Adam Latham was born in Lancaster in 1981 and graduated from London's Royal College of Art in 2005 with an MA in Painting. He makes drawings and paintings which confront taboos and the limits of acceptable ideas of taste. His work has its roots in social and political cartooning, and bears the influence of artists such as Robert Crumb. Latham's practice explores the role of exoticism in art, and the intricacy particularly of his drawings at first diverts one's gaze from their less than palatable subjects. For example, beneath the staggering level of detail and exquisite technical skill of one of his 2005 drawings (pictured below) sits a black woman in a warped Edenic scene next to a policeman's helmet, her head an Arcimboldo-like explosion of fruit and flowers; the confusion of morality and ethical standards is exacerbated still further by the title of the work, 'Nicetits shameabouttheface'.
Latham is currently working on a series of drawings entitled 'The Others,' which bring together a desire to represent exotic imagery whilst at the same time tackling xenophobia and demonization. As the artist puts it, 'I am attempting to deal with issues of otherness. Monstrous figures are portrayed caught in the midst of amoral, depraved activities. These beasts are found living amongst the scattered debris at a junkyard or solitarily stalking the jungle in search of prey.'
Adam Latham's work was included in last year's EAST INTERNATIONAL 2006 at the Norwich Art Gallery, curated by the Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and Dirk Snauwaert, Artistic Director of Wiels in Brussels. Latham's work is currently on view in the Jerwood Contemporary Painting exhibition in London until 31 March.
To see more of Adam Latham's work on Your Gallery click here.
Rebecca Wilson
Rebecca Wilson is the editor of Your Gallery magazine, and was formerly editor of ArtReview and deputy editor of Modern Painters.
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