Football Guernsey - Stephen Brameld & Jay Staples

“This painting has evolved through multiple incarnations, its eventual resting point, a product of many workshop-like processes explored within our collaboration. Originally, two found wooden panels, painted separately, combined and framed. This now singular painting was reworked as a timber and metal assemblage and given an additional frame. It was then exhibited, returned to the studio, pulled apart and worked back into. Processing concluded with a circular saw run through the middle of it, leaving an object that wears the scars of its evolution.

This process of regeneration and distillation has resulted in an image that almost seems ubiquitous, like maybe you’ve seen it before, reminiscent
of a football guernsey. Rendered down to a point of simple expression, clarified like a consommé.

This artwork speaks to the clarity provided by perseverance, the benefit of working through something. It tells us not to be afraid of destroying
something you might value, especially if it stands in the way of something more virtuous or robust.