Fascinated by the semiotics of popular culture, the London-based artist William Blanchard presents ‘This is William Blanchard’, the artist’s first exhibition in London since his sell-out solo at Assembly in 2010. The inspiration for the show stems from Blanchard’s love of Pop Art and artists such as Peter Blake, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. By exploring consumerism, banality and repetition previously probed by Warhol, Blanchard puts his own twist on the concepts and provides a new perspective on the peculiar world of spectacle that we inhabit.

I hope to stir positivity, happiness, joy, curiosity, wonder, laughter and orgasmic excitement as opposed to anger and hate and other negative emotions in general!

Dazed Digital: What emotions do you want to stir in the audience with the exhibition?
William Blanchard: I hope to stir positivity, happiness, joy, curiosity, wonder, laughter and orgasmic excitement as opposed to anger and hate and other negative emotions in general!

DD: When did you first become interested in the semiotics of Pop culture?
William Blanchard: I have been interested in the semiotics of popular culture from an early age including pop music, signs, typography, graphics, record sleeves, design, posters, postcards, cinema, advertising, the circus, funfairs, targets, many of which find their way into my work in an almost obsessive fashion.

DD: What has been your favourite project to work on?
William Blanchard: The most recent project to date was building an installation for the Art Car Boot Fair this year which was the realisation of an idea which incorporated the imagery of a run-down funfair called "The Unfair".

DD: What excites you about art today?
William Blanchard: There are perhaps less boundaries than ever.

DD: What is your favourite show on TV?
William Blanchard: 'Breaking Bad'.

DD: Who was your childhood hero?
William Blanchard: Batman.

DD: What's next for you?
William Blanchard: After my exhibition at The Strand Gallery I will be trying to organise another show in Los Angeles for Oct/Nov 2012, then New York early next year.

This is William Blanchard, The Strand Gallery, 25th July – 4th August 2012