good on your wall

The Future of Crufts - Brighton Grad Show Pick #2

More animals, I like artwork with animals.

My second pick from the Brighton grad show is graphic design graduate Mark Matcham’s series of prints The Future of Crufts.

Mark writes “This project looks at how the most popular breeds of dog may look at future Crufts shows after years of selective inbreeding, developing certain peculiar characteristics and showing how crazy dog owners have become in their quest for the weird and wonderful.”

Here is my favourite; The German Shepfrog.

The German Shepfrog has become a very strong swimmer through years of inbreeding. Its back legs are flipper like and has gained the reputable nickname ‘Half Dog-Half Frog’.For the owner who has a swimming pool.

I like the wry humour in these prints and the underlying truth of the real criticisms Crufts have faced over the years. I can’t say I tune in to watch Crufts but when I have seen it I’ve always found the whole thing very bizarre but strangely watchable. I don’t know whats weirder the strange poses the dogs are trained to make or the the owners… well the owners in general. I must see Best In Show. it’s meant to be good isn’t it?

I contacted Mark to find out a bit more and he kindly got back to me. Following a design brief around commemorating an event, Mark spent a weekend at the 2011 Crufts Dog Show and noted the attraction that some people have to dogs with strange characteristics and wondered where this will end.

“I didn’t want to take the subject of Crufts too seriously so i tried to create a balance between an affectionate celebration of Crufts and a comment on the excesses of dog breeding.”

The prints were one offs Mark printed out at home - on his A0 printer. An A0 printer at home!? Nice. Despite the reference to the future they have a vintage 30s/40s feel to them which I think gives them a nice touch of gravitas (Can you have a ‘touch of gravitas’?) and fit his brief of commemorating.

There are ten breeds in all and he’s currently looking into producing some giclees. I’ll keep you updated.

You can see the rest of the series and Mark’s other work on his website.

Woof.