Hugh Marwood: Completed Print Cycle: 'Change Of Use'

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Screen-Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

Time has already put some distance from September's 'A Minor Place' exhibition, and increasingly my thoughts already turn to what comes next. However, here's one last bit of online housekeeping related to the work in that show.

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Mixed Media on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2015

'Untitled (Change Of Use'), Screen-Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Screen-Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

The pieces shown here represent the print cycle which became entitled 'Change Of Use', and which formed a significant strand within my 'AMP' contribution. I've already talked about the screen-printed portion of this cycle, as it was in progress, and also, about some of the original, mixed-media studies that kicked the whole thing off, (indeed, which seeded my entire output over much of this year). However, it feels more useful to think of the entire cycle as a larger, perpetually-evolving whole - which, had I felt so inclined - might have continued ad-infinitum.

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Screen-Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change of Use)', Screen-Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Mixed Media on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

My intention was to explore a kind of fractal versioning within a group of motifs and core images, and to oscillate between direct, hand-made interventions, and the processes of traditional (screen) printing, and digital manipulation and reproduction. Thus, all of the original 'studies' were scanned and one was digitally combined with certain photographic images to seed an initial run of screen prints, (produced at Leicester Print workshop, earlier in the year). However, alongside the 'good' versions, I also ran off a number of prints on low-grade newsprint paper. These were subsequently torn up and collaged back into a second series of mixed-media studies, which were returned to the digital realm once again.

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Manipulation, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

It is, of course, within Photoshop that the number of related images explodes exponentially. Each digital manipulation, filter or layer effect seems to suggest numerous new possibilities, each punctuated by a click of the 'save as' command. Four of these were to ultimately form stencils for a second major run of screen prints, others were outputted as digital prints in their own right. When one also takes into account the fact that no two screen prints was exactly like another (achieved through varying ink colours and transparency, and the order of laying them down), it becomes obvious that such a body of individual images might quickly transcend all reasonable bounds, in terms of sheer quantity.

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)' Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Manipulation, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Manipulation 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change of Use)', Digital Manipulation, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Print on Paper, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

'Untitled (Change Of Use)', Digital Manipulation, 30 cm X 30 cm, 2016

It is also obvious that, should one choose, such a chain reaction (or reactions) could feasibly occupy the entirety of one's practice over an entire life (or what remains of it). Intriguing as that idea is, in the end - I allowed the deadline of of our exhibition deadline to draw a line under the project. I satisfied myself with having proved a certain experimental point, and with having already generated and framed more pieces than I could exhibit in September.

Future exhibition of the entire cycle is somewhat precluded by the fact that three pieces were sold from the 'A Minor Place' show - although that is, in itself, more than a little gratifying. However, what remains feels like too significant a tranche of work not to exploit in one way or another. Whilst it's currently boxed up, and my mind is turning to new possibilities - I certainly wouldn't rule out exhibiting all, or some of the 'Change Of Use' cycle again in the not too distant future.