As an Artist, James Steventon is an intelligent and articulate presence whose sceptical and questioning work highlights the debate within himself as to how to set about making Art he can believe in.
That this often necessitates texts to explain and justify his position puts a strain on the objects he makes. The argument can become the work and not the other way round. An open, experimental attitude where risk taking is valued can quickly give way to a more calculating, control given way of working.
But a sharp and ludicrous sense of humour runs through Steventon’s work opening it up and highlighting the effect of his reading. The ambivalence of his position being easy to empathise with.
I hope Steventon continues to find audiences to practise upon, and to gain enough from doing and making to continue what he has begun so interestingly.