In Situ, an artist led exhibition at Greatorex Street, where myself and three other artists explored the theme of site.
The show was open between 27th april - 7th may 2023.

‘Terraforming the Gallery Space n°2, In Situ’ transforms the architecture of the gallery, into a painting more emulative of installation or sculpture in the way it interacts with its viewer. The 3-dimensionality invites the viewer to move in, out and around the painting, shifting focus and perspectives on the various sections.

This project lies within the context of Painting and started with a process of deconstruction, taking the physical planes that make paintings what they are. These planes are worked individually one after the other, each dictating the following. Logically, from back to front starting with the location itself and the walls, using plasterboard and wooden supports to sculpt the typical white gallery space. In turn, raw unstretched cotton canvas was cut into shapes to harmoniously fit within the plane of the wall. Then the paint follows, oil and acrylic dominate and are applied in various techniques with a focus on it’s own materiality. And last but not least, wooden strips frame certain areas accentuating and distinguishing the planes of the canvas and paint from the plane of the wall. Making up the 4 planes which were brought together during the installation of the exhibition, making a “complete” painting.

To contrast this material and deconstructive approach, the content of the paintings are a direct insight into my experience with the space through the realisation of the exhibition. The painting takes the form of 5 compositions evoking figures, spaces and ideas reminiscent of those associated with Greatorex Street and the In Situ exhibition. The 5 chapters are: Conception, Visualisation, Construction, Installation and Inauguration. The first two are representations of Dan and Jake working on this project. Construction is a composition of the information I gathered for the project, from measurements to sketches, plans, pieces of writing such as thoughts and poems. The last two show the final moments of the show, with Reinhard touching up his painting and the install of the show.

Terraforming the Gallery Space n°2, In Situ.
2023, oil and acrylic on canvas, wood and plaster. 9x3m

Extract from the press release.

“Today, Greatorex Street is a place where art is discussed, a place where art is made and a space where art is displayed. Greatorex is the subject of the painting, and the evolution, progression or narrative of art and art making is what this site specific painting is about. As the viewer walks through the gallery, the painting unveils the people and objects that defined the space during my time involved in the show.

I found an interesting distinction between “in situ” work , and work that is site specific. In situ processes continuously adapt to the contexts that they invest in; they are nomadic, whereas others are attached to a specific location, and if removed, lose all their strength. These projects might then be referred to as 'site-specific. This relates directly to the wider view of my project. First of all an idea or reaction to contemporary white space/cube painting, which dictates the overall form of the work. This is a concept that is interchangeable from space to space, making it “ in situ”. It is then site specific because the subject of the work is directly informed by the life of this space at this time.

At the end of the painting the structure is left open and leads into a dark hallway. 

The aim is to give the viewer insight into a process of painting, my view on painting and to emphasise the full experience that is viewing painting, using the Greatorex Gallery and this amazing opportunity as an environment to do so.”

On the way out of the exhibition 6 poems are displayed on the repeating pillars of the gallery.