Steve Lovett

My Favorite pieces by Steve are Trespass # 17 and Up - n - dwn. The first piece talks about how beaches are being sold into private ownership and were no longer accessible for the public. This piece is not only awesome to look at, but it sums up Steve very well I think. It is a 6 colour print on paper and is very very detailed. Screen printing allows you to do this well and I think it gives a good insight to how Steve thinks and operates.

It is clear that Steve basis his work on social and personal issues. His work Holding the Man (1996) talks about the HIV crisis, which effected Steve severely, it was easy to see that this still haunts him. He talked about how this piece got taken down from a clinic, this must have been interesting. When you make work that relates to your own personal issues so strongly it must put a real damper on your own attachment to the piece. In saying that it must also really increase the passion that goes into the work. I think it would be really hard to lay yourself out like that in a piece of art.

Steve is a very multi-layered artist. Not only in his screen prints, but also in his media. His work Speaking Parts (1998-2000) uses screen printed images and sound. This layering of media is quite interesting I think, and must have had a very weird affect on the viewer. I think Steve is also quite layered in the way he thinks and deals with his inspiration (social, personal and political issues), It's plain to see that his pieces are rich and deep with thought. I immediately made comparisons and similarities with Frances Hansen's work. Frances also works with layering quite heavily.

In terms of how he has evolved as an artist, I think it is clear to see that his earlier practice dealt with a lot of personal issues. In his later pieces, I see more social and political issues being addressed and also it seems that his latest (2010) pieces take a decent step back from being so deep in meaning. I think it must be quite fresh to make a work that is more aesthetically pleasing after being so conceptual.

I really like Steve as a lecturer and person. He is really quite clever and it definitely shows in his work. I find it quite interesting how he gets involved in his work on such a personal level, this must cause some kind of internal conflict, and would have curious effects on how you feel about your finished pieces.