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| Len Shelley 2 March 1964 - 13 October 2010 |
Len was my kind of artist. Passionate, compulsive and brilliant. His work was original, beautifully made and veered from the bitingly satirical to the hysterically funny. Len exuded warmth and good humour. He was a force of nature, when he walked into a room you just knew anything could happen, and something usually did.
I first met him when he conducted a workshop on fetish dolls at Hastings College and he went on to become a huge influence on my work. His encouragement and enthusiasm for what I was doing gave me the confidence and self belief to apply to the Royal College of Art, so I owe him a lot.
Len had a great penchant for the macabre and the dark side but giving them a humorous twist. Nothing made his face light up more that finding a dessicated sea gull carcase, a rusty piece of metal or a wormy sea smoothed piece of wood. And he really put them to good use. His head was full of odd stories that a news paper headline or an overheard word would unlock. He'd then build a piece of work around the words that would cut straight to the core of the subject. These rich boxes were frozen moments: covetable and mouthwatering.
I'm finding it so hard to do Len justice as an artist and as a human being. Everyone who new him has a few choice Len stories that they now treasure. He was loved by so many, and has left a huge gap among Hastings 'art' community. It has been just over a year since he passed away and I still can't get my head round it.
Rest in peace Len, you are sorely missed!
I just found out. We went to art school together. I am sooo sad I couldn´t see him again. He was always in my thoughts as a great friend, inspiration, fun and good food. He kept me afloat with his excellent cooking during our time at art school. He was my closest friend then and I always regerted having lost touch with him. I have met a lot of people, phantastic people in my live, he was one of the most special. I shall treasure his memory as I always have. My condolences to all who love him. He has touched with his unique spirit.
ReplyDeleteI shall miss you even more, dearest Len
Simone Boria, Linz Austria
I just found out. We went to art school together. I am sooo sad I couldn´t see him again. He was always in my thoughts as a great friend, inspiration, fun and good food. He kept me afloat with his excellent cooking during our time at art school. He was my closest friend then and I always regerted having lost touch with him. I have met a lot of people, phantastic people in my live, he was one of the most special. I shall treasure his memory as I always have. My condolences to all who love him. He has touched with his unique spirit.
ReplyDeleteI shall miss you even more, dearest Len
Simone Boria, Linz Austria
He really was special. There were so many people at his funeral that they had to relay the service by loudspeakers outside to the crowds, that alone says more about the person he was than anything I can say. Thank you Simone for your comments.
DeleteWhat wonderful work, thank you for sharing this. You are so lucky to have known him.
ReplyDeleteHe really was one of those special people that lit up a room. You are right, I am lucky, without his encouragement I would never have attempted getting into the RCA. I still find it hard to belive he is no longer with us.
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ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute Bunny, I still think of Len and miss him lots. I had known him since the '90s when I met him as a colleague at Hastings College and we worked on the same floor. He was beautiful man. Big loss still.
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