| This earlier period of work covers that of the British Constructivists* (about whom there is more in the video section) and continues across the divide which became the colour work of today.
The Constructivist position aligned with the earlier avant-gardes in emphasizing the use of modern materials, colour was only used if it was integral. (Although I did anodise colour onto aluminium sheet.)
Reductionism, to the basic units, or building blocks was a central theme expessed in varied ways. Parallel to this was a pursuit of the geometrics of light on the surface of industrial materials (especially transparent and with integral colour).
The line-to-grid theme had a somewhat different emphasis and led to a number of works in neon throughout the 1970s.
The interlocking series began with the large work in the Systems exhibition (London, 1972) which also incorporated neon and optical fibre, probably the first use of optical fibre in UK art. Also used in the late 60s was metal coated with electro-luminescent paint, this technique was used for a wall-mounted chessboard with magnetic pieces. In other words I experimented with a number of unusual materials but did not find the support needed to develop them further.
Traditional colour / surface work was always an option, due to earlier figurative training, but applying the principals of abstraction. This period passed through several years of working with the computer. By 2002 this changed into working directly onto canvas or paper, the red series is the first result of thet change.
* There was only ONE British Constructivist group.
|
