Thursday 25 May 2017

Work In Progress: 'This Sceptic Isle'. 'Flags' 2



Untitled: Acrylics. Paper Collage, Ink, Spray Enamel & French Polish On Paper,
45 cm X 60 cm, 2017


My 'This Sceptic Isle' project gathers pace, and here is the latest of my paper-based flag images.  As already mentioned, these may end up being works in progress, although I've yet to decide on the exact implications of that.  Each has been brought to some degree of resolution, and could stand as completed pieces as they stand. However, something tells me they may end up being recycled through other media, or perhaps just have further text elements added. at some point.  I also have the feeling there may be at least one much larger version on the horizon - either on panel or canvas.  Time will tell...



As Above (Details)


Anyway, for now, these are the most tangible manifestation of the 'TSI' project, although ideas about how things might develop are really starting to flow, and cunning plans being laid for possible  pieces in a variety of media.  This has also started to involve a degree of skip-diving and street scavenging, in the local neighbourhood, which may point to some possible sculptural assemblage-type activity.  If that does occur, it would certainly chime with my current preoccupations, with fly-tipping (which is such a feature of my local  surroundings), and the work of Robert Rauschenberg.  The latter was a complete delight in the recent Tate Modern retrospective, and it's remiss of me not to have already mentioned here the powerful impression that made on me over two separate visits.



As Above (Details)


Other recent excursions into 'the field' have also seeded the beginnings of a collection of abandoned fridge doors, which I'm hoping might be repurposed as future painting supports. But - enough of the teasing and tentative projections.  For now, I'll just accompany this flag with a few more samples from the photographic archive already accumulating around the project's emerging themes.  These are mostly of the straight, documentary variety.  However, as you can see - a bit of expressive manipulation is also starting to suggest possibilities too.


Ratcliffe On The Wreake, Leicestershire, May 2017

North West Leicester, May 2017

West Leicester, May 2017

West Leicester, May 2017

West Leicester, April 2017

Central Leicester, April 2017

Arnold, North Nottingham, May 2017

West Leicester, April 2017


Just one last point:  The title of this project has now definitively arrived on the 'Sceptic' spelling, so no more messing around with Ks, brackets, or strokes.  A moment of lexicographical enlightenment revealed 'Skeptic' to be an Americanism, and this is, by its very nature, a UK-centric body of work.  Here in Blighted Blighty, the c-spelling stands -  whichever interpretation you might chose to put on the word.  At least that should make for a more satisfyingly streamlined degree of ambiguity. 




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