Figurative painter Dexter Dalwood creates artworks that imagine scenes from popular culture, such as Kurt Cobain's greenhouse and Lord Lucan's hideout. Born in Bristol, he was a member of punk band the Cortinas before studying at Central St Martins and the Royal College of Art. Having been shown at a number of prestigious venues, such as the ICA and the Walker Art Gallery, in 2010, his paintings were exhibited at Tate St Ives in Cornwall and he was shortlisted for the Turner prize. Last year, he was appointed a professor of art and design at Bath Spa University. Represented by the Gagosian Gallery, his next solo show opens at the Kunsthaus Centre PasquArt, Biel, Switzerland, in April 2013.
Film
A biopic that is ultimately not very fascinating, but it has its moments, such as Helen Mirren playing Alma Reville, the driving force behind Hitchcock. For me, what was very interesting about it was the portrayal of him as a tantrum-prone, self-pitying artist, which was quite delicious to watch. The idea of him being furious for not being recognised caught my attention. Now he is considered the most serious auteur-director of that period but at the time that wasn't the case at all. He had such a struggle to make Psycho, and in the end had to finance the whole thing himself.
Exhibition
Carl Andre – Mass & Matter
A show at the Turner Contemporary in Margate by Andre, an American sculptor who is still alive and came to the fore with his minimalist floor sculptures made from bricks that caused a furore when they were bought by the Tate Modern, years ago. I'm looking forward to it because I've always liked his work and I like the idea of seeing it on a cold day in February, looking out on the stark, flat sea. He also does typed single-word poems that are not unlike Jack Nicholson's typed page in The Shining, ominous repetition as mantra.
Book
Beckford of Fonthill by Brian Fothergill
I've always been fascinated by William Beckford, an English eccentric aesthete who wrote a gothic novel called Vathek and burnt through an enormous inherited fortune while possessing this amazing eye as an art collector. Some of the key paintings in the National Gallery once belonged to him. This very readable biography describes how he was caught up in scandal and had to escape England for Europe and also wrote these extraordinary, camp diaries.
Internet
It's a treasure trove of offcut clips and articles that go directly to the stuff you end up watching after a long journey on YouTube. There is some peculiar material on there, including odd art projects that have all but disappeared and early Bowie clips. A recent highlight was a posting of The Revolution Will Be Glamorized: Sharon Tate models Mao Zedong, 1967, looking back at images from a photoshoot that referenced proto-Marxist anarchist dialogue.
Music
I'm particularly drawn to this attractively named, Australian electro/house dubstep duo. They've only released two EPs, 100% No Modern Talking and Rage Valley, and are currently working on a third. Bonfire, a track from their Rage Valley EP, has one of the best choruses ever, and should be played very loud.
TV
Two episodes in, both of which were directed by David Fincher, and I think I will be sticking with this American political series. What I found odd was the Miranda-style talking to the camera, which lent a comic undertone. But it's tense, and it feels like it will only become more unpleasant, in a good way. It's like a political Breaking Bad, a dirtier take on Washington intrigue than we've seen in The West Wing. Kevin Spacey is great in it; he's at his best when playing creepy characters.
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