County Down Spectator and Ulster Standard (9), Thursday, April 12, 2007

Art that's simply Expialidocious

Sunday Tribune (5), February 18, 2007

Feature, Andersonstown News (39), Saturday, February 10, 2007

Explosion of Colour for Conway

Belfast artist, John Laurence Speight, explains the simplicity behind his colourful work

A daring exhibition of the work of one of Belfast's most exciting young artists opens today at the Conway Mill.

John Laurence Speight's 'Expialidocious!' may sound simply quite atrocious, but it is as tasty as a spoonful of sugar. Okay, maybe you're thinking a spoonful of sugar could be a bit much for your taste, or maybe you like a second spoonful, but that's the whole point of John's work.

"Basically, my work is about looking at pattern," explains the 23-year-old arts graduate from the University of Ulster, "overlaying pattern against pattern with the idea of examining taste; is a piece tasteful?

"Is there such a thing as good taste and bad taste? Must there be? Is there a point where over-embellishment becomes distasteful? Do the two patterns work together?"

They shouldn't – but like batter and Mars bars – John's designs surprisingly do work.

"My work can be considered to be high-camp, ostentatious, in your face; loud work that wouldn't normally be seen."

Framed pieces which look like they have been torn from a bizarre wallpaper sample book and an oversized installation of a staid parlour, decked out in garish designs, confirms that this is not your typical exhibition.

"It is quite humorous," says John proudly describing his largest artwork, "in that it is a kind of gentleman's living room, with a port glass and leather bound book and cigar on the table, but yet it is high camp and loud."

Interviewing artists can often be a trying ordeal as they have a tendency to use language that your average hack doesn't understand, resulting in a dry article full of phrases like, "My work rebukes the concept of post modern nihilistic norms in the context of a post colonial world."

John's honest description of his work, however, is a breath of fresh air.

"My work in itself is more humorous and light, airy fairy sort of stuff, it is not deep and meaningful concepts. It is pleasurable to look at – that's what my work is about."

That is not to say that John's work is dumbed down for the masses, but it is something which most people should find accessible. For that reason he can see it being welcomed in venues outside of just galleries.

"I'd love to see my work in a commercial environment, it would very much suit a funky club, bar, restaurant or coffee shop. If you look at [Café] Vaudeville with very over the top interiors – that is the type of work that inspires me, I go to interior design shops and look at their fabrics and that feeds into my own work," he said.

It is well worth catching John's exhibition of recent work while it is in West Belfast as his precocious talent may see him leave his hometown to pursue his dreams of being the next Damien Hirst.

"Belfast is up and coming but it isn't quite in the league of London or Dublin obviously, and that is where the money is, and people who are willing to take my work on," said John.

■ John Laurence Speight's ¡Expialidocious! opens on Thursday with wine and cheese reception, and runs until Friday March 2.

Ireland's Home Interiors & Living (174), Issue 111, September 2004

Hall of Fame

Once again, students from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and the University of Ulster in Belfast have proved their talents and skill, graduating in everything from ceramics and fine art to textiles and print. Here are a handful of the group graduating in 2004.

John Laurence Speight

University of Ulster