JASPER STARTUP

Having included sculpture by Jasper Startup in three mixed shows in 2018, 2019 and 2020, it is a great pleasure to introduce his first solo exhibition at North House Gallery. Primarily sculpture made from used or found wood, the work includes floor pieces, some standing roughly two metres high, other smaller works, painted wall pieces and a small number of works on paper.

The son of the innovative sculptor Peter Startup (1921–1976), Jasper trained as a furniture designer and maker and worked in this area for most of his early career. In the early 1990’s he developed an interest in sustainable design, taking an MA in Industrial Design. His work in this discipline has been exhibited internationally, in Italy and the USA and included designs for companies such as Gervasoni, Jo Malone, Gordon Russell and Heals. For the last few years, however, while continuing to teach design at Kingston University, he has concentrated on creating wooden sculptures.

"I am searching for an identitly which engages me. Through this I want to find a new entity that has a presence in the world. I use whatever material comes to hand. Often this is used or found material, as I like the existing story it holds, the marks of chance in life. To this I will bring my skills and imagination, memory and intuition, even my choice of language. This process is a mystery. Essentially I am concerned with classical themes in Art such as form, colour, space, surface and density. And it seems that I am returned to landscape and place as part of the human condition in the world."

Jasper Startup trained at the London College of Furniture (1978-80), gained a BA in Three-dimensional Design-Furniture at Middlesex University (1980-83), a City and Guilds certificate in Computer Aided Design at Hackney College (1991), an MA in Industrial Design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (1992-94) and a certificate in teaching and learning in Art, Design & Communication from the University of the Arts, London (2007-8).

In addition to the mixed shows at North House Gallery, he has exhibited in London, Colchester and Harwich, where he is based.