art by duncan
  

Self Portrait (2001)

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Duncan Ward (aka New Low) is a visual artist working in a variety of media including photography, painting, drawing and performance. Please see some image samples of his work below.

music by Duncan

writing by Duncan

Samneric

The Disciples of Cranach
This exhibition of works by Duncan Ward along with many young artists is displayed at Utrophia in Deptford from 9 - 31 October 2009. The opening evening will feature performances by Duncan Ward and Charlotte Warne Thomas, and the closing party has a Halloween theme. www.utrophia.net

Disciples of Cranach flyer back of Cranach flyer

Building my Lungs, (i) photo by Christina Mitrentse (2009)

Building my Lungs, (ii) photo by Christina Mitrentse (2009)

Building my Lungs

On Thursday 13 August 2009 Duncan Ward performed 'Building my Lungs' at the opening of artist Christina Mitrentse solo show 'Building my Library' at the NO:ID Gallery in Shoreditch. The performance took place within the galleries with Mitrentse's paintings and sculptures around. Those attending the private view watched Duncan's now familiar rituals of washing and drinking, mainly through the windows from the street due to the compact size of the performance space.

 

Building my Lungs, (iii) photo by Christina Mitrentse (2009)

Building my Lungs, (iv) photo by Christina Mitrentse (2009)

 

Champagne Hole

Duncan performed Champagne Hole as part of Frog Morris' 'Art Music Comedy' event at Utrophia's residency at Shunt, under London Bridge station, Saturday 18 July 2009. The evening also featured an eclectic mix of music and comedy performers.  

In this piece Duncan worked with soil, leaves, champagne and a red paper aeroplane kept from a performance by fellow artist Poppy Jackson. The work has been recorded in a limited edition Young Mountains publication with full colour photos and text by Duncan about the structure and inspiration of the piece.

 

Duncan's drawing was featured in an exhibition displayed Bereznitsky gallery in Berlin entitled 'Reliquaries of Empires Dust' (1-30 May 2009). More info

 

Living Swamp installation view (2009)

Living Swamp invitation card, image by Paul Westcombe (2009)

The Living Swamp

Duncan co-curated the exhibition 'The Living Swamp' with artist Nicole Mollett, which was on display at Quartair Contemporary Art Initiatives, Den Haag, Netherlands from 4 - 19 April 2009. The following works by Duncan were included in the exhibition:

'The Ruins of TemporaryContemporary' (3.5m long drawing)
'Butter Crag' (mountain drawing)
'Blood Work Diary (after Carolee Schneeman)', 'Life with Pagans', 'Shimmy Lament' (drawings)

Duncan's publishing house Young Mountains produced the exhibition catalogue.
Ruins of TemporaryContemporary (2009)

 Duncan Ward at the Living Swamp Private View (2009)
Duncan setting up before Catstycam Coffee Mountain performance with wall drawing behind, image by Ottavia Castellina (2008) 

tableau before Catstycam Coffee Mountain performance, image by Ottavia Castellina (2008)

Catstycam Coffee Mountain

As part of contemporary art event If You Can't Close This Door Don't Open It Duncan performed another new work entitled 'Catstycam Coffee Mountain'. Taking place at the Wenlock Building - a newly built and unoccupied office block near Old Street - on 18 October 2008, this piece invsolved the familiar elements of Duncan mutely writhing and immersing himself in elemental substances; on this occasion these were freshly brewed coffee and used coffee grounds, and one of Duncan's mountain drawings as a backdrop. Viewers were able to watch at close quarters at ground level, or could look down to the central atrium from the balconies of the upper floors. This performance was filmed by fellow artist Nurcan Ozagi.
Catstycam Coffee Mountain performance, image by Ottavia Castellina (2008)

Catstycam Coffee Mountain performance, image by Ottavia Castellina (2008)
work by artist Paul Westcombe after Duncan Ward performance Autumn (Vetyver) (2008)

Petal Pool

Duncan performed 'Petal Pool' at the Utrophia space in Deptford (30 July 2008): a work which opened with a spotlit mound of earth. Appearing to burst forth from the heap were red chrysanthemum flowers, a jug and bottle of water stood close by. Casting high shadows throughout, Duncan mixed water, earth and flowers, washed and drank before writhing in the muddy heap. This performance was filmed by Sanguinearts artist Benjamin Whitaker, and we hope to be able to screen the film here at some point in the future.

tableau before Utrophia performance, image by Benjamin (2008)

Chubby Nest Performing at So Long Home Sweet Home (2008)

Autumn (Vetyver)

