Boo Simpson
Hotdogs and Heroes
16 March- 4 March 2007

It was daylight when he stepped off the American Airlines flight from Nevada, and cold. As he stood in line waiting for a taxi, he watched the air-hostess from his flight as she said goodbye to the rest of the crew and wondered where he’d seen her before. It was like the girl in the bar last night, the beauty queen blowing her cheque with a night on the town, he’d been sure he’d seen her before too. It paid to notice things in his line of work and the job was risky enough to make him extra careful.

The trip to the hotel passed without incident - he’d be unlucky to be recognised in this part of town but he turned up the collar of his overcoat just the same. He’d stayed there before under a different name, but the hotel had been busy and the guy at the front desk wouldn’t pick him out if he saw him again. The bellhop took his bags into the lobby, and he was given the key to his room – one thirteen, the same number as the jobs he’d done. It was his idea of a joke and it always made him smile. As he turned to take the elevator, he paused, checking the street outside for a tail, and scanning the lobby again. It had happened before, on an earlier job, with the cops
on stakeout just down the street and him nearly being caught. Only a ride on a garbage truck had saved him that day – if that didn’t teach you, nothing would.

David Risley Gallery is proud to present Boo Ritson’s second solo show. Following on from the success of CAST, Ritson introduces a new set of characters in Hot Dogs and Heroes. The show will also include a new series of still lives.

Her work is in several international collections including Saatchi Gallery, London, Zabludowicz Collection, David Roberts Collection, The Speyer Family Collection, New York, Chadha Art Collection, Netherlands- as well as prominent collections in France, Spain, Portugal, Russia,
Italy and Germany.