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Phien O’ Phien: Consider exhibition at The Margate School

Phien O’ Phien considers himself an ‘idearist’ rather than an artist. He attempts to bring his ideas to life via the medium of contemporary art. His work often comments on social issues. His show last year at the Tate Modern revolved around eviction of people from their own land.



Both parts asks for a deeper consideration of the subject in question than what might be the norm for

most people today.


One part dealing with the death of homeless people on the streets of the UK. Disposable people left

out like unwanted chairs. To be found abandoned on street corners, alleyways shop doorways. Chairs

are wanted, needed until they are not and then they are put out, put away, left.


In this, the clashing colours reflect the emotions of being homeless and of looking to survive another

night tainted with danger...a danger of dying from the cold, from assault from the lack of the will to live

to face another day.


The encroaching black signifies the creeping early death and ill-health that can often be seen in the

eyes, the demeanour and the lack of self-care of the homeless.


A homeless person lives among us cheek to jowl until they don't.


The other part, spiritual, in the way of reincarnation.


The belief that life begins when it ends and death ends when life begins.


The circle of life and death, the soul emerging from the black unknown to the blue of being reborn into

another life and series of experiences.


The ups the downs, the ins the outs, the good the bad of existence in the body and then finally back to

the black of the unknown, unknown to us while we are in the blue of experience.








Time & Location

On now until 06 Oct, 17:00 The Margate School, 31-33 High St, Margate CT9 1DX, UK



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