Oliver Topple

Baby Swings

2012-01-08T12:13:00.003Z

I was asked recently to present some work for a studio show in East London (not sure where this stands at present - details to follow).

I am not the biggest champion of illustration on the whole, but do really like those sampler things they all seem to do; so I thought I'd produce something similar.

I would present this as an A5 giclee, in a simple white frame.

DJ Reebok Pump

2011-04-10T12:19:00.007+01:00

After years of playing all manner of genres under the name DJ Reebok Pump, I have decided to use this as my hip/hop/booty/ghettotech/juke/footwork/bass/bounce/twerk alias.

I have a few mixes on my soundcloud; check it out HERE.

Collagerie

2011-04-09T11:14:00.006+01:00

Recently I was asked to show my Atomic Legdrop posters in a group exhibition up in Norwich. Its run as an annual, open-submission event at the Stew gallery. I was sadly unable to make it up to Norwich, but from the photos it looks like an amazing success. Please have a look at their blog HERE.

Below is a selection of images from the show.

1. Exhibition space.
2. Me.
3. Beth Salter.
4. Josh Bowe.
5. Sami Petman.

Milkteeth

2011-03-21T23:55:00.005Z

A friend of a friend runs a rather trendy night called Milkteeth down in Brighton (and soon to be London also). I decided to pitch a flyer idea that I had (more details to follow). Check the Milkteeth blog HERE and the Facebook presence HERE

Below are the mock ups I have put together; the event would be promoted with an edition of (up to) 8 designs, printed as A6 flyers.

Atomic Legdrop

2010-06-20T10:36:00.010+01:00

Here are some flyers I have been designing for a regular night...

Rachel Riley/Fender Strats

2010-05-05T16:04:00.005+01:00

A fan of Fender's Coral Pink, I noticed Countdown's Rachel Riley sporting a similar shade; then in a dress not too dissimilar from Fender's Candy Apple Red; which led me to this:

Domestic Triptych pt.II

2010-05-04T22:03:00.007+01:00

Another rather simple triptych shot in the comfort of my own home.

I have been rising early recently, and noticed the sun was rising very brightly in my right-hand bay window, and setting in the left-hand one. I thought I'd point my phone at it three times to compare.

Washing Machine

2010-03-11T12:26:00.003Z

No isms here I'm afraid, just some images I found from when I was at college. There is no dialogue intended, no concept considered; just some photos of the inside of my old washing machine. I like the look of them, so I thought I'd post them here.

Hatroulette

2010-02-18T17:17:00.006Z

Since Chatroulette is a such a hot topic, I thought I'd have a butchers. I don't have a webcam, so most folks don't give me more than a split second glimpse.

I noticed quite a few of these glimpses showed lots of hat-wearers. I thought I'd capture a few of them, in what I call Hatroulette.

Each image is a screen grab I made any time a hat-wearer popped up. It took a lot less time than you might imagine.

Cats

2010-02-07T23:39:00.006Z

Many student houses are prime targets for local cats, after some TLC and whatever else they can get their paws on. With the exception of a soft-coated ginger kitten that used to visit me in my first house, I have photographed the more significant feline friends I have made since in Bournemouth. I've never been all that fussed about cats, but some of the following have changed my mind somewhat.

From left to right: Porsche, Leroy, Cliché, Fatcat, Admiral and queen of them all, Sillie.

Castlepoint

2010-02-06T22:30:00.004Z

I've had a long/short affair with the Castlepoint Shopping Park, since living so near it. I'd heard about its car park collapse before really caring where it was, when back in Surrey.

I have been going there pretty much since I moved to Dorset. I've photographed it numerous times over the past few years with varying agenda.

The more I've grown to like it, the more I have tried to convince friends of its charm; some of whom have nearly reached a point not too far from my own.

One of those friends has also (I think, I hope) begun to rely slightly on its existence; a friend who I have shared so much time there with, good times and bad, both happy and sad. This friend is my exact ethnicity twin; our ethnic pie charts are identical.

She's living in Italy (our one-quarter home-country) for the time being, oiling the cogs with blood-thick espresso.

These pics (and a few more besides) are for her. They are a short series of camera phone images I took on a trip to Castlepoint

SOCLE, in Hindsight

2010-01-27T14:36:00.017Z

Last Tuesday was the grand private view of Socle. I got there early to check out the space and was pleasantly surprised. Despite edging on the wrong side of derelict, the place had been scrubbed thoroughly, and the flattering opaque roof-windows filled the space with delicate but wealthy sunlight.

I marked out my spot, so my dimensions could be sprayed on, and installed my work. The floor was cold and damp, and the building home to a number of pigeons, all of which were to add to the piece - I returned at the weekend, and was happier with the piece now it had undergone the treatment only such a space could lend.

The rest of the show was good; and the strict curation dictated an aesthetic to the exhibition that really took me by surprise. Perhaps exhibitions on the whole are traditionally laid out in such a way as to lay subservient to the majesty of the work; with varying spaces around each piece being in in/direct relation to its notoriety/value. Socle certainly wasn't; which was refreshing, since it didn't seem to forcibly suggest anything in its place. All the work felt like it had been given prime spot, and could be enjoyed independent; something in my opinion, important to any large-group show.

