Artist
Part of events on ArtRabbit in: Oxford
John A. Blythe is an artist and educator based in Oxfordshire. John's practice is situated in and beyond the realm of light and time based image making. His interest is as much in the processes of photography as its subjects. His current work explores the conceptual possibilities of the making process in photography bringing it closer to the performance of painting, broadening the potential to explore connections between process, material and meaning. In my current work I am interested in exploring photography as ‘Inframedium’, playing with the boundaries of the photographic object, its material ‘nature’ and the visual possibilities that exist within it. Stripping away the ‘Apparatus’ of the camera and thus stepping out of the arena of the technical image, I am exploring a different set of gestures with which to reveal the material’s phenomenological potential. John's practice is informed and supported through the integration of his artist-teacher identities. I am committed to the value art brings to both individuals and communities, not just engagement with works of art but more so, the practice of art. I am particularly interested in the role art practice can play in developing analytical thinking, critical discourse, political awareness and shared experiences in the wider community. John completed a PGDip(Ed) Artist Teacher Scheme in 2016 and is now studying for a Master of Art in Fine Art at Oxford Brookes University. From 2013-2017 John was Module Leader of Photography at Bellerbys College Oxford, teaching the Foundation and A Level courses and now teaches A Level Photography at d'Overbroecks Sixth Form College and is involved with Fusion Arts in building a community darkroom in east Oxford. John's work has been exhibited internationally and is held in private collections worldwide. He was awarded a professional development grant by OVADA and AOFS in 2017 for his work 'A little light' which lead to a two-person show at The Old Fire Station Gallery where he presented the installation 'The speed of light, the speed of me'.
