Draft:Andrew Cooper (Psychopolitical Artist)
| Submission rejected on 2 April 2025 by Drmies (talk). This submission is contrary to the purpose of Wikipedia. Rejected by Drmies 40 days ago. Last edited by CommonsDelinker 34 days ago. |  |
| Submission declined on 2 April 2025 by Sophisticatedevening (talk). This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject. This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by Sophisticatedevening 40 days ago. |  |
Comment: Wikipedia is not a platform for advertisement, and that is what this is. There are some sources, none of them clearly about him, but it's no matter--the draft itself is promotional. Drmies (talk) 20:26, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
Andrew Cooper | |
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| Born | Andrew Cooper December 1961 United Kingdom |
| Nationality |
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| Philosophical work | |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | |
| Main interests |
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| Notable ideas |
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Andrew Cooper (born December 1961) is a British artist, educator, and activist whose work focuses on the intersection of art and social issues. His practice engages with themes related to housing, political resistance, and participatory art. Cooper has been involved in various housing campaigns, including the Focus E15 campaign, and has utilised artistic expression as a medium for public engagement.
Early Life and Education
[edit]Andrew Cooper's early artistic practice was influenced by personal experiences, particularly the passing of his parents. Following their deaths, Cooper and his family were required to vacate their long-term council home within a short period. This experience contributed to his interest in themes of materiality, memory, and social inequality.
During this period, Cooper began working with discarded materials, collecting salvaged timber from items such as chair and table legs, door and window frames. While walking along Railton Road, he found a banister in a skip and brought it to his workshop, where he began carving. He noted that the wood grain suggested figurative forms, which led to his ongoing exploration of carving puppets and sculptural figures.
Cooper’s work incorporates elements of found materials and explores themes of history and collective memory. His carvings often reference individuals from his past, drawing on personal and social narratives.
Career
[edit]Cooper has worked as an educator for over three decades, primarily within state education, where he has integrated artistic methods into teaching practices. In addition to his role as an educator, he has participated in grassroots activism, particularly in relation to housing rights and social justice movements. His work incorporates elements of critical pedagogy, drawing upon thinkers such as Karl Marx, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Paulo Freire, and Lev Vygotsky.
His artistic practice includes public installations, participatory art workshops, and collaborative projects that seek to engage communities in discussions about housing inequality. He has been involved in the Focus E15 Housing Campaign, a movement advocating for social housing in East London, where he has used visual art to communicate political messages and engage with local residents.
Cooper has also worked with the Tenant Management Organisation of Withy House, a council estate in London, where he conducted art workshops and contributed to a mural inspired by local history, including events such as the Matchgirls' Strike.
Artistic and Theoretical Influences
[edit]Cooper's work is influenced by political and philosophical frameworks, including Marxist critiques of political economy and theories of democratic organisation. He employs artistic strategies such as Bertolt Brecht’s concept of "Umfunktionierung" (refunctioning), which involves repurposing artistic forms to serve social and political functions. His engagement with Participatory Action Research (PAR) aligns with approaches that seek to democratise knowledge production and empower marginalised communities.
Activism and Public Engagement
[edit]Cooper has participated in housing rights activism and has created artworks that reflect issues related to social housing and urban displacement. His involvement in the Focus E15 occupation of a council maisonette in Newham was part of a broader movement advocating for housing justice. His contributions to this campaign included the production of visual materials such as banners and illustrations that aimed to communicate complex political ideas to a wider audience.
His work at public street stalls and community events integrates artistic practice with political activism, fostering participation from individuals across different age groups and backgrounds. These activities align with his broader interest in the role of art in social movements.
Selected Works and Projects
[edit]- Public installations and murals related to housing activism
- Collaborative projects with grassroots campaigns
- Participatory art workshops exploring themes of social justice
Reception and Impact
[edit]Cooper’s work has been referenced in discussions within activist communities and community-led housing initiatives. His work has also been featured in The Guardian[1][2][3] , BBC[4]
- ^ "Those two weeks felt how the world should be': the young single mums who took on the housing crisis – and won". Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Housing benefit cuts have hammered those in hardship". Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "Newsround Specials: No Place to Call Home". Retrieved 13 May 2024.