Art or Trash? You decide.

Award-winning artist Paul Woods, born in London, started out as an architectural model-maker. Now based in Ventnor, his installations, often made from reclaimed materials, have been exhibited in Berlin, Zurich, Prague and at Quay Arts in Newport. He never lost his childhood passion for building things and has returned, after decades of widely differing activities, to model-making. What others see as worthless, he sees as bits of art waiting to be deconstructed and reassembled in confounding ways. Often, what first appears jovial, has a darker message. In present times that inevitably involves environmental concerns: Paul explores the problem of hyper-consumerism, while questioning the value placed on everyday things.

His "Art or Trash" works showing here in Ryde until 28th February at ARCH_windowgallery feature some of his satirical "fake consumer products". Though they appear mass-produced, each one is unique and catalogued. Many more originals can be found at "Paradox Island" in Ventnor, 68 High Street, his alternative gallery with an emphasis on creative recycling, affectionately known as "the Island's weirdest gift shop".

Aspire Ryde ARCH_window gallery can be seen 24hrs... shop open between 10.00-12.30 and 13.30-16.00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday