Words by Smiley Team
An artist known as ‘chewing gum man’ is tackling a sticky problem on the streets.
For two decades, Ben Wilson has been creating miniature paintings on discarded chewing gum lumps at numerous locations in Britain and beyond.
It’s a form of urban land art, and social intervention – his miniscule pictures are found on public walkways, using acrylic enamel and the thinnest of brushes to portray landscapes, portraits, marriage proposals, love tokens, personal symbols, vivid abstract patterns and even memorials to lost loved ones.
His creations can be found on the pavements of North London, the metal treads of Millenium Bridge near the Tate Modern, the streets of European cities, rocks in Senja in Norway, north of the arctic circle. In every location his chewing gum art responds to and transforms the environment in which it is created.
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By remaking thoughtlessly discarded litter as a canvas for fine art, the chewing gum paintings question the boundaries between the private and public, and quite literally the idea of being “chewed up and spat out”.
They are a creative solution or an example of positive action, and it’s estimated that 10,000 exist around the world - although nowadays, Ben typically works by request only.
As a young man, he did an art foundation course at Middlesex Polytechnic, which spawned a lifelong and ever-evolving artistic practice, starting with wood sculptures.
He created the first of many large-scale structures that could be climbed on or walked inside, in the wooded areas behind his college building.
Later, he worked with cast-off rubbish, such as cigarette buts, tin cans, crisp packets and juice cartons, which was a deliberate decision to challenge consumerism’s negative impact on people and the environment.
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This is a theme which has always characterised his work, and led him, in 2003, to began experimenting with painting on discarded chewing gum.
In 2004, chewing gum art became his main focus, and he created a huge chewing gum trail, which began in Barnet High Street and would eventually span most of North London and beyond.
In a visual world dominated by the mercenary imagery of advertising, Ben’s generous jewel-like chewing gum pictures are easily overlooked.
They’re there to be discovered by those who are aware of their surroundings, or who just notice them by chance.
You can see examples of Ben’s chewing gum art on his Instagram page or on his website.