A step taken back, and the room looked like an installation in itself, with vibrant works seemingly floating above the dull grey floor; think Cornelia Parker in colour. At night, the roof lighting and portable floods did a good job of making the intensely freezing warehouse feel like the campfire we all needed.

Thanks to the hosts of the event must also be forthcoming, as the reception area was lovely; warm and busting with good beer/cheer. Help was incredibly on hand to release my homeboy 's bike, which he had locked with broken key to railings on the site. I understand this was a 30min job in very cold conditions - way beyond the call of duty.

Ultimately the whole thing worked, and I am really proud to have been a part of it. Jason Kerley yet again, proves his wizardous talents.

1. The space, on my arrival.
2. Jason and Selina Kerley.
3. Sarah Penney installing her piece.
4. #3 (from the Crimewatch series). Oliver Topple.
5.The space at night.

Photos by me, Thomas Howard and Selina Kerley.

SOCLE

2010-01-14T21:33:00.012Z

Socle is an exhibition curated by Jason Kerley. Thirty exhibitors were chosen from a list of applicants at random, and then allocated a space - either wall or floor, with precise dimensions again, chosen at random.

I managed to get a spot, and got given a floor space of 188x182cm. Since my work is almost always to be viewed either on a wall, or on a screen, I have to say its been quite a challenge within the relatively short timeframe... but... I returned from the printers today happy with what they had realised for me. I am using an image from my Crimewatch series (see a few posts down, below); and will post images of the finished piece once installed.

Private View:

18:15 TUESDAY 19th JANUARY 2010 ~ 1-15 High Street, Bow London, E3 (somewhere between the S and the T in Eastenders)

ALL WELCOME

BUS: 25 / TUBE: Bow Church/Bow Road

I would like to think this event will be a storm, the exhibition runs through til early Feb; click HERE for facebook reps; though to be fair, this is all feeling rather a lot like facebook as it is.

Collarbone Magazine

2010-01-09T21:14:00.006Z

Brixton waitress, good friend and arbiter of badness, illustrator Sarah Penney has started up a rather dishy little zine called Collarbone. I have been lucky enough to have been given a regular feature, so please check the blog HERE, and sniff out a copy.

Oliver Topple Digital

2010-01-06T18:43:00.010Z

I have gotten to a stage where a job is quite high on my wants list, and as this blog becomes more egomaniacal, I have decided to set up a purely portfolio-style page, on which I can flex my tech.

I have decided to maintain an element of concept in the work I upload, and am aware of the implications of what I am doing, and what others in my position do. So please have a look, HERE.

Film Posters

2010-01-03T14:37:00.004Z

Since college, I have had a fascination with film posters. I have done various works involving the medium of the poster and will most certainly do more.

When first asked to curate a show, I became very aware of my own ability to judge and critique work - I realised now I had a voice to speak through my opinion alone. I liked this, and wanted to make some work on it for the show.

The location for the show was a bar, with various areas dedicated to flyers and promo posters. I put together these (below), which I hid amongst the other bits.

I was at first reluctant to upload them on to here due to their slightly coarse nature, but I'm sure it's nothing you won't have heard in the playground/at a football match/at your local bus station, before.

COMMISSION No.1: Selina Kerley

2009-11-27T13:55:00.011Z

Never too sold on the Blogging thing - stored some negative opinion on the concept from an old acquaintance, who later turned out to be not only rather misinformed, but rather odd with it. Now I have a blog.

Only when I saw THIS blog, did I re-address my hard-wired thoughts, and inspiration overwhelmed my doubts.

Selina is an illustrator, whom I met studying down here on the south coast. She works with all manner of media, yet seems to be responsible for so much that I not only like, but that makes me like her more, and vice versa. As I say, it was the cleanliness and quality of her blog that made me create mine; that and the fact it just made me feel good.

I have decided that rather than posting random links to random artists that do random things; I would commission some of my favourite creatives to make work for me, my blog and you. This will, I hope, be a regular thing.

Since I am such a fan of Selina's work, and would not have a blog were it not for her, I have asked her to be my very first commision.

The piece below left is her piece for the blog, if you missed the link above, below right are some examples of her work.

Ishihara 11 & Blog

2009-11-02T17:09:00.016Z

The Ishihara team are returning to Bournemouth for a three-day birthday show in November (18, 19 & 20th November 2009). The guys have set up shop, so to speak, in London, so this will be a great chance to celebrate all that's been achieved so far; right where it all started. I'm most definately showing, and might even throw in a little DJ set to boot (more details on both, to follow).

All flyers and posters are editions, so look out for them dotted about the place. Most of the flyers have been left blank, so folks can add their own take; each one is hand-numbered from one to five-hundred. The posters, of which select artists were commissioned, are in an edition of twenty-five. I have done a few flyers, and a poster too (see below).

