Gus Monday

Born in 2000, artist Gus Monday specializes in drawing as he feels it is the most intimate and personal form of expression. Despite the fact he is conscious of the numerous limitations towards this medium, Monday believes that drawing still holds the essence of an artist’s privilege. It is at the forefront of his practice and the foundation for the rest of his work, which includes his newly found inspiration within painting building his practice further. This ‘fresh’ experience of utilizing paints to continue his practice began two years ago and will be continuously seen throughout his new works. Painting is viewed as a very traditional medium, but Monday subverts any viewer's preconceived notions about what painting is to guide them into his examination of transitory moments inside life experiences.

Gus Monday, 2023. Photo Courtesy: Gus Monday

Gus Monday, HM Passport Office, 2023. Oil on linen on pine board, 156 x 122 x 3 cm. Photo Courtesy: Gus Monday.

Originally from London, Monday lived in South Africa for the majority of his earlier life. He moved back to London to start his art foundation at City and Guilds of London Art School. After this, he completed one year at Central Saint Martin for his BA, but chose to leave, feeling like just a number within the institution. Upon leaving, his decision was confirmed as the right one. This turned out to be the best decision for him, as returning back to City and Guilds to complete his BA became fundamental to his success. The small scale, availability of facilities and tutoring were extensive and supportive, far from what he experienced at Central Saint Martins. He explained that ‘ learning alongside stone and wood carving students, conservators and other fine artists was very informative when it came to crafting objects and by extension paintings.’ Monday particularly mentioned the support from Robin Mason who ran an incredible course. His confidence grew as an artist and allowed him to establish his styles further and to the level that we see now. After completing his studies at City and Guilds, Monday continued his education at the Royal College of Art, where he is currently a student.

Gus Monday, Home Affairs, 2023. Oil on linen on pine board, 85 x 120 x 3 cm. Photo Courtesy: Gus Monday.

Monday’s process always starts with an experience, having been in a space ; learning it and observing how it works in regarding its social codes. Monday then begins the transition of thought to paper with preliminary sketches and drawings that ‘play with elevating those codes into a narrative form.’ These visual elements can be seen throughout his work as we as viewers begin to understand the social codes that Monday has created.

Gus Monday, Sketch for Institutional Performance, 2023. Pen on Mineral Paper, 21 x 29 cm. Photo Courtesy: Gus Monday.

Before the paintings gain a life of their own, the laborious process of constructing his own panels begins. Using his talented draughtsman ship, Monday uses meticulous joinery methods to make his structures as he sees them more as objects than 2D images and extensions of his work. The attention to detail from start to finish, making sure that everything is perfect, allows Monday to create his own expressions of the world, letting observers gain an understanding of his subconscious. The abstracted surrealist style provokes us as a viewer to become attentive when observing our own surroundings, as it seems we are missing so much when going about our daily lives.  

When looking for inspiration, Monday is drawn to a multitude of mediums as he believes that ‘artists are collectors in a lot of ways, they tend to pick at texts, bodies of work, films etc.’ He finds himself referring back to two books as they regularly act as a catalyst for his work. These are Exteriors by Annie Ernaux  and the Mersey Sound by Adrian Henri, Roger McGough, Brian Pattern. ‘The topics they discuss are a deeply personal experience and gentle observation of social codes and narratives.’ Monday has also mentioned that there has only been one painting that he has regularly visited that year which was Frank Bowling’s, Mirror in the Tate Britain. Bowling made the work when the MA painting program used to be above the Victoria and Albert Museum and is a painting which resonates the most with Monday. When looking at both Bowling and Monday’s work, a strong resemblance can be seen, helping us understand his process more. The surrealist architectural structures within Monday’s pieces and Mirror give off impressions of illusions, focusing the viewer’s attention. Distinctions between what the space should be regarding our own memories or understanding of social spaces are subverted with unrecognizable additions of contrasting colours and sharp angles within the works. All these things differentiate our way of viewing the space, but distinguish how Monday has represented his impressions of the world as he experiences it.  

Gus Monday, Studio Wall Detail Shot. Photo Courtesy: Gus Monday.

After being asked about the main themes that he wants people to pick up in his work, his response was the following;

“Everyone has a personal relationship with spaces, in particular buildings and interior. I suppose there is a great irony, that I feel my work is about people, when there are no people in any of my works. The spaces I interpret serve as a mirror for the viewer's relationship with that space, coded narratives are effective ways to explore this. As much as one wants to remove themselves when exploring a public space, you inevitably impart some form of your viewpoint into that, regardless it is impossible to be objective when working. I’ve always been a cynical person and that element tends to find its way into the spaces regularly.”

Monday has provided an exciting new way of observing spaces through social codes and how they have the ability to abstract the reality of these particular spaces. As seen in his work, Monday’s ability to utilize paints and delve into this medium creates excitement for what is to come for his future work.

Selected Prizes:

Nominated for the New Blood Emerging Art Prize (2023)

Nominated for the Hari Art Prize (Shortlist) (2023)

To discover more about Gus Monday’s work, connect via Instagram or visit his website.

Ina Benigni

Emerging Artists Co-Editor, MADE IN BED