Cummins' Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London, November 2014

Paul Cummins MBE (born 26 September 1977) is an English artist from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, who produces landscape installations using ceramic flowers.

Education / work

Cummins worked as a maker of architectural models, and then studied ceramics at the University of Derby's College of Arts. He has colour associated dyslexia,[1] and was one of the artists with disabilities commissioned by the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the UK Arts Councils and the British Council to produce works for Unlimited, a programme celebrating disabled artists' work in the run up to and during the London 2012 Olympics[2] and Paralympics.[3]

Cummins conceived the monumental installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London, which commemorated the British and Colonial losses in the First World War with 888,246 ceramic poppies. Cummins produced the flowers together with a number of assistants in Derbyshire, while the setting of the work was designed by theatre designer Tom Piper.[4] During the making of the work in his workshop, Cummins accidentally crushed his hand in an industrial roller. This left him requiring extensive surgery and resulted in the loss of a finger and use of his dominant hand.[5] He said in interviews that was "overwhelmed" by the public response to this work, saying "I think that it is something everybody can relate to and they feel very personally about." However, he also received death threats for his work, stating that it was because the money was being donated to "war charities".[6] In recognition of the success of the work, both Cummins and Piper were awarded the MBE in the 2015 New Year Honours, Cummins' award being made "for services to art and First World War commemorations".[7][8][9]

Other clients for which Cummins has produced work include Chatsworth House, Hardwick Hall and Blenheim Palace.[10] He is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Derby, and lecturing in crafts. The university awarded him an Honorary Master of Arts in January 2015.[11] He was awarded an honorary PhD by London Metropolitan University in July 2015.[12]

In 2015, Cummins also displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show. His installation "Candy" stood 8 metres tall and was made up of over 2,500 porcelain tulips in a variety of colours. Proceeds from this are reported to be going to a charity whose cause affects 1 in 3 people, but was never named.

References

  1. ↑ Paul Cummins. Alumni Derby College of Arts.
  2. ↑ Unlimited Paul Cummins English Flower Garden, www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk
  3. ↑ Unlimited Southbank Centre Events. The English Flower Garden. Unlimited Southbank Centre Events.
  4. ↑ The Guardian. "Tom Piper defends first world war artwork as 'about loss and commemoration' after Guardian critic attacks it as fake." 1 November 2014
  5. ↑ Josh Glancy (26 October 2014), "Poppies artist wounded in action", Sunday Times, archived from the original on 1 November 2014
  6. ↑ "Tower of London poppies artist received death threats", The Guardian, 15 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "No. 61092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2014. p. N18.
  8. ↑ 2015 New Year Honours List
  9. ↑ "NY Honours for poppy duo, Joan Collins and John Hurt", BBC News, 31 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Paul Cummins, Fine Art, University of Derby, 2014
  11. ↑ "Tower poppies artist Paul Cummins to receive honorary degree". BBC News. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "London Met to honour Tower of London poppies artist". London Metropolitan University. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
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