March 13 – 30 2018
The Unsupported Mark
Drawing with Holography
Guest curated by Andrew Pepper
Private view:
Tuesday March 13th 6.30 – 8.30pm
Open Days:
Wednesday March 21st and
Wednesday March 28th 12.00 – 6.00pm
Viewing by appointment at other times.
For further information contact Jonathan Ross: Phone 07747 807576
or jross@gallery286.com
Holography is best known for its uncanny ability to record and display three-dimensional objects. Holograms attract, intrigue, excite and confuse us. They offer another way of viewing the objects around us, and it is unsurprising that this complex optical process attracted artists, almost as soon as it became viable as an imaging process, in the 1960’s.
Although many have embraced the hi-fidelity recording opportunities, a range of artists have also attempted to extend the process as a medium for manipulating (sculpting) light and as a methodology which allows the release of marks from the surface of the picture plane – to ‘draw’ in space.
This exhibition, curated by Andrew Pepper, attempts to explore how artists have examined and exploited the luminous, unsupported, mark, both physically and conceptually. It draws work from the extensive Jonathan Ross holography collection, which has been acquiring a breadth of approaches to the medium from artists for 40 years.
This group exhibition brings together, for the first time, a diverse range of internationally renowned artists who research, exploit, usurp and define the Unsupported Mark.
Background to the exhibiton
The exhibition developed from a chance conversation between Jonathan Ross and artist Andrew Pepper. Ross had wanted to organise a guest-curated exhibition, drawn from his collection, for some time and Pepper, through his work with luminous mark-making, installation and holography, has been investigating, and attempting to contextualise not only his activities within the field of creative holography, but also the broader engagement of other artists.
About the Curator
Pepper was awarded the first practice-based PhD in fine art by the University of Reading, UK, which examined the act of drawing in space as a creative methodology, and has continued to extend that research since these early first investigations into spatial mark-making.
He has recently been collaborating with American artist August Muth, at the Light Foundry, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and wanted to present the resulting piece of work alongside other artefacts which also attempt to put pressure on the conversation around the luminous mark. A curated exhibition at Gallery 286 seemed the ideal opportunity to extend that discussion.
The Web Connection
Pepper has been building and managing Ross’s holography collection website for over 20 years and, apart from Ross, is probably the only person with such an extensive knowledge of all aspects of the collection spanning art, commerce and display. As part of building and updating the website, Pepper has viewed every image of work in the collection and is familiar with the pieces, not only through this digital exposure, but also via his contact with many of the collected artists, and their work.
After reviewing the entire collection approximately 20 pieces have been presented together for the first time in The Unsupported Mark – Drawing with Holography.
Works on show
Margaret Benyon
SECRET SACRED III
1979/2000
10″ x 8″
Reflection hologram silver halide on glass and art work in ink, gouache and feather on paper.
Rudie Berkhout
STUDY IN LIGHT No. 6
1999
40 x 30cm
Reflection hologram on glass
Caroline Palmer
DIAMONDS AND STRIPES
1989
10″ x 8″
Multi-colour reflection hologram
Silver halide on glass
Doris Vila
FIRE
1997
32 x 43 cm
Reflection holographic stereogram
Andrew Pepper
CENTRE COLUMN – BLUE
2017
25”x19”
Dichromate gelatine on glass
Susan Cowles
THE SEED MAKERS
1991
40 x 30cm
Reflection hologram.
Silver halide on film.
Adrian Lines
EGG
1982
9 x 9cm
Six reflection holograms on film, 9 x 9cm each, gangmounted.
Pearl John
SHAMAN JOURNEY
2005
8” x 10“
Reflection hologram (film) overlaying digital photo
Sam Moree
SIDEWALK DREAM
1979
3” x 3.5”
White light transmission hologram glass plate, laminated to larger glass carrier
Jon Mitton
ORGONE ACCELERATOR
1991
7” diameter
Reflection hologram on glass in steel display
Michael Waller-Bridge
PARTIAL SYMMETRIES
1981
20 x 25cm
Reflection hologram on glass
Martin Wall
LARGE CIRCLES
1992
2 x 10″ x 8′
Reflection holograms on glass
Edwina Orr
SKETCHES
1981
4” x 5”
Animated reflection hologram
Dieter Jung
HOLOGRAPHISCHER PRISMENWANDLER
1993
95 X135MM
Embossed hologram
Pepe Buitrago
HARD TIMES
2017
4”x5″
Reflection hologram on folding card.
John Kaufman
TOOLWORKS
1992
30 x 40cm
Multi colour reflection hologram
Jo Fairfax
LIMBIC SYSTEM
11 x 16.5 cm
Reflection hologram on glass
Paul Scattergood
SEQUENCE 4
38 x 51cm
Full colour digital holographic stereogram
Paula Dawson
THE LEGEND OF THE TRUE HOLOGRAM
25 x 25cm
Computer graphic holographic stereogram
Dan Schweitzer
THE SLEEPER
30 x 40cm
White light transmission hologram
Silver halide on glass
Installation Views
To complement the ‘drawing’ exhibition a selection of black and while photographs, from the collection, will be included in the red gallery.