Suburban Utopia, An Infertile Place (SU4IP)
Lyndon Watkinson
Lyndon Watkinson (1999) is an artist, designer, writer, and musician based in Sheffield, UK. Democratising art and art context through artworks, publications, graphic design, articles, and sound. Creative director and founder of the online arts organisation SU4IP. His work is characterised by a desire for precision, often depicting aesthetics that celebrate and criticise the absurdity of corporatized identity, calling into question the necessity of creating false exteriors when what is not seen is often just as important.
In late 2020, a blog post entitled Suburban Utopia, An Infertile Place formed part of the wider inquiry and development of his practice for his bachelor's degree in fine art. As his work matured, he applied this term as a formalisation of his creative endeavours, later abbreviating it to SU4IP, now used as a digital alias and publishing entity.
Artworks
Publications
Articles
Websites
About
BA Fine Art. Sheffield Hallam University. First Class with Honours. 2019 - 2022
Level 3 Art Foundation Diploma. Hereford College of Arts. Distinction. 2018 - 2019
Level 3 Art Foundation Diploma. Hereford College of Arts. Distinction. 2018 - 2019
Skills Profile: Digital Art, Graphic Design, Branding, Publications, Web Design, Copywriting, Content Design/Managment, Project Management (Arts/Culture Specific), Communications
Software: (productivity) Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, LibreOffice Suite, Adobe Premier (design) Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Inkscape, Scribus, FL Studio (web) cargo.site, Instagram, CuratorSpace, Etsy.
︎ Self Directed Publication Project(s): Artist book by SU4IP. March 2023 – Present. Interfacing with a global network of artists through self-directed art publication opportunities encompassing promotion, management, engagement, design, proof-reading, editing, working with manufacturers, and postage + packing. Artists are invited to submit their work to be featured in an ongoing series of paperbound exhibitions adhering to a given theme. All aspects of the project are overseen by myself through the use of open-source software to a professional standard. Issues are distributed to participants, as well as sold online via popular ecommerce platforms as well as around the UK at artists’ book fairs.
︎ EQUINOX BA Hons Fine Art Final Year Degree Show. February - May 2022. [lead designer of catalogue + branding.] In cooperation with other volunteering students, I compiled together the work of 50 students to design a catalogue that attractively showcased their work in a format that is both varied and coherent. The aesthetic was modelled in response to peer feedback and exuded the sentiment of the course population. The publication was distributed at the exhibition. ︎
︎ Futures Past Coalition: Primavera, I am Human. 3rd February 2022 (Live Performance). [project co-manager, audio lead] Audio-visual performance taking place in the Pennine Lecture Theatre, Sheffield Hallam University involving a large pool of volunteer performers wearing bespoke outfits designed and fabricated by myself and Futures Past core members, combining spoken word, fashion, and performance art and elapsing 30 minutes in front of a diverse audience ranging from local spectators to institution staff. ︎
Achievements/Awards
︎︎︎ Art & Design Degree Show Award for BA Fine Art - Awarded for Best in Show (2022)
︎︎︎ SHU Enterprise Creatives Bootcamp Grant Recipient (2022)
︎︎︎ Unpreneur x SHU Inter-University Bootcamp (2022)
Exhibitions, Residencies, and Publicity
︎︎︎ Bloc Projects: 'Self' Online Exhibition. 15 January - 28 February 2021. URL: https://www.blocprojects.co.uk/exhibitions-events/2021/self
︎︎︎ Future Past Online Exhibition. 13th - 20th April 2021. URL:
︎︎︎ Equinox BA Fine Art Exhibition. Sheffield Hallam University Institute of Arts, Sheffield. 19th - 30th May 2022
︎︎︎ Kommune Pop-Up Exhibition. Kommune, Sheffield. 24th - 28th June 2022
︎︎︎ 'Colours' Online Exhibition and Magazine. Collect Art. 10th September 2022
URL:
︎︎︎ ANYTHING BUT PAINT Exhibition. Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield. 13th October - 4th November 2022
︎︎︎ Article Coverage by Dwell Time Press. Dwell Time. 25th October 2022. URL: https://dwelltimepress.wordpress.com/2022/10/25/paperplus-1600-x-900px-digital-collage-2021-by-lyndon-watkinson-su4ip%e2%99%b2/
︎︎︎ Cellophane Wrapper Exhibition by Plastic Pie. Proteus Exhibition Space, Basingstoke. 3rd - 13th July 2023
︎︎︎ Stallholder at Wales Artists' Book Fair. Hafan Yr Afon, Newtown. 2nd - 3rd of September 2023
︎︎︎ Stallholder at Kirkby Artists' Book Fair. Kirkby Centre, Kirkby. 3rd November 2023
︎︎︎ Delivery of talk and stallholder at Artist Book Market 2024. Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh. 10th - 11th February 2024. Talk URL: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/futures-past-coalition-how-artists-make-decisions-tickets-788126466477
︎︎︎ Spectral Sublime Exhibition. 30th February - 21st March 2024. URL: thephantasmalgallery.wixsite.com/phantasmal-gallery
︎︎︎ Within The Limitations Exhibition. TESCO Crooksfoot, Ashford. 8th - 10th March 2024. URL: www.ashfordvisualartists.com/withinthelimitations.html
︎︎︎ Stallholder at CMYK Festival. Hereford College of Arts, College Road Campus, Hereford. 18th May 2024
︎︎︎ Stallholder at States of Independence. Clephan Building, De Montfort University, Leicester 8th June 2024
︎︎︎ Stallholder at Bristol Artists Book Event 2024. University of West England City Campus, Bower Ashton, Bristol. 29th - 30th June 2023
︎︎︎ Stallholder at Wales Artists' Book Fair. Hafan Yr Afon, Newtown. 7th - 8th of September 2024
︎︎︎ Stallholder at Liverpool Book Arts. Bluecoat, Liverpool. 5th - 6th October 2024
︎︎︎ Stallholder at Bound Art Book Fair. Whitworth, Manchester. 30th November - 1st December 2024