ABOUT

BIOGRAPHY

Mark and Paul are multidisciplinary artists who are inspired by esotericism and mysticism. Transcendence is critical to their work. The twins want to reveal what is subtle and invisible and make it tangible to experience. They use many different mediums to produce art often facilitated by digital technology. Their work is highly experimental and improvised and encompasses many modes. These include imagery, sculpture, video, performance and installation. Working together they build upon each other's ideas.

They are active in the Hermetic wisdom schools and Druidic practices. They also study other esoteric belief systems such as shamanism. These ideas are coupled with contemporary culture to produce an alternative visual language transporting ancient to the present. They believe that both art and magic are interchangeable and provide the same outcome for living life. This is best described by Alan Moore's quote.

"Magic in its earliest form is often referred to as 'the art'. Art is, like magic, the science of manipulating symbols, words, or images, to achieve changes in consciousness." Alan Moore transcript Documentary Dec 3 2013

WHAT WE DO

Imagery

Their imagery relates to topics such as the the supernatural, theological symbolism, mythology, cosmology and natural forms. They montage mediums such as paint, photography, collage with digital illustration and photographic post-production. The aesthetic of the work is akin to design and pop and contemporary culture .

Sculpture

Mark and Pauls' current sculptural work include free-standing animal objects as well as crystalline structures that are hung on walls. They appear to have originated from computer games and solidified out of virtual reality looking very low poly, distilled, minimal, clean, vividly coloured. The works derive from brutalism and abstract minimalism. The animal forms are evocative of Greek myths and at the same time connected to Northern European shamanic totems and fables.

The twins have an interest in how computers can assist in the production of art. The wall hangings are procedurally generated from a randomised sequence of numbers that create geometric terrains, wave motions and crystal growth. The sculptures represent the elementals deities, heavenly bodies characterised by their textured surfaces and colours.

Video

Paul has a particular interest in producing video art pieces. The 3D digital and video editing environment is his alchemical laboratory. Through experimentation, he montages illustrations, motion graphics, found photography and footage. Nature, celestial objects, sacred geometry are in his work. He layers these symbols and motifs to derive an archetypal language.

The films allude to auspicious astronomical events and supernatural phenomena. The play of light has an important role, emanating, refracting, reflecting and radiating. The notion of time is important to him, that is evident with speeding up and slowing down of videos and exploring loops and cycles. The works are both displayed standalone or complement the performances they do.

Live Acoustic / Short Paragraph

Their current project is called. ‘The Mystery School of Sound’, is a meditational performance music piece. The instruments they play include an array of large symphonic gongs, Tibetan bowls, and the flute. The music score references the Hermetic treatise called the Kybalion the ancient text is about intrinsic universal principles. The performance helps participants to relax and reflect upon themselves. There is also time to contemplate the greatness of the universe.

Live Electronic / Short

The twins perform experimental and improvised electronic music. The sets have atmospheric cinematic themes and are designed to meditate too. In essence, they pertain to electronic psychedelia. These pieces evoke a spiritual dream-like reality where different worlds and ideas collide with each other. The natural and the abstract such as bird songs, whale cries blend in and out of drones and synthetic procedural sounds. Filtered chants and dialogue loaded with meaning drift in and out of focus. These works are often incorporated into their live performances with the gong percussion.

Live Acoustic / Long Paragraph

Marks & Paul Cummings are also regular music performers as well as visual artists. They have been playing mainly Symphonic Gongs ever since 2015. As performers, they work together to bring you a sonorous experience. These sessions encourage the participants to focus on well being and mindfulness. Breath-work and meditation is an essential part of the practice.

Designed to alter states of mind, the effect of these performances is immediate. Science has proven that these instruments induce Theta state brain wave patterns. This frequency corresponds to wakeful dreaming and deep relaxation. The virtue of two people playing the gongs allows for a binaural experience. This extends the listeners consciousness that much further.

Our audience has described their experiences as:

Mystical
Cosmic
Ethereal
Unworldly
Dreamlike
Ancestral
Healing

The twin's performances have a deep connection to magical traditions and customs. Their current project called. ‘The Mystery School of Sound’, is a meditational performance music piece. The instruments they play include an array of large symphonic gongs, Tibetan bowls, and the flute. The music score references the Hermetic treatise called the Kybalion the ancient text is about intrinsic universal principles. The performance helps participants to relax and reflect upon themselves. There is also time to contemplate the greatness of the universe.

Live Electronic / Long Paragraph

Each improvised set is unique it is a continuous development from the previous performance. With a necessity to introduce new sounds and instruments every time it evolves and transmutes. Live instruments and sound banks are processed through generative software and electronic hardware. Natural and abstract sounds flow in and out of drones and synthetic procedural sounds. Filtered chants and dialogue drift in and out of focus. These works are often incorporated into their live performances with the gong percussion.

