Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
[enlarge]
Unknown Writer, ‘Untitled, from series Ten thousand things that breathe’, ballpoint pen on paper.
The Travelling Gallery, touring Scotland 12 August – 29 November
Reviewed by: Kirsty Walker
The Travelling Gallery's latest mobile art exhibition, 'The Drawing Room', is a celebration and exploration of the art of drawing. Beaches – sandy, stony, remote and resort – are the theme of Rachel Bevan Baker's eleven short animations. Using a variety of means, from drawing to photography, Bevan Baker injects an amazing amount of narrative, humour and lyricism into her work. Elizabeth Hobbs' watercolours swim together in her animation, The emperor. Beautifully executed, but in view of the subject (Napoleon's penis), I expected more humour.
Bálint Bolygó also brings movement to the show in the guise of his Heath Robinson machines which swing, hover, spray, sponge and splatter paint. The videos of the machines in action are more interesting than the work itself, in particular the collaborative piece with David Mach where two cuddly toys get intimate in an orgy of paint. You can produce your own drawing via David Connearn's computer programme which dips a toe into chaos theory and gives a twenty-first-century spin on Klee's Taking a line for a walk.
There is Zen in the ballpoint pen of New York-based artist, Renato, whose skilful drawings of ordinary objects elicited the most praise from visitors to the bus whilst I was on board. Aileen Stackhouse's contribution is also on the traditional side and complemented – albeit not very engagingly – by a video where she discusses her work with a drawing tutor. Alan Johnston's contribution is a pencil wall drawing, Kathy Prendergast finds fingerprint beauty in city maps; whilst Chad McCail has invented a whole life philosophy expressed in colourful pictures – part mandala, part poster. Packed with inspiration, I spent longer on the bus than I have in any static gallery recently.
Writer detail:
KIRSTY WALKER
is an art writer, interpretive consultant and travel journalist based in Edinburgh.
Venue detail:
No one has commented on this article yet, why not be the first?
To post a comment you need to login
Back to top