Leigh Bowery Artwork

Dusty "O"or DAVID HODGE is a well known cross dressing London cabaret performer, actor and club promoter of 30 years standing.For over a decade Dusty ran the internationally famous "TRANNYSHACK" club at Soho's "Madame Jojo's" and has run and hosted many West End hit clubs and venues. Dusty has appeared extensively on British television and has featured in hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Just do an internet search of his name and see the plethora of articles and pictures that come up. Dusty was always interested in Art and 2 years ago decided to stop painting his face and start painting canvas'. He was overwhelmed at the response when he posted his work on social media and last year held a small exhibition at Oliver's Village Cafe of 15 pieces which was exceptionally well received. His work is a riot of colour and expression. Totally lacking in superficial norms of convention and style. He paints from the heart and the result is a kaleidoscope of colour and form. Dusty prefers not to label his art or even try and explain it. He says it is a result of his life experiences and personal journey and that needs no explanation or justification. He prefers to just do as he has always done in life and enjoy the experience and process and let the result talk for itself. His work is predominantly about colour and how it can lift the mood or express emotion " i worked for many years painting my face in to something new every time i went on stage. Something bigger than the original , brighter, happier and more interesting. My pictures reflect this process. I paint only things i love and enjoy and all the subjects have been passions or points of interest to me at some point. They are quite often painted in a way to take them away from the original form and convert them in to something i see as more appealing. They become grand and eye catching and almost an experience before they are understood or analysed. For me it is never about the detail and always about the finished effect on the senses. By using mixed media and digital processes i can take my work one step further away from reality and in to new places, more vivid expressions of how things can be and not always WHAT they are to start with.