The Persil Billboard Project

Creating three works of art for Unilever

The brief required the replicating of stains like pesto, smoothie, bolognese, ketchup, mustard and jam. All three paintings have been created using synthetic materials to replicate these foodstuffs. The theme of kids playing was set, the shapes defined and the need to show spontaneous action and movement (whilst retaining shape and colour) was also required. Heavy texturing was also required.

Over a six month period these paintings were created using a large number of materials and techniques. 91 different components went into recreating these food stains – each one hand mixed for each application session on each painting. Multiply each stain by fifteen sittings by three paintings and that equates to over 400 individual textured food mixes for the whole project.

The silhouettes of three children were vinyl cut and used as templates. The textures were built up over fifteen or so sittings (per painting), layer by layer and each requiring a new vinyl to be applied and stuck each time.