Dorian Crook, uncontroversial Air Traffic Controller, acclaimed Comedian and a Trans-European aviator, graduated with a BA in Fine Arts towards the end of the last century, but has never had a solo exhibition, until now. This is your chance to enter his misspent teenage years of note-taking, underlining, sandwich-eating and hangar-entering. The life of a Plane-Spotter. Clearly, this man has issues. In his case, 15 years’ back issues of “Aviation News” magazine. Join him and his moth-eaten notebooks on an epic journey of discovery. From Heathrow to Luton and Gatwick, via Biggin Hill. By coach. Prepare to be shocked. People really did this.
The Fitzrovia Gallery,
139 Whitfield St, , London W1T 5EN.
29 November-3rd December 2018.
Private View Tuesday 27 November 6.30 pm
Brief Interview with Joel Coles at Hush Kit
Why a Plane-Spotting Exhibition?
Well, most people put all the old shit they find in the attic onto eBay but I thought it would be more fun to have an exhibition. Also, I have calculated that I must have drunk a thousand glasses of free wine at other people’s Art Opening Nights, and it was time I put something back in. On reflection, it would have been interesting to record each glass of wine with the precision I showed in my aircraft records.
What motivates Plane Spotters?
I may not be the person to ask, as I gave it up 30 years ago to do it for a living, as an Air Traffic Controller. I suspect there may be the unreachable objective of seeing every aircraft in the world. I found I liked the spin-off things, such as the knowledge of geography- I knew the capital of Surinam and where it was when few of my contemporaries did. And stickers, of course. Stickers were quite important.
Do Plane Spotters have a sense of humour?
Of course. Unbounded. You’ve heard of LAAS-the London Amateur Aviation Society? HK: Of course. Well, we used to sing “We are LAAS” to the tune of Gary Numan’s “We are Glass”.
Gallery
(click to enlarge)
