The Cummings Twins

Based in London

Bath Spa College of Art (BA Hons, Fine Art 1999)

Mark and Paul Cummings intention is to create phenomenological experiences, with an interest for the occult, mysticism, technology and zeitgeist. With a specific focus in Hermetic wisdom and Druidic practices the subject of transcendence is critical to their work and its relationship to contemporary culture. They produce artworks namely sculptures and audio-visual performances too – being multidisciplinary they utilise any medium that suits the project best.

HERE AND NOW

The Cummings twins still have technology as their mainstay but with maturity their work has flourished with a sense of spirit behind everything they do. Their current projects include ‘Polygondaydream’ that involves the creation of sculptures and also ‘The Mystery School of Sound’ that is a performance music piece relating to Hermeticism and the healing arts.

LEGEND AND LEGACY

In 2006 after leaving university studying fine arts Mark and Paul Cummings headed straight for the heart of London settling a stone’s throw away from the Square Mile. They began a project that ran for about three years. Based in the epicenter of the city and immersed themselves in technology and urban culture. This was 10 years before digital Shoreditch and at the infancy of commercialized Internet; before this it was dominated by programmer geeks and not many artists had yet entered this realm.This was before the noise of the Internet grew and they had a lot of exposure and quickly became renowned for making very intense videos and digital artworks. Photography, video, music, animation and programming were the main tools for the production of shorts, interactive pieces and installations. They soon became a household name within the digital art scene at the time. They were known as digital Punks working under the pseudonym of AZ2Lab. Their work was showcased around the world in events and exhibitions such as Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the UK to name a few and they were also very widely published. This brought attention from the commercial world and they began producing work for Diesel, Nike, Deutsche Telecom and many other international brands. All that was good came to an abrupt end - as they decided to leave advertising and push into the art world. While still maintaining their digital heritage the twins started painting in earnest back to what they felt was traditional. Producing large-scale landscapes that covered the topic of politics and social critique. Though seemingly hyperrealist there was always a computer involved at the starting point of the projects. The paintings were readily accepted into the national shows such as Mostyn Contemporary amongst others. The News Presenter John Snow chose the painting titled ‘Roadside’ for his own personal critique when the painting was shortlisted for the prestigious Threadneedle Prize 2010.

EDUCATION

1999        Bath Spa College of Art, BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting

RESIDENCIES / AWARDS

2019        Maker in Residence at the Bankside Hotel with Contemporary Collective 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2017        Fusion III, Candid Arts Trust Islington
2016        D Contemporary / Its Art Call, D-Contemporary Mayfair 
2015        Fill The Gap / Making Mythology, Polygondaydream
                Beautiful Crime / For The Love Of London
                Leytonstone Arts Trial
                Mall Galleries / RSBA, Group show
                Gabriel Fine Arts / A tribute To William Blake
2014        Abraxsas / Art and the Esoteric, Shelley Park Bournemouth
                Leyton Arts Trail / Norlington Open
                The Stone Pace / Visceral virtual, Church Lane Leytonstone, Solo Show
2013        Leytonstone Arts Trial / Norlington Open
2012        E17 Arts Trail / Walthamstow, ‘Life and the Ordinary’.
2011        Exposure Gallery / Life in Portraiture 
                Leyton Arts Trail / Norlington Open