Featured Artist: Mark Francis Fenning

Artist: Mark Francis Fenning

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

A selection of works by Belfast based artist Mark Francis Fenning including work created as part of summer residency with the Print Association of Western Australia (PAWA) Funded by Arts Council of Northern Ireland 2014 titled 'Street Signs', Self portraits & the 'Little Red Polaroid' project.

"I am specifically inspired by male representation and experiences."

SFUK: Tell us a little about yourself and your background in photography.

MFF: I am a visual artist based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and currently completing my Masters in Arts Management at Queens University Belfast. My undergrad is in Fine Art specialising in Printmaking specifically focusing on photographic print processes such as photo intaglio, photo-etching, van dyke, cyanotype and screen-printing. I’m fascinated by the interdisciplinary aspects of print and photography.

SFUK: Why do you shoot film?

MFF: My interest in instant film has been developed from my printmaking background. Print can be a laborious and time intensive practice and in contrast to that, Polaroid film creates artworks that are instant, spontaneous, tangible and live.

SFUK: Who inspires you, any favourite people or places you frequently go to for inspiration?

MFF: My work explores Identity and transformation and I am specifically inspired by male representation and experiences. As for other artists, I admire the works of Hockney and Warhol and more contemporary artists like Jeremy Kost, Zachari Logan and Rhiannon Adam.

SFUK: How would you describe your style of shooting?

MFF: Chaotic, enthusiastic and serendipitous.

SFUK: Do you have a favourite camera or film stock you feel compliments your work?

MFF: I don’t play favourites as such but I do have a fondness at the moment for the Image Spectra and BW film with Black Frame

SFUK: Do you have any plans for your next project?

MFF: I am currently working on my first solo exhibition to take place in February 2018 at Black Box in Belfast, which will display a series of Polaroid works that was gathered during a residency to Australia in 2014 so I am pleased to finally exhibit it.

Keep up to date with Mark's work at www.markfrancisfenning.com and be sure to follow him on Instagram @Markfrancisfenning

Thank you.

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