WORKSHOPS

The Cummings Twins provide many workshops that encompass the visual arts and music. The art workshops include collage, sculpture and drawing the sound workshops provide live music with a guided meditation focusing on well-being and mindfulness. The workshops provide a deeper understanding of what inspires the Cummings Twins; they are exciting, informative and hands-on, they include all abilities and age groups with a broad range of classes to try out.

Making Art

Participants can engage both with technology and the subject of magic and are informed through a discussion about various technical and philosophical approaches to making artwork. The twins are also trained in the classical methods of life drawing by RA masters and can teach many methods of drawing and painting.

Music and Mindfulness

The music workshops focus on sound healing with gong and singing bowls. This includes breathing practice and meditation to promote deep relaxation. Participants can also learn about these percussion instruments and be taught how to play them.

THEIR ORIGINS

The twins were already in the East End a decade before the advent of Shoreditch becoming a digital hub. They were carving up their own space in the internet's wild west. Mark and Paul became renowned for producing online art even before social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram ever existed.

The twins were known as digital Punks working under the pseudonym of AZ2Lab. They made digital images, motion graphics, music, interactive art and installations. They rapidly became a household name within the digital art scene. Their work was showcased around the world at events and exhibitions; countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain and South Korea. They were also widely published here in the Uk and abroad.

A little later in their careers, the twins still maintained the digital heritage but used it as a process for painting. In this period they produced large-scale hyperrealist landscapes. This work got accepted into national shows such as Mostyn Contemporary amongst others. The shortlisted painting titled Roadside came close to winning the prestigious Threadneedle Prize in 2010.

Nowadays, with growth and personal development, there is a change in their attitude and choice. The twins are more philosophical rather than social-political in their discourse. They are on a journey with their art, it is now inextricably linked with magic and mysticism.

EXHIBITIONS & SHOWS

SEP NOV 2021
Richard James Exhibition / Saville Row
A new selection of sculptures showing at the prestigious retail outlet Richard James for the Mayfair art week. Coordinated by Helen Varola.

SEP NOV 2021
Bankside Hotel Residency
2-month residency at the Bankside Hotel as resident artists, in collaboration with Contemporary Collective. Hosting a programme of events and workshops. Including gong Performances, 3D printer workshops, paper cutting workshops, making sculpture workshops.

SEP 2017
Saatchi Art / Ebay
A collaborative demonstration of biometric scanning in an Art Gallery,
Fitzrovia, London.

SEP 2016
D Contemporary / Its Art Call
Cult House presents Its art call group show.
D-Contemporary Mayfair.

DEC 2015
Fill The Gap / Making Mythology
An Exhibition by Paul & Mark Cummings Polygondaydream. Sculpture & Sound Performance.
Leytonstone TFL.

SEP 2015
Beautiful Crime / For The Love Of London
An exhibition featuring work centred around the theme of London.
Soho.

AUG 2015
Leytonstone Arts Trail
Group show of resident and guest artists.
Norlington Road Studios.

MAR 2015
Mall Galleries / RSBA
Group show Royal Society of British artists Selected paintings and sculptures.

JAN 2015
Gabriel Fine Arts / A tribute To William Blake
Group show inspired by William Blake artist poetic mystic. Selected works and sculptures.

OCT 2014
Abraxsas / Art and the Esoteric
Shelley Park Bournemouth Group show of art and magic in the famous Shelley museum and annexe.

JUL 2014
Leyton Arts Trail / Norlington Open
Norlington Open Studios Group show of resident and guest artists.

MAR 2014
The Stone Pace / Visceral virtual
Church Lane Leytonstone, Solo Show.

SEP 2013
Leytonstone Arts Trail / Norlington Open
Norlington Road open studios including Memorabilia, a group show for Great Ormand St Hospital Fundraising.

SEP 2012
E17 Arts Trail / Walthamstow
A Group Exhibition on the subject of ‘Life and the Ordinary’.

Sep 2011
Exposure Gallery / Life in Portraiture
Exposure Gallery is proud to present a brand new exhibition of Fine art and illustrations from Paul Cummings.

JUL 2011
Leyton Arts Trail / Norlington Open
Group show of resident and guest artists at the Norlington Road Studios

JUN 2011
Mostyn Open / Llandudno Mostyn
48 artists were selected for the major opening of the gallery

JAN 2011
LBI international / Wealth and the domicile
Solo Exhibition of selected large works.

SEP 2010
The Threadneedle Prize
One of seven artists shortlisted for the Threadneedle prize for the best representational painting UK. Important contender for art prizes in terms of prestige and critical value. With critique by Presenter John Snow

MAY 2010
Standing On The Frontier / Group show
A group show by 13 international artists The images presented by the thirteen artists in this exhibition depict views taken on a figurative walk along the frontier between reality and the imagination.

