In Old Street, East London Sleek paid a visit to a studio shared by five artists, one of whom is Alex N Stewart. This is the first time Stewart has allowed others into his creative retreat, into “a space which reflects the state of [his] mind – a permanent state of chaos” as he describes it. Over the past two years Stewart has spent most of his time here, working best at night to produce an array of work whose “practice encompasses every state of being” – including sculpture, ball-point drawings, ink on canvas, wood carving and ceramic, all demonstrating the breadth of his talent that undergoes constant nourishment.
What’s impressive about Stewart and his multi-facetted practice is his determination to challenge himself. The start-stop, stop-start process to his work allows him to think, re-think and develop alongside it. His inspiration primarily comes from the medium he uses, often materials that can be found in a nearby warehouse, on the tube or in the street. These objects and their serendipitous nature make up the basis for “a real experience and discovery” and in turn provide the impetus for a very talented artist.
When Sleek wanted to know why barely any of his work was documented on his website Stewart candidly replied: “documentation is a pain in the arse. When you document stuff you have to title it, categorise it, say when it was made, what you want to call it, you have to decide all of these things.” Hence, as an artist, the clichéd yet inescapable truth is that his work relies purely on his passion for his practice rather than on any ulterior motive.