Exhibition

'TEXT-SCAPES'

An exhibition of paintings by internationally exhibited calligrapher and poet

STEVE WOODBURY

Calligraphy has a duality and can be thought of in two ways: as being information transfer and as aesthetic object, or artifact in its own right.   The TEXT-SCAPE project seeks to link calligraphic traditions in both Eastern and Western Art to find new ways of exploring this dual function. They extend the artist’s interest in language and perception, the written word and memory, experience and understanding.

As with any language, the meaning of the mark is obvious…when you understand it. TEXT-SCAPES create meaning within the abstracted and at first glance, ‘meaningless’ gestural line. Each surface is a residue of the progressive build up and removal of layers of paint and pigment that results in a hieroglyphic-like textured surface.  These layers have an intertwining gestural line which takes it’s shape from the modern QWERTY texting gesture. Just as a hand or finger moves through sequential points of keys on a keyboard, the line in each painting moves sequentially through those points projected onto linen.  The gestural line is painted and leaves a trace of the literal meaning that can be discovered through referencing the QWERTY keyboard.

These paintings create their own duality and encourage multiple readings by combining calligraphic use of ‘the beautiful line’ with the compression of ideas and marking the essence of subject through merging ancient and new materials. The polarities of text based ‘understanding’ and the intuitive emotional ‘feeling’ of gestural abstraction opens a liminal state for the viewer to interpret, ‘experience’ and enjoy.

SW 

Artwork from this exhibition is no longer available to purchase.