Surface
I’m proud to introduce Surface [now closed]
This online presentation has been in the works since the early days of lockdown – made possible thanks to the brilliant initiative Projectroom2020 (from Art North Magazine)
Without question, the working life of every artist I know (regardless of age, experience or medium) has been affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. Rapidly, arts institutions, galleries, and individuals rose to the challenge: offering open calls, virtual exhibitions, support. One of the most exciting initiatives I’ve seen is Projectroom2020. This online platform was set up by the founders of Art North Magazine during the early days of event disruption. The website has gone on to present a remarkably wide range of online displays: virtual exhibition spaces, filmed works, resource banks, PDFs…
I made an application to present a collection of works focussed on makers who embrace alternative surfaces. I reached out to some of the artists (or, representatives of artists) who have inspired me in my own work, aiming to bring together a dynamic grouping – so that each artist compliments the next, whilst also offering a bit of contrast. We have: Roger Ackling, Roland Fraser, Derrick Guild, Kevin Harman, William Kentridge, Hayley Tompkins and Andrea V Wright; as well as my own contributions of paintings that define each ‘period’ of my practice to date.
Projectroom2020’s Ian McKay has done an outstanding job pulling everyting together. The founders describe the initiative as a “collaborative online gallery project devised to support artists in showing work during the public health crisis caused by ‘Covid-19’ and the need for ‘social-distancing’ and ‘self-isolation’. Ultimately it is about keeping the gears well-oiled … keeping the ‘creative spark’ alive at a time of great personal and social upheaval.”