Nicholas Baldion
I'm of the opinion that a painter is more than just an ‘eye’, but a whole human who is thinking, who is conscious, who is a member of humanity and society. I believe that the artist’s role is to reflect the times they live in – to have something to say. This is what I am aiming to do in my work. I'm a social realist painter, who has won several prizes for my paintings, including the John Moores Painting Prize and the John Moores Peoples Choice. I've exhibited throughout the UK, including in the Tate Britain, The Peoples History Museum, The walker Gallery, and The Mall Galleries.
Social Murder: Grenfell in Three Parts was not made as decoration. It was made as a weapon. A tool in the fight for Truth, Justice and Change.
The side panels tell the Story of what happened, before and after the Fire. The middle panel shows Grenfell Tower on the night of the fire.
When the triptych is closed the Green heart, a symbol of Grenfell is visible. The writing on the reverse was initially added by members of the local Grenfell Community. It is a testimony which is added to as the painting continues its journey.
It is unashamedly political art. For a long time there has been a bias, a prejudice against political painting. As plato would like to ban the poet from the republic, so there is a desire to ban the artist from making overtly political works.
Of course a work of art can be successful or not, regardless of the subject matter.
But for me, my most successful artworks are the ones that forced me to find a means, to find the form, to do justice to the subject which moves me completely.”
Links
Nicholas Baldion wins John Moores Painting Prize 2023 Visitors’ Choice | National Museums Liverpool
Damel Carayol
I am a visual and audio artist - Mainly a painter in oils and acrylics, but am increasingly drawn to scourced and mixed materials to personalise my work. My career too spans decades of musicianship.
I was born in the ‘smiling coast’, The Gambia, on the West coast of Africa. My recollections of Art are from an early pre school age. These are mainly from sounds: the drumming on street corners; the griot story-tellers; Latin hymns as an altar boy; and the calling from mosques. Visually, I’ve always been a ‘looker’. So much fascination all around, and Gambia as Africa entire, is a place of vibrancy and colour.
The need to express, initially through drawing I feel is innate for me. No prompt was needed for the hours I’d spend as a 6 year old with favourite sticks, drawing in the sand. School introduced colouring materials and opened exciting worlds to me and I revelled.
I was 9 years young when I came to the UK. Sundays were trips to cultural centres: museums; gardens; and galleries. I was now opened up to traditional European art and continued to marvel and explore.
It is the marriage of the richness of these cultures and expressions that informs my Art, and you will find these traditions based on beauty, religion, historical and current day commentary, community and love deeply informing my work, in neo-classic and contemporary styles. A visual and spiritual expression leading to many exhibitions and some notable encounters.
Art is universal and Art is life. It’s best if we can breathe together.
Links
Beresford Hodge
'' My approach to this work has always been to rationalize something ,to make sense of it , to lift the stones and look underneath them, to engage
with cathartic deference, one must seek permission and observe the protocols of this community , restorative justice must be recorded, if the work is to mean anything, it must stand with the victims, call out , the perpetrators, and act as a catalyst to ignite prevention and awareness. '' The imagery must carry substance, meaning, and execute a role''...!
Beresford Hodge
Photojournalist
Beresford Hodge was born in the 1960 and lives in the Thames Valley, his comprehensive body of work has journeyed with the Grenfell community with his quiet, unassuming manner
and attention to empathy and detail, he believes that this work has come with a responsibility '' contributions must be made, and burdens must be shared, if we are to call ourselves human beings'' Between June 2017 and October 2025, some 8 years, Beresford has dedicated his photojournalism and visual storytelling, documenting the visorolé and uncomfortable truth that is the Grenfell Tragedy …14th June 2017
His work is ongoing.
He has worked as a Freelance Photojournalist/Editorial Press Photographer Stringer - Wire Services - Reuters - PA ( Press Association) - EPA ( European Press photo Agency)
His work has appeared in Time, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Observer, Paris Match, Channel 4 , The BBC, The Tate Britain, Edgar Wind Society Oxford,
Hannah Mansal
“This work was made to honour the Grenfell communities. I wanted to create powerful visual narratives that explain what happened, and why, to future generations. Driven by compassion and truth, I use creativity to inspire understanding, remembrance and meaningful change.”
Hannah is a chartered engineer and artist who specialises in timber sculpture, oil painting and stained glass.
