Founded by Patrick after the Brexit vote in 2016, BAF BAF is a growing collective of international artists based in Britain and France.
BAF BAF aims to bridge artistic practices and encourage the sharing of skills between inhabitants of the UK and France via art and language.
BAF BAF stands for ‘Back and Forth, Britain and France’.
Step 1
Step 2
Since its initiation, the artists of BAF BAF have run an ‘exquisite corpse’ project. This means that one artist starts a drawing and sends it across the Channel for a second artist to add to it. This artist returns the work to a third artist and the process continues Back and Forth across the Channel between artists in France and the UK.
Since 2016, the number of artists and drawings has multiplied and in 2021, the collective of 29 artists counted 50 drawings circulating between the two countries.
Step 3
Step 4
From artist to artist: how the drawings evolved
Click here to view the pdf version
In 2021, with the financial support of Fluxus Art Projects (a fund co-managed by the British Council and the French Ministry of Culture), BAF BAF put on a whirlwind of an exhibition. It included the artists' cadavre exquis drawings, performance, an evolving collaborative drawing made by the visiting public, and 14 artist-run workshops delivered to local schools and the public in both languages.
Some of the drawings...
#013
2017-2019, Pencil and ink on paper
Patrick Simkins - Yuki Aruga - Barbara Portailler - Hanna Ten Doornkaat
25x35cm
#042
2020-2021, Charcol and watercolour on paper
Guy Haddon Grant - Marcus McAllister
35x25cm
#036
2018-2021, Ink, pencil, collage, and oil on paper and brown envelope
Eleanor May Watson - Emilie Schalke - Charles Rowbotham - Julien Wolf
26x39cm
#014
2017-2019, Watercolour, arylic, ink on paper
Marcus McAllister - Henry Hussey - Camille Pozzo di Borgo
70x42cm
#020
2019-2021, Acrylic and pencil on a British tax form
Bobby Dowler - Jemma Grundon - Marcus McAllister - Sacha Menard
25x35cm
#012
2017-2021, Ink, acrylic, charcoal and spray paint on paper
Camilla Pozzo di Borgo - Rosanna Dean - Emma Vidal - Matthew John Atkinson - Alex Arango
70x65cm
#018
2017-2019, Watercolour, acrylic and ink on paper
Julien Wolf - Eleanor May Watson - Marcus McAllister
21x30cm
#026
2017-2019, Pencil and ink on paper
Denis Christophel - Yuki Aruga - Marcus McAllister - Paul Smith - Denis Christophel
35x28cm
#045
2020-2021, Acrylic on paper
Sacha Menard - Valentina Conseca - Patrick Simkins
21x30cm
#007
2017-2019, Watercolour, acrylic, ink on card
Eleanor May Watson - Marion Harduin - Abi Box
23x35cm
Private Collection
#015
2017-2019, Acrylic, pencil, collage and oil on card
Denis Christophel - Matthew John Atkinson - Julien Wolf
30x21cm
#034
2018-2021, Pencil, charcoal and recycled paintings on card
Guy Haddon Grant - Patrick Simkins - Guy Haddon Grant - Patrick Simkins
42x27cm
#031
2019-2020, Oil and collage on transparent paper
Jemma Grundon - Denis Christophel
30x25cm
Private collection
#025
2018-2021, Oil pastel, ink and post-it notes on paper
Barbara Portailler - Charles Rowbotham - Julien Wolf - Patrick Simkins
70x42cm