JUST A NiPPLE.

JUST A NiPPLE.

TWEAKiNG SOCiETY’S NiPPLE

- James Kingman continues to provoke in preparation for his summer show.  

In the lead up to a ‘Just a Nipple’ Summer exhibition at EDiT. we take a closer look at James Kingman and his notorious nipples… 

London based artist James Kingman loves to provoke and, through pushing people's limits, discovers even more about the power of censorship and surveillance in controlling our self expression. James’ ‘Just a Nipple’ project started its journey as a direct response to Instagram's censorship policies. James sought to create an ungendered nipple, playing on the inequalities of female identified nipples being removed and classed as exposing while male nipples were not censored. The nipples James creates really are ‘Just a Nipple’- removed from the bodies that Instagram deems appropriate or inappropriate and therefore uncensored on instagram photos. James’ work challenges the sexualisation of nipples and outdated binary gender identities.

BACK TO EDiT.orial .

James’ ‘Just a Nipple’ has challenged him in unexpected ways, he has received mixed reactions when showing his work at art fairs saying ‘many people like the concept but struggle to embrace it openly, worried about what others might think.’ He feels this reflects a larger self censorship within the art world, and fear of societal judgement in general. As it has developed, ‘Just a Nipple’ has shifted from a critique of instagram censorship policies to a call for a greater freedom of self expression, and a questioning of (as James puts it) ‘our tendency to self censor in anticipation of societal judgement’.

James likes to work on multiple pieces at once as he finds this the best way to test the viability of a concept. In preparation for the ‘Just a Nipple’ Summer show run by us here at EDiT. James has handcrafted 500 nipples. Unveiling such a large collection of nipples is an important step in James’ process, as the response of the public is a huge part of why he is making this work.  

James’ inspiration comes from an engagement with daily life and his own experiences. ‘Life’, he says, ‘continually presents things worth capturing in art’. ‘Just a Nipple’ began as a political challenge and has turned into something more emotionally driven.

The audience is such an important part of James’ work, and he has allowed the project to evolve in response to people’s reactions, and is excited to continue broadening the discussion, and engaging with new audiences. 

Playfulness is a huge element of James’ practice and works as an entry point to more critical discussion. It’s important to James that his ‘Just a Nipple’ project provokes a reaction and he believes all responses are equally valid, including the negative ones.

He hopes that the work will encourage people to be a little introspective, and question their reactions. When people buy the nipples and take them home James is delighted that the story continues, he likes to imagine his customers being asked about why they have a nipple on their wall. 

As he is a Londoner, I asked James what his favourite thing to do in the city is. He replied simply; ‘Go to a pub’. James loves the impromptu conversations that arise over a pint with a stranger at the bar, proving both James and his practice to really be all about unexpected communication. Delicious, a bit cheeky, and undoubtedly enlightening, James’ work exists in tandem to that 3 o'clock summer pint you are shy about wanting (but really is the best thing to happen all week). Have a look at James’s work and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for more info about our summer exhibition!

James’s favourite pubs: 

  • The Rusty Bucket (best ales)
  • The Ship Soho (best music)
  • The Devonshire (best Guinness)

R.S.V.P.

James Kingman's Just a Nipple is due to take place this July.  Please R.S.V.P. using the contact form below to let us know if you would like to attend the opening drinks and how many guests you would like to bring.

WHERE: EDiT. Gallery, 2 Greenwich Market, London.  SE10 9HZ.

WHEN: 12th-17th July - opening drinks on the 11th July from 6pm-8.30pm.

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