Chris Bourke
'Life is Short'

Chris Bourke’s work is characterised 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.’

The solid black, yet delicately stippled surface texture is created after the carved and inked lino block is lifted from the paper surface. Tattoo- orientated imagery, and text based motifs are a common feature of Bourke’s artworks. Text is often used in Bourke’s artworks to reinforce a moral or political message behind each image.

Part of the artist’s ‘Matchbox’ series, each piece is inspiRed by traditional matchbox artwork.