Visual Art
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Guitar hero
‘IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY OF WORKING'
‘Built.Lacking.'
Neil Clements, the newest addition to doggerfisher's roster of artists, talks to Liz Shannon about adapting his usual working methods for his latest exhibition
ile primarily known as a painter. whose
shaped canvases based on the designs of
classic rock guitars were shown at DCA last year. Neil Clements' new series of works for Edinburgh's doggerlisher has required him to adapt his usual working methods. ‘I am working on a number of pieces for the show that use analogue technology which is on the verge of becoming obsolete — like large format polaroids or slide dissolve units.‘ he says. ‘lt's a completely different way of working from going to my studio to paint every day.‘
Inspired by artists' use of neon and industrial fabrication in the 1960s and 70s. (‘lements‘ new work evolved out of having one of his line drawings made into a piece of neon. He comments: ‘lt becomes a means by which to detach yourself from the original drawing. Commissioning something as a neon sign introduces another layer of mediation between the idea and the final piece.‘
The exhibition's new works each consist of a piece of neon and an accompanying canvas depicting a painted facsimile of the neon. Clements notes: ‘The attempt to reproduce the effect of incandescent glass in paint is always going to prove futile. but I like how the paint looks so flat and subdued beside the neon - almost sad.‘ The artist is intrigued by the idea that his process of making art may appear counter-productive: that he is creating (and re-creating) something that could be seen as hopelessly romantic. or even nihilistic. He describes these new works as ‘like a
melancholic process painting. It‘s redundant poignantly redundant — but redundant all the same.‘
Based around a sustained exploration of the nature of formalism. (‘lements‘ practice explores the need to reduce something down to its pure. essential nature: an idea that greatly influenced much art of the l‘)(i()s and 70s. He describes his shaped canvases as a type of process painting that is as much about the legacy of abstraction as it is about musical references. He says: ‘I am very conscious that because of the shaped canvases people think I am interested in the anti- authoritive connotations or subcultural value of heavy metal. btit really I am attracted to the idea of the overt theatricality implicit within the music. and how this could be used as a device to explore the theatricality of large scale abstraction. l was unsure with those works. whether I should tell people that they were based on guitar designs. because I am quite comfortable with them being read as shaped canvases: slippage occurs between the idea and the object.‘
This idea of ‘slippage‘ is visible in Clements‘ new works. ‘1 think all my work is marked by this idea of distance that the process of making introduces between the finished piece and the purity of the original concept.‘ he says. ‘I am just trying to continue to come up with ways in which this distance can be made apparent.”
Nell Clements: Built. Lacking., doggerfisher, Edinburgh, Thu 16 Apr-Sat 6 Jun.
lit: >l<
THE BEST EXHIBITIONS
* Artist Rooms Bright. inspiring exhibition of defining work from some of the 20th century's finest artists. drawn from Anthony d'Offay's artistic gift to the nation. See review. page 88. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Edinburgh, until Sun 8 Nov.
at: Whistler: The Gentle Art of Making Etchings Beautifully executed and informative exhibition showcasing the meticulousness and industry of this master printmaker. See review. page 88. Hunter/an Art Gallery, Glasgow, until Sat 30 May.
>l< Turner 8; Italy Exhibition of paintings, sketches and books from the artist's library celebrating JMW Turner's relationship with Italy. the country. and the artists who inspired his work. Reviewed next issue. National Galleries of Scotland, until Sun 7 Jun.
* The Associates The DCA reaches its tenth birthday and celebrates in style with this lovingly crafted show of 17 artists who started out at the gallery and have gone on to great things. Katy Dove. Steven Cairns and Luke Fowler are among the featured artists. See review. page 88. Dundee Contemporary Arts. until Tue 21 Jun.
4: Stage Fright Intriguing new collaboration between the CCA and Suspect Culture. exploring the relationship between the gallery and the stage. David Greig, Graham Eatough, Patrick Macklin and Dan Rebellato are among the featured artists. CCA, Glasgow, Sat 4 Apr—Sat 23 May.
* Neil Clements: Bullt. Lacking. The Scottish artist brings new work to Doggerfisher. See preview. left. Doggerfisher, Edinburgh, Thu 16 Apr—Sat 6 Jun.
,1:,' ’x’fi': THE LIST 87