Press releases
Since moving to Vietnam in 2012 Jack has been featured in many local and international art magazines and publications for his art and his workshops. Look below for a small example of some of his recent mentions.
Click on the pictures below to be taken to the corresponding article
Asia Life - September 2018
Vietnam Oi - August 2018
NETVIET VTC10 feature episode
Artist Bio
Jack Clayton is an illustrator / printmaker from London who specialises in the medium of woodcut printmaking. He relief prints his blocks by hand and often uses the reduction method to add multiple layers of colour from a single block of wood. In 2010 he left the UK and spent 2 years travelling and working around Australia before venturing over to South East Asia and finally residing in Ho Chi Minh City where he has been creating art inspired by his new environment since.
In the past he has studied about different environments, places he’s lived or travelled through and enjoyed learning about the stories of the past and their relations to the present. He used his art to gain a better understanding of an area which shows through his immensely complex and thoughtful illustrations.
More recently he has been looking at modern Vietnamese culture and traditions he experiences whilst living in Ho Chi Minh City, illustrating them for himself and others to gain a better understanding of the environment around them.
His recent series ‘Streets of Vietnam’ is ongoing and draws inspiration from the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Popular sights such as street sellers, children’s games, cafes, drinking culture expressions and sayings all play apart with an aesthetic quality drawing inspiration from traditionally hand painted shop signs, geometric floor tiles and many others.
Woodcut printmaking has been Jack's main medium for the past 10 years but he also creates complex, detailed illustrations based on entire cities. Since living in Vietnam he has travelled to the specialist Dong Ho Painting villages in the north and tries to include locally sourced / made materials where possible. He also takes great inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e prints and also German expressionist prints.
Artist Statement
‘I see myself predominantly as a woodcut printmaker who focuses on experimentation to create unique and eye-catching work. I enjoy mixing the inks to create my own blends of colour and utilising different carving methods in order to move away from the traditional aesthetic. My work is usually character based and I enjoy breaking these figures down whilst finding forms and natural patterns to manipulate and create illusions that trick the eye.’
Exhibitions
January 2021 - BLOQ Lifestyle Village, District 2, HCMC
From Brick Lane to Saigon
Solo show of woodcut prints and illustrations specifically from his London series inspired by Brick Lane street.
January 2021 - BLOQ Lifestyle Village, D2, HCMC
Temporal Reflections - Group show with Spectrum Collective
Common 9 Gallery, District 1 Saigon - June - July 2020
City Sections
Duo show with Mike Hern which was featured on VTC10 national TV in their 'sharing Vietnam' documentary.
August 2019 - Seoul Night Gallery - District 1 Saigon
Spectrum Vol 2
The second instalment of 'Spectrum' art show where local creatives exhibit current works to the local scene.
January2019 - March Gallery, Hoi An + the Anantara Hotel.
Stamps in Time / Solo exhibition
A new series of woodcuts and illustrations based around the ancient town of Hoi An. These were only designed to be on display for 1 month but due to popularity the exhibit got extended for 3 months and there are still some that were left for permanent display.
March 2019 - Noirfoto D2 Saigon
Spectrum Volume 1 - Group Show
Solo Exhibition - Soma District 2, Ho Chi Minh City - January 2018
'Streets of Vietnam'
A collection of woodcuts and illustrations inspired by street culture in Vietnam.
Solo Exhibition - Decibel D1, HCMC - October 2015
A collection of work from past to present.
Group Show - Atom Gallery, London - September 2015
'Liminal Visions'
Group show - Decibel, D1, HCMC November 2014
Duo show with Pat Bradbury
Group show - Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne 2011
'Impress me' Large group show of local + international printmakers.
Asia Life Magazine September 2018
Vietnam Oi August 2018
Asia Life feature 2016 about my workshops
