At the moment I am interested in deconstructing the canvas surface. I started to investigate this in about 2002/3 but left it alone while I developed my black, creation myth series. Piercing the canvas in the latter works in the black series (clearly referencing Lucio Fontana) was an element of deconstruction. The cutting and peeling back of the canvas of two black paintings was a return to the 2002/3 approach.
A poor quality photo of four deconstructed pieces shown in a group exhibition about 2003.
Note the almost invisible white one on the left.
This YouTube video shows most of the deconstructed work to date (June 2010). Best viewed in smaller format for greatest clarity.
Some larger images from the video.
Deconstructed black painting: referencing back to earlier work but also developed by "displaying" some of the elements outside the frame of the stretcher.
November 2009.
Detail of above painting.
A second version of the approach outlined above. With detail below.
November 2009.
A less thorough but more "brutal" deconstruction of the canvas surface. The peeled back part was stuck to the canvas while the paint was still wet.
March 2010.
Detail below.
A more considered deconstruction.
The surface was pierced and then sealed with paint. The corner was then peeled back to reveal the "hidden" painting effect on the reverse of the canvas.
March 2010.
Detail below.
The reverse of the canvas above was so interesting that with the next work I remove the canvas from the stretcher and reattached it showing the reverse.
March 2010.
Detail
Detail.
This next piece, "Deconstruction: the re-emergence of red." brings together some of the techniques used above but using my old
favourite red again.
Detail
Detail
Detail
This last piece below is a final experiment before I left the factory.
The stretcher is broken and the remains arranged onto a metal grill.
This may be a way forward I will explore.
