the_Ned_James
Ned James & the Swifts work as a fictional collective in collaboration with multiple artists, the work of Ned James & the Swifts uses a methodology of art autopoiesis. That is, 'self-making' art about art -or as Donald Rumsfeld might explain; Ned’s work has always been interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don't know we don't know.
Current work examines the relationship between curators and gallerists, other artists and their gallery work, Ned James & the Swifts were represented by Division of Labour (DoL) and the main focus of the work is the blurring of creative actions and authorship.
Collaborative performances have involved employing Nat Pitt (Director DoL) to act out performances sent to him via Short Message Service (SMS) text instructions. (note Ned no longer has a mobile phone, or is represented by DoL) Historically this idea of phoneing in an artwork revokes ideas of early 20th century Avant Guarde practice, like the artist Moholy-Nagy and his Telephone Paintings, where he phoned up a Berlin signwriters and organised 'Konstruktion's' to be made over the phone.
Ned James lives and works in Hereford and Worcestershire, the troop leader is a self confessed sports gambling addict and supports many of his projects through short gains and occasional ‘lucky streaks.’
Ned James & the Swifts are influenced, among others, by John Heartfield, Jonathan Swift, George Orwell, Mark Wallinger and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Ned's recent group exhibitions include Turn the Page Stop the Chaos at Division of Labour 2025 / Art fair presentations at The Manchester Contemporary, Dallas Art Fair and Art14. / Curated shows include 'The 2nd Ned James Festival of Women's Werk' at Division of Labour including Céline Condorelli, Pilvi Takala, Carey Young, Material Labours, Sally O’Riely, Céline Berger / Texts include Turn Up a polemic text for Sluice Art Fair and 'A Modest Proposal' commissioned as a part of The Endless Supply 14. Edited by Ruth Claxton, Sean O'Keeffe / Performances include Black Flags of Croft a Meadow Arts performance, Happy Hypocrite with Maria Fusco and Bookworks at The Showroom London : performance interview 'An Interview with a Real Hero' by Jess Thom and Nathaniel Pitt, FLAGworks in Vilnius, Lithuania, 'Yahoo Results' performed by Nathaniel Pitt, No Word of a Lie at Worcester Racecourse and show at Division of Labour, Summer Fete at Ceri Hand Gallery, ‘Reception’ at Meter Room, Coventry - curated by Daniel Pryde-Jarman / exhibition included works by Antonio Muntadas and Saulius Leonavicius, Entrepreneur - The Manchester Contemporary. 'Meadow Arts Live Art Day at Croft Castle, Herefordshire - 'Journey IV' performance.
CONTACT
You can try Division of Labour
nat@ dividisionoflabour (dot) co (dot) uk