February 22, 2022 |
If you’ve ever imagined a living, breathing sculpture, then Daniel Lismore might come to mind. Walking around town with an intricate work of art on his back is part of his every day. Although it may seem mind-boggling, he throws on his latest creations and walks out the door in just 20 minutes time, morning coffee in hand, ready to tackle the day.
Lismore considers himself to be a collector of things. Growing up as the son of two antique dealers, he was constantly surrounded by quirky yet beautiful items that came through the Lismore auction house. Collecting runs in the family, and young Daniel began gathering his own display of fun, little knick-knacks from a young age. “It started with Star Wars figures and then Star Trek. Later on, I just started picking up memorable things. I don’t go out of my way to find them, they have just come naturally,” he said in an exhibition preview.
Through his 20 year journey as an artist, he has travelled the world, creating wearable sculptures and showcasing his designs on a global stage. Now the artist unveils his latest exhibition set at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in his hometown of Coventry.
Titled Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken, the first of five rooms in the space comes jam-packed full of every novelty that he has stockpiled over the years. From images of the Queen to mannequin heads featuring his lipstick-covered lips, it is a symbol of everything that the artist stands for. “If this room inspires one person then I’ve done my job as an artist. I want them to take whatever they want from it,” he says.
The exhibition invites its guests to step into an extravagant world where art walks hand-in-hand with clothing. After three months of intense curation, Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken brings together every piece of art that Lismore has ever crafted, excluding one that resides in a blues bar in Mississippi. The space has been dotted with life-size figurative sculptures dressed in Lismore’s constructions that combine his own works of art, haute couture and items from his personal collection of 7,000 pieces ranging from jewellery to vintage garms and found objects. “I work with colour, texture and shape. I use my body as a canvas and I build up. Sometimes creating a sculpture might take months or sometimes just an hour.”
The exhibition space comes enveloped in the artist’s influences, including sustainable fashion, activism and LGBTQIA+ culture. The third room proves to be a standout, with the space paying homage to the Chinese Terracotta Army. The room holds over 20 sculptures dressed in a variety of looks constructed from jewels, armour and chainmail. Step into Lismore’s universe and be astounded by it all.
‘Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken’ is open until June 26 at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