FEB 2009
Trap 2 Gallery / Photo Finish
Joint exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture, Vyner Street Exhibitions

MAY 2006
Luvart / Print Exhibition
Art fair of screenprints and paintings
Soho / Carnaby Street Exhibitions

Dec 2004
Luvart / Print Exhibition
Art fair of screenprints and paintings
East End Art Fair Shoreditch Town Hall

Nov 2004
Luvart / Print Exhibition
Screen prints and paintings
Soho / Carnaby Street Exhibitions

DEC 1999
CAS /Art Futures Exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall
Sponsored by the Contemporary Art Society (Bloomberg).

APR 1999
Royal West Academy Bristol / ATRWA
Exhibition of paintings and aluminium prints depicting society and architecture.

MAY 1998
Festival Of Arts Gloucester / Locations 4
Exhibition of latest works based on architectural themes.

APR 1998
Painting Loan / The Gloucester Insurance Company
Loan of architectural paintings for main office suit.

APR 1998
Drawing Network
A selection of life drawings in an exhibition that toured ten galleries in the UK

JAN 1998
Smiths Industries Aerospace / Commission
Painting commission depicting the CS-UK building. A prestigious project to be presented to the SIA on their official open day. The press event included attendees of the Board of Governors and the Mayor of Cheltenham.

MEDIA + PUBLICATIONS

APR 2016
State / F22 Magazine costume design on Frontpage

SEP 2015
55Pages Featured with interview Landscape paintings

JUL 2015
E-list Featured with an interview on a Sculpture project

SEP 2010
The Threadneedle Prize The Independent News Website

SEP 2010
The Threadneedle Prize BBC News Website

SEP 2010
The Threadneedle Prize Catalogue

SEP 2004
Xfuns Design Magazine

MAY 2003
Onedotzero7 Programme Guide 2003

OCT 2002
BluePrint, VJs, The new kings of culture.

NOV 2002
A commercial shift, shift magazine

AUG 2002
Create Online, Future publishing: 01/04/2002 diesel DVD, featuring a movie.

JUL 2001
Computer Arts special: Advanced flash special tutorial

MAR 2001
Creative Review, Centaur Communications Ltd: featured on CD-ROM

LIVE PERFORMANCE

2016 - CURRENT
Mystery School of Sound.
Kybalion Gong Bath Performances.
We have been performing sound healing with meditational practices for the purposes of relaxation and meditation at various venues across London for the last five years.

Click Here to check for any up and coming events on Facebook

10/09/2021
Mystery School of Sound on Tour
Kybalion Gong Bath Performances.
LoveJam Festival Cambridge

24/05/2003
Addictive TV with Cinefeel
Presents a night where the club meets the cinema. Screening ‘Yo Punk’ in this months shortlist. @ The Great Eastern Great Eastern St’ London EC1

09/04/2003
Texelse Boys meeting Marcel Chapman and taking home the trophy, the Texelse boys bag.
Amsterdam Holland

02/04/2003
VJ/ Diesel” store promotion
Antwerp Belgium

31/12/2002
NYP@ Play
Bar 58 Old Street London

08/05/2003
Kujin 2000 presents AVE-COM FEEST
Arnhem, Holland

01/05/2003
OFFF2003 Media Festival
Spain Barcelona

27/09/2002
VJ / SoFten/ Kanvas, VJ
Play Bar 58 Old Street London EC1 V9A

18/10/2002
VJ /.Fat Cats Get Mullered ‘white-collar crime’.
On The Rox 25 Kingsland Road

16/10/2002
VJ / Unscene
Student turner Prize Private Party

20/09/2002
Krakow Film Festival
Digital animation web-based film

10/09/2002
Hackney Radio station.
Radio interview

22/08/2002
VJ / So Ften/Kanvas, VJ event
Play Bar

05/08-2002
VJ / HUM YUM:
Vibe bar

02/08/2002
VJ / Junketeer
Herbal Kingsland road E1 London

27/07/2002
VJ / HUM YUM
Somerset

19/07/2002
VJ / Windows Art Centre
Bath Somerset UK

15/07/2002
VJ/Flat Caps And Mullets
Catch Bar

17/05/2002
VJ/ Arnaud’s Wedding party
Brussels

17/05/2002
VJ / HUM YUM
Herbal Kingsland Road E1 London

15/05/2002
VJ / HUM YUM
Herbal Kingsland road E1 London

3-5/3/2001
Online Flash Film Festival
Barcelona Spain

18/10/2002
Cargo
Kingsland Viaduct 83 Rivington Street

07/02/2003
VJ / TO LET
Play Bar 58 Old Street London EC1 V9A

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