I have been slowly putting together an archive of all past Ishihara exhibitions, with link-rich lists of all the artists who have shown. Please have a look; seeing them all in one place highlights the strength of work Ishihara has managed to show. You can look at the Blog here.

Crimewatch

2009-10-01T12:05:00.008+01:00

I have for most of my life been rather fascinated by the TV show Crimewatch

I have I think, used it to map my own maturity; seeing in each monthly episode my levels of paranoia and courage quite clearly. I often think of the show when I see vaguely odd things happening, noting a face or an outfit in case I am asked to remember it.

On my first day living in Charminster, I went out to buy a can of beer after unloading all my possesions, and on the way I couldn't miss what seemed to be a large scale police/ambulance operation, in between me and the closest shop - it turned out it was the filming of a reconstruction of a rather twisted murder that happened here a few years ago. The guy is still at large, and apparently drinks at the Richmond pub. Police can't pin it on him they say.

I have started a series of images that I have created with Crimewatch in mind - it is a sort of photo-essay on my enthusiasm for the show. I am hosting it on Facebook. (Click the image below to see the album)

Droppin Jawns

2009-09-09T09:49:00.008+01:00

Here are some flyers I designed for nights I put on in Bournemouth. The Fresh Prince Party was a one-off fundraiser for an exhibition, and Droppin Jawns was a monthly hip hop and house night that was born from it. Both projects did really well. Check out Moored in Miami, and Joel Muggleton (aka Swirly the Nerd), who helped make Droppin Jawns what it was. There is room to do more Droppin Jawns parties in the future, but for the time being, the project is on hold.

Boy & Girl

2009-09-09T08:36:00.005+01:00

I made this piece recently, which I ashamedly no longer have. The pair of images on the left was a digital mockup I made with pics I had taken of the sourced materials. Once I had built them for real, I took a rather rough image on my phone (see right).

Bedford House, Guildford

2009-09-08T14:19:00.010+01:00

These are some pics I took of a block of flats, where I lived for much of my life. I was there from 1 until about 7 years old, then again from 18 until 24 when I moved to Charminster. Both times I lived at number 50.

Half the building has recently been turned into the home to EA Games, these were taken when it wasn't.

New Jersey

2009-09-08T12:05:00.010+01:00

There are one or two places in the world that in some way, romance me; places I have not been to, but that give me a sense, from what little I hear, that I'd be happy there. Osaka is one, due to music mostly, the other is New Jersey. It seems to have a reputation similar to Essex, and from what I hear is 24hr-diner central.

A girl befriended me on Myspace from New Jersey; since I'd seen the Sopranos' New Jersey, and heard the Hip Hop of New Jersey, I asked her to send me some pics of her place to see if it was anything like I would imagine it to be.

Here they are:

Hardest Man

2009-09-07T22:51:00.009+01:00

Some friends of mine from CRABWOLF have set up a little blog called World's Hardest Man where they have concocted a little picture-based challenge...

See my attempt below:

Chewing Gum

2009-09-07T19:33:00.005+01:00

The first thing I noticed after moving to the Bournemouth area, was the almost absolute spread of chewing gum about the place.

I found this post on a message board somewhere or other, and took some pics to illustrate the quote.

Ishihara

2009-09-07T18:56:00.011+01:00

This was the first time I had shown work properly, it was for Ishihara. I showed two unrelated pieces. The image (left) shows both bits of work in situ at the show.

The main image (see in full, right) was appropriated from Tinypic - an image upload site I used to use. All the work on my main website is also from Tinypic, as are the images I used for my books Gymnastics and Dogs.

The text piece was a letter to my then, soon-to-be girlfriend's diary.

Jim Davidson

2009-09-07T16:45:00.007+01:00

During my Myspace phase (remnants here), I did a small thing where I asked my Myspace friends to (using a simple flash program) draw on Jim Davidson's face. I appreciate that digging at Jim Davidson is about as forward-thinking as mocking the Daily Mail, or in fact Jim's jokes themselves, but either way, it was a while ago, and it looks quite good I think.

I didn't have a massive response, but I did get a few by some reasonably interesting people; like GUT.

I showed these recently, and one submission was deemed 'awful' by its artist, and at the request of said artist I removed it. Instead of their image, I have included their plea.

Screen Grabs

2009-09-07T16:02:00.015+01:00

I am a photographer by education, but haven't the passion for cameras nor 'photography'.

Here is a Facebook album I maintain; a series which I call Screen Grabs.

Ishihara at the Kube Gallery, Poole.

2009-09-07T15:07:00.013+01:00

I was lucky enough to have some work shown at the recent Ishihara show at the Kube gallery. Frankly, the show was an absolute delight... But frankly, the gallery didn't put in the effort or consideration that makes the Ishihara movement such an inspiring one. The space is stunning, and has had some nice work on show in the past, but what essentially was a hugely important event for the area, was overlooked, and frankly I think we all felt like the Kube could have shown more enthusiasm for it.

Luckily the Ishihara team put in 110%, and the show was a blinder.

Anyway, here is my piece. I have included the images below the photo, so you can read the text. (My piece is the two wall-mounted frames).