This work formed part of the 'Practicing Landscape: Field Notes' exhibition (22nd April - 16th May, 2025) in the Annex Gallery, Stow Building (GSA). It was initiated by curator James N. Hutchinson who invited the Reading Landscape research group to respond to the idea of site both inside the gallery and beyond it.
My initial response was to make ink using rust harvested from the railings that demarcate the land occupied by Stow Building. The ink was then used to make a photo etching which depicts the heavily corroded railing which I called 'Untitled (rust)'. The image is representational but looks abstract.
I also made another ink using rust from the railings, but this time boiled in water with oak galls. I invited a number of artists and writers to respond to this ink using a prompt in the form of an image I had taken of a tree forcing it's way through the metal railings: "My invitation to you is to make a drawing (or a written response) to this ‘event’. I call it an ‘event’ to help us to consider time and change on a different scale. I invite you to witness the event first hand, on site…" (quote taken from invitation letter).
I received ink based responses from six people which were then integrated into the exhibition during the run of the show. They included drawings, text and video from prof. Peter Szendy, Cat Tams, Dr Frances Robertson, Dr. Jim Harald, Peter McCaughey and Dr. Edwina FitzPatrick. Peter Szendys response written in ink from the metal railing read: "The tree pushes aside the grid. The parallels are no longer parallel. Instead of regular metallic striations, what comes into view, carried by the bark, are like ribs. Writing so fine and nervous that no rule
(no ruled paper) contains it. Reading it may not be immediately possible. It swarms, like thousands of insects. Insecta: Latin for notched". (Peter Szendy)
Reading Landscape research group members who were part of the larger group exhibition included: Susan Brind & Jim Harold, with Alex Hales / Justin Carter / Anne-Marie Copestake / Alan Currall Elizabeth A. Hodson & Emily Joy / Conor Kelly / Christina McBride / Mick McGraw / Michael Mersinis / Nalini Caroline Paul / Lesley Punton / Fiona Robertson / SEA ARCHIVE / Ross Sinclair Catherine M. Weir
