By Olivia
15th December 2014
Chris Bourke’s work is characterized by the use of strong text-based messages, often referring to the artist’s political opinions, issues of public morality and universal truths.
Bourke formerly trained as a silversmith and less formerly as a tattoo artist whilst running his own skateboard shop ‘Spine’ for eleven years. He now works full time as an artist but remains greatly influenced by the motifs and symbology of tattoo culture, as well as ‘religious iconography, music, nature, the struggle and little birdies.’
Chris Bourke's Process
Bourke works in the highly labour intensive medium of lino-cut, a ‘relief’ printing method which involves the gradual cutting away of the material’s surface to develop a composition in relief form, which is then inked, printed and a matt, delicately stippled image created.
Many of Bourke’s artworks are also hand finished. Here tonal detail is further highlighted in watercolour or gold leaf.
