John Squire: Disinformation

Paintings made from digitally distorted photographs, by Stone Roses guitarist John SquireBritish painter John Squire (born 1962) is most famous for being the lead guitarist in the Stone Roses, but he is also a prolific visual artist—his most recognisable piece being the Jackson Pollock–inspired artwork used on the Stone Roses’ 1989 eponymous debut album. This book, published to accompany an exhibition of Squire’s work at London’s Newport Street Gallery titled Disinformation, presents a new series. These large-scale oil paintings are based on photographs taken by the artist or found online. Squire alters the images using editing software, which he overloads to prompt visual glitches. These partially distorted, fragmented scenes are then enlarged from their original small-screen format and rendered in the traditional medium of oil and canvas. The figures blend and collide with their surroundings, their features confused and sometimes entirely lost. Also included is an interview with the artist by Michael Joo.