Editore 2006) and
I Still Love (Motta/Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan, 2010).
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
ist. He studied fine art in London at Camberwell College of Arts
Camberwell College of Arts
Camberwell College of Arts is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, and is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost art and design institutions. It is located in Camberwell, South London, England, with two sites situated at Peckham Road and Wilson Road...
(1986–7) and Chelsea College of Art (1987–90). His work was originally based on the bloody and ritualised violation of his own body. Later on he embraced a wide variety of media including video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, installation
Installation art
Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
, and sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
.
He performed at the ICA
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1996 and 2008, the South London Gallery in 1999 and 2004, the Centre of Attention
The Centre of Attention
The Centre of Attention is a London-based contemporary art organisation set up in 1999. Projects are shown internationally and constitute an ongoing enquiry into the phenomenon of art production, presentation and consumption....
in 2000, Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located in London, England. It is Britain's national gallery of international modern art and forms part of the Tate group . It is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world, with around 4.7 million visitors per year...
in 2002, the Ikon Gallery
Ikon Gallery
The Ikon Gallery is an English gallery of contemporary art, located in Brindleyplace, Birmingham. It is housed in the Grade II listed, neo-gothic former Oozells Street Board School, designed by John Henry Chamberlain in 1877. The gallery's current director is Jonathan Watkins.Ikon was set up to...
, Birmingham in 2005, Arnolfini, Bristol in 2007, The Bluecoat Centre, Liverpool in 2008, CENDEAC, Murcia, Spain in 2007 and The Crawford Municipal Gallery in Cork, Ireland in 2005. He has exhibited work internationally in Zagreb, Mexico City, Milan, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Madrid, Vienna, Liverpool, Brussels, Cork and Siena.
He is professor of sculpture at Accedemia di Belle Arti di Macerata, Marche, Italy and has lectured extensively at a number of art schools, including St. Martins School of Art, New York University, Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, Chelsea College of Art, London, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee, DasArt, Amsterdam, Goldsmiths College of Art, London, Zurich University of the Arts and the Courtauld Institute of Art.
His work was the subject of three monographs: Franko B (Black Dog Publishing 1998), Oh Lover Boy, (Black Dog Publishing 2000), Blinded by Love (Damiani Editore 2006) and
I Still Love (Motta/Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan, 2010).
Further reading
- Goldberg, RoseLee: 'Performance: Live Art Since 1960, Thames & Hudson, 1998
- Vergine, Lea: Body Art and Performance. The Body as Language, Skira, Milan, 2000
External links
- Artist's own website
- Artist's own news blog
- British Council profile
- Trieste exhibition archive with photo gallery
- Tate Modern performance, including video
- Come into my parlour, The Guardian, 25 May 2002, profile and review of Warwick Arts Centre performance
- Latest Art feature article
- Franko B Archive Details of Franko B's Archive held in the University of Bristol Theatre Collection's Live Art Archives
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata