Anthony Irvine | |
---|---|
Born | 17 February 1951 |
Medium | alternative comedy, performance art, fine art, outsider art |
Nationality | British |
Alma mater | Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama |
Years active | 1977–present |
Notable works and roles | The Iceman, Funny Bones, aim |
Anthony Irvine (born 17 February 1951), also known as the Iceman and aim, is a British performance artist and visual artist.[1][2]
As the Iceman, his act is to creatively melt large blocks of ice[3][4][5] while talking to the audience over a soundtrack of tightly-looped music[6] and sound effects.[7][8] His methods of attempting to melt the ice include breath, salt and a blowtorch.[9][10] He might also sing songs, make puns, attempt to release a rubber duck from inside the block of ice,[11] or sell photographs of the ice to the audience.[12]
In the 1980s and '90s, he performed at notable alternative comedy venues including Cluub Zarathustra[13][14] and Malcolm Hardee's Tunnel Club as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[15][16][17] In 2007, he performed at the Hackney Empire in a tribute show to the late Malcolm Hardee.[18] In 2011 he performed at the Royal Festival Hall.[19]
He is often cited by Stewart Lee as a legend of alternative comedy[20][21][22] and by Jo Brand as a favourite act of the 1980s.[23] Lee dedicates his epic poem about stand-up comedy, "I'll Only Go if you Throw Glass," to notable 1980s performers including the Iceman.[24]
In 1995, Irvine appeared in Peter Chelsom's film Funny Bones.[25][26] In the same year, he shared the Edinburgh Tapwater Award with Malcolm Hardee and Charlie Chuck.[27]
Since 2014, he has produced art brut paintings under the name aim.[28][29] 2023 saw his first solo art show at Guggleton Farm Arts in Dorset.[30]
In 2022, Irvine published an ice-related children's book called Lockdown Melter.[31]
The Iceman is the subject of a 2023 book released by Go Faster Stripe called Melt it! The Book of the Iceman.[32][33] As a result, he appeared on Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.[34] There is also a film in production based on the book.[35]