David Miller
Through engaging with such writings as A Rebours by Huysmans, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and photographic writings by Roland Barthes it is inevitable that Miller's work is concerned with religion, aging, self representation, caricatures and process. These literary inspirations lead to a practice involving both comedy and tragedy alike, the work playing on the sentimentality of looking back into a historically ambiguous time approaching a fairytale image.
Miller's visual presentation of these themes falls into no single category as his thought processes are represented through unfixed photographs, torch drawings, video, installations and performances. This multi-disciplinary approach allows for a engaging repertoire; Miller's method being directly affected by his subconscious, experiences, musical and filmic tastes and a slippage of fantasy into reality. His alter egos the Dandy, the English Gentleman and the Lace Gimp become the personifications of an inner turmoil found threaded throughout his works.
Since 1999 Miller has been living and working in Birmingham, shown internationally and gained critical acclaim. Such works as Congregation with its religious overtones, endearing story telling in the form of The Mergentleman's Tale and darker performance work that touches on sexuality and death like his Lace Gimp have created a reputation for interestingly presented and evocative works.
Up Jumped The Devil