Tim Mann is an experienced and exciting visual artist. He is unremitting in his commitment to ensure that his artistic engagement is innovative, accessible, diverse and sustainable to and for his audience. This engagement then becomes a catalyst for further cultural expansion.
For him the human figure and the self are the most enduring themes in the visual arts.
Tim Mann’s work is not about the glory of the human form more about being human. Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships.
“My focus is on me as an individual and how individuals connect within different groups.”
Sometimes he takes focus on smaller elements of identity for example finger print, hands, templates, markers, name, or signature. These works often take on an abstract element, and the artistic aesthetic is achieved by the arrangement of these various components. These markers are used as a reference to identify and celebrate the human presence.
Often he takes the individual as a whole with the full figure using its outline as evidence of its presence. The outlines overlapping form a linear pattern produced by the uniqueness of each individual. These large communities of lines form an individuality and unity.
When he makes a large work it develops through a slow process using individuals, the final piece forms a consuming image for both the people involved in the making and the audience. Collaboration makes the process and ultimately finished artwork more responsive and more human.
Tim work’s almost exclusively with the figure although occasionally he identifies with all expects of the world around us. He uses templates marker or references to identifiers such as names or initials to acknowledge them.
His work is not about the glory of the human form more about being human. He celebrates human existance and their visible spiritual presence. Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. His focus is on himself as an individual and how individuals connect within different groups.
Tim works in communities and engages collaboratively This makes the process and ultimately finished artwork more responsive and more human.
Tim studied at Norwich School of Art where he was awarded his degree in painting. There he received the Noel Spencer award for use of the figure. He continued to work and develop as an artist showing in selected shows including RHA and Dunamaise.
In 2012 he was asked to make a project to open a new Arts venue. ‘Crowded Room Edenderry’ brought together more than 600 people in a Community portrait. He was subsequently invited by The Curator of Foundation13, Brendan Fox to make ‘Crowded Room Tullamore’. This was considered to be the most successful project at the Festival, it included 1040 people. Following on he was commissioned by Athlone Institute of Technology to make ‘Crowded Room AIT’. This piece pushed the boundaries of this type of work, by creating a portrait of 540 people within a 12 hour timeframe. The whole project ‘Crowded Room AIT’ was then shown in the Luan Gallery, Athlone and later went on show in the AIT’s permanent art collection.
‘Crowded Room Snettisham’ which was created in November 2016 in a small primary school in Norfolk, but which involved the whole village, the finished project was then shown in the local community centre and is now on permanent show in the primary school. Moving back to the UK from Ireland he worked on a project ‘One Year Later’. One year later gave Tim the link to himself he needed to celebrate his own presence in his solitary way.
His portfolio demonstrates his capacity to interact, connect with and intrigue new and existing audiences.
