Symbiosis

Steve Allen graduated from Loughborough University in 2000 with a degree in jewellery and silversmithing. The same year he started working for The Alchemy Carta in Leicester (producing alternative/gothic jewellery for a worldwide market), where 7 years later he still works as a model maker and sculptor. During his time there, Steve has created master models for all their in-house ranges: Alchemy (Gothic), Poker (band merchandise) and Spirit (tribal), also undertaking commissions for clients as varied as The Rolling Stones, the BBC, Metallica and Dolly Parton� Outside of his Alchemy work, Steve produces his own range of jewellery, as well as 2D work in a variety of media.

Steve's work has grown out of a love of Byzantine and Symbolist art. His figures often take Graham Sutherland�s �Crucifixion� as a starting point and acquire the elongated limbs of Giacometti; the emaciated figures are not only suggestive of early Renaissance Christian art but are also reminiscent of the victims of second world war death camps. His work is concerned with conveying the idea of beauty in darkness and darkness in beauty. His 2D work is carried out in a variety of media, including acrylic, gloss, enamel paints, ink, food colouring, pencil, biro, bleach, charcoal, newspaper, varnish, chalk, marker, wine� etc.

Steve is inspired by the contradictions present in religious thought, Gnosticism, some works by Nietzsche; the opulence of the Catholics and the lushness of the Pre-Raphaelite, contrasting with the manifestos of Dadaism/the punk movement and the darkness of David Lynch's films.

Website: www.myspace.com/symbiosis616

Contact: symbiosis616@yahoo.co.uk