Art of comedy

After your biodegradable street graffiti and retro T-shirts, what is on your mind?

"The Death of Twentieth Century Comedy."

That sounds like a subject on Mastermind, but obviously it isn't.

"No, it is a 47 inch by 33-inch piece of 5mm-thick Foamex, which is light to carry, with the names of British comedians who died in the 20th century."

Why?

"I'm trying to get people to look at a piece of conceptual art for more than a few seconds.

"Normally the instant reflection time is only a few seconds but the contemplation time can sometimes last for days.

Where this piece has been exhibited so far - at the K Bar in York - it has engaged continual conversation, with people huddled in groups reflecting on their own favourite and least favourite comedians."

Will anyone recognise all the names?

"I hope to come across someone who can do that and they'd probably have to be someone in their seventies.

"I'd like to use this piece to try to bring back their memories of people like radio comedian Tommy Handley and Alistair Sim, people who were so multi-talented."

Who were your 20th century favourites?

"Kenneth Connor's name is repeated twice on the list because I like him so much, and my own favourite is Sid James, just for what he represented: that risqu Carry On humour and that laugh."

The names are written in block capitals in white against a black backdrop in the manner of war memorial. Is it a sombre piece?

"It is reflective, and because it's black and white it can be construed as being about death or that it's morbid because they're dead but the intention is to enable you to have recollections of people who made you laugh."

Ah, but is it art?

"Who knows, but I'm planning it to be the first of three, with The Death of 20th Century Film and The Death of 20th Century Music to follow. Maybe I will hang them all together."

Can we buy The Death Of 20th Century Comedy?

"Yes, I've been selling it for £160 in York, and I'm off to the Edinburgh on Sunday, where the price will be £325, including delivery.

I'll be taking it around the streets there, hopefully accompanying it with a soundtrack of old comedy routines."

You have increased the price for the tourist honeytrap of the Edinburgh Fringe, home to far too many smart-Alec comedy shows. Does the title The Death of 20th Century Comedy suggest your preference for that century's humour?

"For me, yes it is stating a preference for 20th century artists, like the graffiti and T-shirts did.

"This work is a movement into text that recreates a large number of forgotten icons for one 'impactive' piece. All the work I do till I die will be nostalgically orientated and eventually I'd like to create an art space that is entirely intended to saturate people with nostalgia. As we move on to new decades we don't want to be disconnected from the stuff of the past, and I'm intrigued by the possibility of seeing retrospective pieces being placed among other works in art galleries. For me it works, and it does for others too."

When and where can we see The Death Of Twentieth Century British Comedy in York?

"Hopefully, tomorrow I'll have it on show for at least a couple of hours in Parliament Street, with Milladdio, from ROTA the Return Of The Artist organisation alongside me. We're going to see how feasible it is just to set up a piece of art in the street and see how people respond to it. It'll be interesting to see if I'm told I need a licence."

To contact Dexter, ring or text 077149 02007 or write to him at PO Box 652, York.

Updated: 09:04 Friday, August 13, 2004