To mark the closing of the Durling Ward Gallery Deptford, Duncan hosted the event 'So Long Home Sweet Home', 14 June 2008. Duncan performed the piece 'Autumn (Vetyver)' which involved water and the leaves from the previous autumn. He unveiled a new mountain drawing which was the backdrop to both the performance and the event. As part of the work Duncan asked the assembled crowd to pass around his camera to record the event. Some of the resulting images he composed into a collage which is displayed on this page. Later in the evening the band Chubby Nest performed.
Autumn (Vetyver) (2008)
Duncan Ward ready for the Antlers performance, image by Benjamin (2008)

Antlers

At the Montague Arms SE15 (8 May 2008) he performed a work called Antlers, which involved antlers, horn, branches water and soap. Duncan crawled, drank and washed, whilst illuminated in red with twinkling blue constellations above. This work was filmed by Benjamin Whitaker and we have some images displayed on this page.
Antlers performance, film still by Benjamin (2008)
Antlers performance, film still by Benjamin (2008)
Antlers performance, film still by Benjamin (2008)
Antlers performance, film still by Benjamin (2008)

Antlers performance, film still by Benjamin (2008)
Antlers performance, film still by Benjamin (2008)

Besame Much Mas images by Suzie Monge Blanco (2008)

Untitled (Besame Mucho Mas)

Duncan collaborated with artist Elizabeth Klanga to create the performance 'Untitled (Besame Mucho Mas)'. This, his second such work, was performed at Chat's Palace as part of an annual valentines day event (14 Feb 2008). Images from this performance can be seen on this page.

Besame Much Mas images by Suzie Monge Blanco (2008)

Besame Much Mas images by Suzie Monge Blanco (2008)

  Besame Much Mas images by Suzie Monge Blanco (2008)

New Low gig flyer front (2007)

Triangle Tree

On 28 Novermber 2007 Duncan performed at the Glue Rooms in New Cross, London. This was as part of an evening supporting the 4th Harmonic Records   Our Pheromones Are All Loose . Duncan also produced the artwork for the CD sleeve - a mountainous, hair-like drawing printed in red - which was reproduced for posters displayed outside the venue and around the area.  To obtain a copy of the CD go to www.4thharmonic.com or www.encaustic.org.uk. To find out more about the other music performers at this event click here.

New Low gig flyer back (2007)

New Low Triangle tree performance, image by Lloyd Durling (2007)
 
New Low Triangle tree performance, image by Lloyd Durling (2007)
 
New Low Triangle tree performance, image by Lloyd Durling (2007)

The evening opened with Duncan's performance - entitled Triangle Tree - set aside from the main stage. He opened with a brief introductory speech refering us to a magnificent tree visible from New Cross Gate station, and to the trials of Saint Benedict. He removed hia shoes then stepped into a nest of dried branches he had gathered and arranged. Within this was the dried skeleton of a shrub, and hanging from it a musical triangle. Duncan proceeded to play the triangle for about a minute carefully varying the tone. Then whilst it still he rang out he laid low within the nest and rolled and writhed about. This grew to a vigourous crescendo, the branches tumbling over him.

Please view the video of the performance on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJdZ0BvFJo0

The video was recorded on a mobile phone so is of basic quality. There are also the images displayed here. Duncan is considering a book of images and text with accompanying sound recordings on a CD to record this even, which if pirsued will be released via his Young Mountains publishing house.

before New Low Peformance (2007)
before the performance

New Low opening speech (2007)
opening speech

nest after New Low performance (2007)
remains of the nest after the performance

Flyer for Nadia Hebson exhibition at Durling Ward Gallery (2004)
Demon drawing from brithday card (2005)
Mountain drawing on postcard from Spain (2005)
Photographic study of washing machine pipes (2002)
Flyer for inuagural group exhibition at the Durling Ward Gallery (2004)
Hand drawing (i) (2002)
Hand drawing (ii) (2002)
Hand drawing (iii) (2002)
'WHY AREN'T YOU DOING AVANT GARDE WORK?' drawing from National Gallery action (1998)
Victorian Porn Drawing (2001)

loo roll paintings (2000)

birthday card (2001)
Waterfall (2000)
Diptych (2000)
Exhbition of miniatures (2000)
Exhibition of miniatures (2000)
Lone swimmer on the Sober Beach sands before an ocean of drink (i) (2001)
Stream (2000)
Sketch (i) (2000)
Sketch (ii) (2000)
  
Lone swimmer on the Sober Beach sands before an ocean of drink (ii) (2001)

sky closet (2000)

liquid paintings (1997)
Sky Closet (i) (2000)
Sky Closet (ii) (2000)
Sky Closet (iii) (2000)
Mars (1997)
Landscape (1997)
All work exhibitted herein is the copyright of the sanguinearts network and the artists named