Nick Wadley designed and published over a 100 cards during two decades, 1997 – 2017. The earlier ones were based on collages, including the series made in collaboration with Sylvia Libedinsky. They were characterised by play on words explaining an incongruous association of images, as in PasdeDeuxChevaux in which the car, instead of wheels is supported on ballet shoes in third position. These cards were in two series. One, called ‘DoubleTakeAway’ published originally in The Daily Telegraph, and ‘The Lax Column’, published in The Financial Times.
Later cards, based on drawing, some only in black and white, deal with unexpected, and sometimes threatening circumstances. Many still depend on the incongruity in which we recognise something of relevance to our situation. Some are based on memories and ideas, and in these the artist himself takes centre stage.
The cards form an important part of Nick Wadley’s oeuvre. They incorporate puns and word play because it is the combination of words with image that illuminates the message, and unsettles the obvious. Sometimes there is even a mixture of French and English, i.e. Franglais.
For Nick Wadley, the image on a postcard had an added significance because the technique combining drawing, design and print, allowed him to communicate far and wide.
Over 100 of his cards will be available for purchase in the shop on this site.
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