Having experimented extensively over the last two years with material process and a self-imposed area of subject matter, I feel I am now in a position to engage fully with a particular area of enquiry for the next year, and possibly beyond. After some deep reflection regarding my responses to 'subterranean artwork' (Cave Art, Catacombs etc) I concluded that my aesthetic response, was ultimately about the space or spaces in which the artwork was situated. Consequently, it is to the world of 'interiors', and their representation that I will turn.

 To this end, during the summer break I sought and received permission from the site management team at the Royal William yard, to access some of the undeveloped buildings on site. I have, to date made photographic records, and some rough sketches in these buildings. I have produced three 5' x 5' works relating to these preliminary enquiries, and prepared two more for the start of the module. Having experimented with various materials, and various processes on previous modules, I am satisfied (as unfashionable as it might be) that charcoal and paint (both oil and acrylic now) are the materials best suited for the speculations I aim to present. It may be true that 'Abstract Painting' has become a very 'leaky' category, but it is becoming apparent that my practice is leaning toward a more 'private' language, on reflection I now feel, my work has always been  rooted in abstraction.

The 'Intimisme' works of Pierre Bonnard and Eduard Vuillard and the haunting interiors of Vilhelm Hammershoi  of the 1900's, through to  Anselm Kiefer's 'Parsifal' series of 1973 and up to the 'loaded' interiors of Matthias Weischer and Tony Bevan have become areas of interest for me.

These artist's work represent for me the proposition made by Gaston Bachelard in his book The Poetics of Space:

'it is reasonable to say we "read a house" or "read a room" since both room and house are psychological diagrams'.

 

The undeveloped buildings at the Royal William yard are the remnants of an engine room at the very heart of an Imperial war machine, in a state of dereliction and decay. As such, they offer an opportunity to record these 'diagrams' in some way. It will be this, that will be guiding my practice for the rest of this year.