Cummings Eye Test (Print)
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Cummings Eye Test (2022)(Print)
Giclee prints on 300gsm matt photo rag paper
Hand-signed and numbered by the artist in pencil and embossed
Limited edition of 100
29.7 x 42 cm
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During May 2020, the public was ordered to stay at home, all but non-essential travel was forbidden, and infected persons were instructed to self-isolate. Most of us did as we were told. After, it was reported that Dominic Cummings travelled 263 miles from London to his parent's farm in Durham during the Covid 19 Pandemic Lockdown while experiencing Covid 19 symptoms. 45 Conservative MPs called for his resignation for noncompliance with public health restrictions. Later, Cummings held a press conference explaining his journey, claiming that he drove to Barnard Castle to ‘Test’ his eyesight after experiencing eye issues related to his Covid symptoms. Prime Minister Johnson supported his chief adviser by saying Cummings had acted "responsibly, legally and with integrity". Durham Police found that he had committed a ‘minor breach’ of the public health restrictions. What did you think?
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Adam Hayley aka.AD13:. (b1984 Stockport UK) graduated from the University of Salford in 2008 with First Class Honours. He attended Edge Hill University to obtain his PGCE and is currently the Head of Art at Cheadle Hulme School, Stockport. In 2008 he won the Mooch Artist of the Year Prize judged by Peter Saville and Wayne Hemingway, subsequently being commissioned to paint Wayne’s portrait. After an interview on the XFM breakfast show in 2009, Adam was commissioned to paint the portrait of Mancunian legend Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets), with Clint commenting, “this guy’s
work is genius!”. In 2022 he was shortlisted for the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at the Stockport Open competition with his painting of Boris Johnson on a pan entitled ‘The Great Panhandler Claps for Carers’. Visitors were encouraged to clap for carers whilst simultaneously hitting Boris in the face with a wooden spoon.
Adam’s work explores the context surrounding Britishness, stereotypes and how we identify with our British identity (or his perceived lack of it). Through humour, his current and predominant focus is upon politics and documenting ‘The State of It’. This body of work aims to document the key political moments of the 2020s as we navigate the subsequent carnage and tumult of post-pandemic Britain. The evolution of international politics, the threat to western democracy, and the loosening of state regulation against the roaring backdrop of social media and mainstream commentary.
In a highly polarised and populist governed world, his work aims to seek both sides of the story and find the common ground in the argument. Sometimes it simply aims to call out the bad stuff. Adam believes that the future hinges on finding balance and carefully negotiated compromise. Will our politicians let this happen?
The next decade promises to be a truly defining period in this century, and through this work, he hopes to document a small perspective of it. Failing that, it’ll gather dust in his attic.