This report on the visit and speech given by artist David Bethell is written from the perspective of a Victorian Explorer and gentleman, see image below (a character created by Final Year student Rob Noble.)

This world is truly astounding; I have come across the artist David Bethell who within his artistic practice uses a Fabricated and fictitious character who could be based on myself. This character named Doctor Bird; this is no imposter though it is performance, the character features in several of his artworks, these which make use of the peculiar and frankly wondrous medium of moving pictures. Bethell’s work is fascinating, for some of it he explores existing artworks and constructs one of a kind functional objects that operate in their natural environment so much so they’re tested to their material limits until they cease to function. This process is documented and exhibited.

These wooden contraptions are often representations of real–world machinery, which are familiar to me, such as steam trains and sailboats. They exist in designs to this day and stretching back to the past from where I originate and beyond. This unique practice reveals conflicts and contrasts of human influences as they break down within the landscapes.

Bethell chooses the sitings of these performative acts with care as each of his works is site specific, these sites are crucial as they form narratives underpinned by history and place. This character is not his sole occupation or gimmick. Bethell created the character of Dr Bird during a curating residency at Wolverhampton museum when he was looking after their collection, thus he devised the character as an apt reflection of this. Many of Bethell’s works reflect his surroundings or subject matter (the history and context of the chosen area or piece of work), in many cases both – his is truly a unique response to his surroundings and the field of artistic study. One such work of great interest to me is one where as part of a larger ‘Conquering Clouds’ project as part of the larger still ‘The Artist and the City’ region wide project Bethell (in the guise of his character Dr Bird) enquires about geology of Staffordshire and the Black Country and the research and performative elements are both fact and mythology, connecting places and periods by an eccentric and unreliable guide. This was Bethell’s response to the work of artist George Cartlidge named:  ‘In September a Staffordshire Hilltop’ by documenting the process of the painting he explores the composition.

This approach to the landscape is influenced largely by Bethell’s rural background this is also shown by the use of wood as a material for the fabricated contraptions which are as much part of his performative works as the sites they add to. This approach and unique explorative practice is brought by Bethell to all of his and truly is a fascinating way of approaching and dealing with a vast subject matter.

As with all good artists the past and surroundings are drawn on to assist on the journey through this wondrous contemporary world.

David Bethell graduated from Staffordshire University BA Fine Art in 2005.

Review by Rob Noble.