It's not unusual for artists to adopt different styles and different ways of working. What is unusual is for a single artist to adopt several different names and alter egos.
But Huddersfield’s Derek Hannon, aka Dex Hannon, China9, Evil Jesus and Dexuality Valentino, says that his four, quite-different artistic personalities, grouped together as The Broken Toy Company, allow him to pursue a range of themes and techniques, each distinct from the other.
It is, he adds, ‘a collective with a twist’ and is based on the literary concept of heteronyms, invented by Portuguese writer and poet Fernando Pessoa.
The personae are not so much split personalities as separate people and when talking about their work Dex refers to them in the third person.
All but one of the names he works under were chosen by other people.
As 42-year-old Dex explains: “People have always called me Dex, but I gave myself the name China9 because it was the name I used when I was involved in graffiti.
“Evil Jesus was given to me by students at a school in Wythenshawe that I was working with.
“I had long hair and a beard and at one point they bowed down to me and I was called in to the head’s office and accused of starting a cult.
Dexuality Valentino is the name given to me by an old flatmate who found me flamboyant.”
The four ‘artists’ have all exhibited separately but not together – until now. However his latest show, A Collection of Broken Toys, features geometric, digitally-enhanced paintings and macro photography by Dex; China9’s bold, colourful abstracts; experimental paintings created by Evil Jesus, many after a five-day period without sleep or sustenance; and surreal, tiny canvases by Dexuality Valentino, a forgotten Victorian explorer, can be seen at the Lawrence Batley Theatre until May 5.
On Monday, May 4, Dex is one of a group of Huddersfield-based artists showing in a multi-media exhibition, Discrete Positions, at Unit 9 Gallery, Market Avenue.
This latter event, which closes on May 15, is to be opened by a chamber quartet of soloists from the London Contemporary Orchestra, who will play a lunchtime concert at 1.30pm.
Dex began his artistic career at Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in design and art direction and had planned a career in graphic design.
But his thoughts began to turn to fine art and after working in graphic design for a time he did some teaching and made the decision to pursue art and writing.
He paints in acrylics and oils as well as using Molotow markers, digital techniques and photography, and writes poetry and short stories.
Originally from Manchester, Dex says a study of family history has revealed that his ancestors lived in Golcar, not a mile from where he now lives himself.
He has a workspace at the Northern Young Artists’ Studios in Huddersfield – members of which are sharing the Unit 9 exhibition – and is involved with CollabHub, a project linked to Huddersfield University that brings creative students, artists, musicians, designers and photographers together.
Dex, who has developed a work, The Synaesthesia Colours Sound project, with a student from the university, will be performing at a CollabHub Symposium on Saturday, May 16, at 6pm in St Paul’s Hall on the campus.
The symposium will include performances in both the Phipps Hall and St Paul’s and beginner’s classes for members of the public interested in music/design/photography software.
For details of CollabHub visit www.collabhub.org . To see more of Dex Hannon’s work in all his many guises visit brokentoycompany.co.uk
