Spartacus chetwynd biography

Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, Spartacus Chetwynd

Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, born Alalia Chetwynd, is better known as Spartacus Chetwynd. She was born in London in 1973, where she still lives and works today. A few years ago, in an interview with the international art magazine "Flash Art," she stated: "Ideas come to me ‘unexpectedly,’ like William Blake. If an idea excites me, I try to implement it in the most logical way possible. It’s not something that is meditated upon or calculated; it’s more of an overexcited enthusiasm. After the initial flash of inspiration, I make drawings and plans, and I discuss them with my crew. It seems that I work on the idea of rehabilitation or translation, something completely out of fashion today, of no interest to the current trends, yet I believe it’s worth singing and dancing about. Meatloaf, George Stubbs, or Yves Klein are some examples. The more I research, the more I think there is so much fantastic material here; why don’t people appreciate them more? It’s a bit of a case of love for the underdog."

The painting series "Bat O

Who is Monster Chetwynd?

Who is Monster Chetwynd and is she as scary as she sounds?

No! Monster Chetwynd is a very friendly artist who wasn’t always called Monster. She was born Alalia Chetwynd in 1973, but she decided to change her name.

In 2006 she became known as Spartacus. In 2013 she swapped Spartacus for Marvin Gaye. Then, in 2018 she decided to be called Monster, because it made her happy. She’s not the only artist who likes changing their name. Monster Chetwynd was inspired by a Japanese artist called Katsushika Hokusai, who changed his name 30 times!

This portrait of her above is called Crazy Bat Lady. It’s a self-portrait featuring a bat on the artist's head. Can you also spot the butterfly?

Would you change your name if you could? What would you change it to?

What type of art does she make?

Monster Chetwynd doesn’t just make one type of art. She’s famous for her paintings, videos, installations, live performances and sculptures. She created two giant slugs that became Tate Britain’s Christmas lights in 2018.

Wait, did you just say ‘giant slugs&

Monster Chetwynd

British artist

Monster Chetwynd

Chetwynd The Idol, Barking, March 2015

Born

Alalia Chetwynd


1973 (age 51–52)
NationalityBritish
Other namesAlalia Chetwynd (Christened as)

Lali Chetwynd (raised as)
(2006 to September 2013)
Marvin Gaye Chetwynd (September 2013 to April 2018)

Monster Chetwynd (April 2018 to present)

Monster Chetwynd[1] (born Alalia Chetwynd, 1973, best known as Spartacus Chetwynd and Marvin Gaye Chetwynd[2]) is a British artist known for reworkings of iconic moments from cultural history in improvised performances.[3] In 2012, she was nominated for the Turner Prize.

Life

Alalia Chetwynd is the daughter of Luciana Arrighi, an Oscar-winning production designer,[4] and Rupert Chetwynd, a former soldier (Captain in the Grenadier Guards and 21st SAS Regiment), author, and aid worker in Afghanistan, a descendant of the 6th Viscount Chetwynd.[5][6][7] Chetwynd was educated at Bedales School,[8] then studi

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