Artist’s gunpowder plot

Huddersfield graduate and celebrated artist Frank To’s plots his way to the Royal Ulster Academy exhibition in Belfast

A HUDDERSFIELD art graduate has had a work accepted for the Royal Ulster Academy annual exhibition at the Ulster Museum in Belfast.

The work by celebrated Scottish artist Frank To will appear until 6 January 2019 at the exhibition sponsored by KPMG.

The work on show, called Dragon, is an ignited gunpowder and explosives black powder piece on hand-made paper.  The work, measuring 88cm x 68cm, is priced at £1,950.

The artist’s invitation to exhibit at the Royal Ulster Academy marks the latest recognition of his most recent work created with gunpowder and copper.  Earlier this year, examples of this innovative work were shown at the Royal Society of British Artists exhibition in London and, earlier this month, he was one of only four Scottish artists selected from over 3,000 applicants for the Royal West of England Academy.

Speaking of his invitation to exhibit in Belfast, Frank said: “I am delighted that my work has been judged worthy of inclusion in this prestigious exhibition, the location of which I consider to be particularly apt given that Dragon uses gunpowder, a material of violence, to promote a message of peace within a city that has suffered from violent conflict within its recent history.”

Frank To’s interest in creating works of art from materials traditionally associated with violence to promote a humanitarian message can also be found in his recent collaboration and support of Swedish watch manufacturer TRIWA. 

The company is presently producing a limited edition of watches made from Humanium, a new form of metal created from the residue of destroyed firearms, with a percentage of profit from every watch sold being donated to assist the recovery of war-torn countries.

Frank has enjoyed a number of successes since leaving the University and, in recent years, his work has exhibited alongside famous artists including Banksy, Jimmy Choo and Antony Gormley.  Collectors of his work include his mentor, actor Sir Patrick Stewart, and global consultancy Deloitte.