I would Like to Write on Your Walls with Crayons

About This Work

In David Shrigley's print, "I would Like to Write on Your Walls with Crayons" (2020), we encounter a humorous yet slightly unsettling articulation of the artist's distinctive voice—one that marries simplicity with layers of introspective narrative. Shrigley, born in Macclesfield in 1968, has carved a niche within contemporary art with his deliberately unrefined style, exemplified by crude line drawings and pithy captions that subtly critique the absurdities of modern life. This particular work, part of his extensive oeuvre in printmaking, reflects Shrigley's well-known aesthetic. His figures and forms often appear childlike, purposefully reminiscent of the distracted doodles of a student passing idle time. In this print, the title itself teases with a whimsical proposition—writing on your walls with crayons—an act both innocent and rebellious. It evokes a scenario laden with potential mischief and abandon, characteristic of Shrigley’s ability to blur the lines between idle jest and deeper existential reflection. Shrigley's broad practice, spanning drawing, sculpture, and animation, consistently explores themes of anxiety and the mundane, often couching a darker philosophy beneath a veneer of comedic absurdity. Educated at the Glasgow School of Art, where he studied environmental art, Shrigley has cultivated a practice that challenges traditional art forms, as evidenced by initiatives like his "Really Good" sculpture on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth and his tennis ball exchange outside the Stephen Friedman Gallery. These major public commissions mirror the themes found in his smaller works, such as "I would Like to Write on Your Walls with Crayons," both employing a parody of everyday actions to provoke thought and engagement. David Shrigley's work consistently invites the viewer into an interactive dialogue, often encouraging one to consider the underlying meanings behind his seemingly simple presentations. "I would Like to Write on Your Walls with Crayons" sits comfortably within the Zebra One Gallery collection, resonating with audiences through its blend of humor and contemplation, a testament to Shrigley's unique position in the landscape of contemporary art.

About the Artist

David John Shrigley (born 17 September 1968) is a British visual artist. He lived and worked in Glasgow, Scotland for 27 years before moving to Brighton, England in 2015. Shrigley first came to prominence in the 1990s for his distinct line drawings, which often deal with witty, surreal and darkly h...

Zebra One Gallery

Contemporary Art • Hampstead, London

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