Hew Locke

REPUBLIQUE CHINOISE

2009
acrylic paint and felt pen on share certificate
14 1/2 x 12 inches

Born in Scotland, raised in Guyana, and currently living in London, Hew Locke draws on archival objects and narratives to highlight the influence these histories have on our contemporary world. His Share series comments on the colonial and capitalist powers that shaped the current global economy. He uses actual share certificates that he defaces with drawings of commodities and shipping vessels, linking past stock market culture to the history of colonial corporations. His website states, “This series is also a wry acknowledgement of the commodity value of contemporary art. Now you too can invest in a share of Hew Locke.” His large sculptures of boats, wall installations, paintings, and drawings are in collections throughout Britain and the US, and he has exhibited his work internationally.

© hew locke