Start with Something

Start With Something: Contemporary Abstraction brings together a diverse array of contemporary artists, each delving into facets of abstraction in printmaking. The works featured are born from a rich spectrum of influences, including psychogeography, urbanism, colour theory, and a deep, hands-on experimentation with materials and form. Each artist approaches abstraction not just as a stylistic choice but as a dynamic process - an exploration that pushes the boundaries of traditional printmaking techniques and invites new ways of seeing and interpreting the world.

The exhibition reflects the many ways abstraction can emerge from both the external and internal worlds. Some artists draw inspiration from the intricate relationships between individuals and their environments, where the urban landscape or psychological space becomes a powerful catalyst for formal experimentation. Others delve directly into the colour spectrum and its psychological effects, crafting immersive compositions that challenge perceptions of space, texture, and movement. This variety speaks to the wide-ranging possibilities of printmaking as an evolving language, one that is capable of both subtlety and boldness, complexity and clarity.

In the spirit of Picasso's famous assertion, "There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward, you can remove all traces of reality," this exhibition captures the delicate balance between representation and abstraction. The artists featured begin with recognisable forms - be they memories of place, emotional states, or the legacy of artistic precedent - before gradually stripping away the familiar to unveil new layers of meaning and expression.

Through these works, the exhibition invites viewers to engage with abstraction not as an endpoint, but as a transformative journey. It challenges our preconceptions of the physical and the conceptual, ultimately prompting a reconsideration of the profound relationship between reality and the boundless realm of imagination.

Please see a selection of works from the exhibition below. 

The new body of work by Hetty Haxworth in this exhibition was supported by a VACMA grant from Live life Aberdeenshire and Creative Scotland.